The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

AL 1972 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1972 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


An astonishing 8th Johnson-Waddell to Sandy Koufax, with Bert Blyleven winning his first across in the AL. First-time Wagner-Lajoie wins to Carlton Fisk and Billy Williams; first and only RoYs to Al Bumbry and Garry Maddox. Tug McGraw wins his second Paige Plate, Al Hrabowsky his first.


S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

So, who is the active leader in the MLB in career stolen bases?

• Lou Brock, TEX, 689
• Maury Wills, BAL, 663
• Bert Campaneris, OAK, 639
• Luis Aparicio, MON, 563
• Tommy Harper, NYY, 410

All-time leader: Wild Bill Wright, 882

[luckymann]

Our next move comes out of the blue when the Royals offer us a deal we simply can't refuse:




We sniffed around for George with them last season and they must have remembered that which is why they came calling. Bobby T was always on the list to be shipped out and Tim Foli's D has been compressed to SS only. We'll need to plug the hole he leaves in some, way, shape or form before OD is upon us.



George profiles out to play all three OFs and will slot in as our CF, most likely in a platoon with Montanez to begin with.

This acquisition does squeeze Bill Robinson out but I think we'll have room for them all at least for a while. It'll all depend on whether or not he is needed to swing a more pressing deal. Dick Estelle is an ineligible player that we'll look to flip before the offseason is through.

We also spend our FA ticket on beefing up our pitching depth, signing Ken Brett on a 2+1/420 deal.




Onto the Draft.

[luckymann]

A deep pool this time around with a bunch of quality players and some top-notch Legacies.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1973 Season:

California Angels: Brian Downing (51.5; 2344 GS)
Cincinnati Reds: Ken Griffey (34.5; 1224)
Detroit Tigers: Frank Tanana (57.1; 218 GS)
Kansas City Royals: George Brett (88.6; 2707 – one-club player) MARQUEE; Frank White (34.8; 2324 – one-club player)*
Montreal Expos: Steve Rogers (44.7; 393 GS – one-club player)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Dave Parker (40.1; 1301)
San Diego Padres: Dave Winfield (64.2; 1117)


Frank Tanana was also eligible for the Angels, but seeing as Downing is also in the Pool, I have sent Frank to the Tigers and Brian to Cali.

Dave Winfield was also eligible for the Yankees, but the Padres get him with the earlier pick.

*Frank White is also eligible for the Royals, and given they missed a couple that were rightfully theirs due to timing issues leading up to their joining the league, I’m going to give him to them as well.


There are 131 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1972 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Kansas City Royals (494)
2. San Diego Padres (379)
3. Detroit Tigers (551)
4. California Angels (484)
5. Montreal Expos (449)
6. Pittsburgh Pirates (619)
7. Cincinnati Reds (617)
8. Kansas City Royals supp. pick
9. Texas Rangers (351)
10. Philadelphia Phillies (378)
11. Milwaukee Brewers (417)
12. San Francisco Giants (445)
13. Atlanta Braves (455)
14. Cleveland Indians (462)
15. St. Louis Cardinals (481)
16. Minnesota Twins (500)
17. New York Yankees (510)
18. Baltimore Orioles (519)
19. New York Mets (532)
20. Chicago Cubs (548; dice roll)
21. Boston Red Sox (548; dice roll)
22. Los Angeles Dodgers (548; dice roll)
23. Houston Astros (549)
24. Chicago White Sox (565)
25. Oakland Athletics (600)


Round 2

1. Texas Rangers (351)
2. Philadelphia Phillies (378)
3. San Diego Padres (379)
4. Milwaukee Brewers (417)
5. San Francisco Giants (445)
6. Montreal Expos (449)
7. Atlanta Braves (455)
8. Cleveland Indians (462)
9. St. Louis Cardinals (481)
10. California Angels (484)
11. Minnesota Twins (500)
12. New York Yankees (510)
13. Baltimore Orioles (519)
14. New York Mets (532)
15. Chicago Cubs (548; dice roll)
16. Boston Red Sox (548; dice roll)
17. Los Angeles Dodgers (548; dice roll)
18. Houston Astros (549)
19. Detroit Tigers (551)
20. Chicago White Sox (565)
21. Oakland Athletics (600)
22. Cincinnati Reds (617)
23. Pittsburgh Pirates (619)


Rounds 3 thru 5

1. Texas Rangers (351)
2. Philadelphia Phillies (378)
3. San Diego Padres (379)
4. Milwaukee Brewers (417)
5. San Francisco Giants (445)
6. Montreal Expos (449)
7. Atlanta Braves (455)
8. Cleveland Indians (462)
9. St. Louis Cardinals (481)
10. California Angels (484)
11. Kansas City Royals (494)
12. Minnesota Twins (500)
13. New York Yankees (510)
14. Baltimore Orioles (519)
15. New York Mets (532)
16. Chicago Cubs (548; dice roll)
17. Boston Red Sox (548; dice roll)
18. Los Angeles Dodgers (548; dice roll)
19. Houston Astros (549)
20. Detroit Tigers (551)
21. Chicago White Sox (565)
22. Oakland Athletics (600)
23. Cincinnati Reds (617)
24. Pittsburgh Pirates (619)


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


Good to get such a high-quality guy as a Legacy but expectations after that are low.

Here are our selections:

1. OF Dave Parker, 21

• A quality Legacy add for us and part of our next-gen outfield.

2. P Dave Pagan, 23

• Some chance of at least seeing a few IP at the big club.

3. 3B Matt Alexander, 25
4. P Dick Pole, 22 (ineligible)
5. OF Dave Augustine, 23

• AAA depth pieces.

FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

A second straight year of no inductees, with first-ballot Curt Simmons coming the closest, while Yogi Berra and Duke Snider stall.

[luckymann]

In a fairly underwhelming NL East race, the Mets take the division with an 82-79 record then catch fire and make it past the Big Red Machine and all the way to a World Series Game 7. The A’s finally stop them there, however, to repeat as Champions, meaning all three playoff series this year again go the distance. The 1973 season also sees the introduction of the Designated Hitter in the American League, and the farewell of Willie Mays.


AL EAST / WEST CHAMPIONS: Baltimore Orioles (97-65) / Oakland A’s (94-68)
NL EAST / WEST CHAMPIONS: New York Mets (82-79) / Cincinnati Reds (99-63)
ALCS: A’s 3, Orioles 2
NLCS: Mets 3, Reds 2
WORLD SERIES: A’s 4, Mets 3

Pittsburgh Pirates: 80-82, 3rd in NL East

AL MVP: Reggie Jackson (A’s)
NL MVP: Pete Rose (Reds)

AL CYA: Jim Palmer (Orioles)
NL CYA: Tom Seaver (Mets)

AL RoY: Al Bumbry (Orioles)
NL RoY: Gary Matthews (Giants)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. WILLIE STARGELL, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .299 average, 106 runs, 43 doubles, 44 home runs, 119 RBIs, 80 walks, 22 intentional walks, .646 slugging percentage.
• Stargell’s 44 homers included his second tape-measure shot completely hit out of Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium; no one else would do it once until Mike Piazza in 1997.

2. BOBBY BONDS, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .283 average, 131 runs, 182 hits, 34 doubles, 39 home runs, 96 RBIs, 87 walks, 148 strikeouts, 43 stolen bases.
• Now firmly settled in as Willie Mays’ heir in San Francisco, Bonds came oh-so-close to becoming baseball’s first 40-40 man; he homered only once over his last 21 games.

3. JOE MORGAN, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .290 average, 116 runs, 35 doubles, 26 home runs, 82 RBIs, 111 walks, 67 stolen bases.
• Strangely, Morgan hit only .252 at home—but did bat .326 on the road at the five NL West ballparks.

4. DARRELL EVANS, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: .281 average, 114 runs, 25 doubles, 8 triples, 41 home runs, 104 RBIs, 124 walks.
• Part of the first trio of teammates (along with Hank Aaron and Davey Johnson) to each belt 40 homers in one year, Evans’ total eventually stuck out as a spike of power within his typical 20-some-odd dingers per year; he’d hit 40 again, but not until 1985 for Detroit—at age 38.

5. HANK AARON, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: 120 games, .301 average, 392 at-bats, 84 runs, 40 home runs, 96 RBIs.
• Closing in on Babe Ruth—and his 40th birthday—Aaron went to bat in 1973 with just one thing on his mind: Going deep. He became the first player to hit 40 in less than 400 at-bats, something that wouldn’t be achieved again until Barry Bonds—Aaron’s successor for the all-time home run crown—in 2003.

6. PETE ROSE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .338 average, 680 at-bats, 115 runs, 230 hits, 36 doubles, 8 triples, 5 home runs, 64 RBIs, 10 stolen bases.
• Pete Rose never had more hits than in 1973, while scoring his third (and last) batting title. He edged out Willie Stargell for his only MVP honor.

7. KEN SINGLETON, MONTREAL

• Key Numbers: 162 games, .302 average, 100 runs, 169 hits, 26 doubles, 23 home runs, 103 RBIs, 123 walks, 27 grounded into double plays, .425 on-base percentage.
• The Mets were happy to have Rusty Staub—anyone he ever played for was happy—but to get him, they gave away Singleton, who in 1973 accomplished the triple-triple (100-plus runs, RBIs and walks).

8. CESAR CEDENO, HOUSTON

• Key Numbers: 139 games, .320 average, 86 runs, 168 hits, 35 doubles, 25 home runs, 70 RBIs, 56 stolen bases.
• Xeroxed Astro: Cedeno exactly matched his numbers in batting average and games played from the year before, while stealing just one more base.

9. TONY PEREZ, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .314 average, 177 hits, 33 doubles, 27 home runs, 101 RBIs, 74 walks.
• In the shadows of Rose, Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench, Perez continued to be the unsung hero in Cincinnati, bouncing back after a couple years of relatively modest output.

10. LOU BROCK, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .297 average, 110 runs, 193 hits, 29 doubles, 8 triples, 7 home runs, 63 RBIs, 71 walks, 70 stolen bases, 20 caught stealing.
• Brock stole 50 of his 70 bases from July 3 on, showing off an increasingly brazen penchant for base thefts after turning 34; he would turn it up even more, to record-setting heights, the next season.

AL Hitters

1. REGGIE JACKSON, OAKLAND

• Key Numbers: .293 average, 99 runs, 28 doubles, 32 home runs, 117 RBIs, 76 walks, 22 stolen bases, .531 slugging percentage.
• Rebounding from a torn hamstring suffered in the 1972 ALCS, Jackson was the unanimous choice for what would be his only MVP—and also took similar honors for the World Series, though it wouldn’t be his only trophy collected there.

2. JOHN MAYBERRY, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: .278 average, 87 runs, 26 home runs, 100 RBIs, 122 walks, 17 intentional walks, .417 on-base percentage.
• The second-year Royal probably would have gotten a few of Reggie’s first-place votes had he not slowed down after a sparkling first half (.302 average, 19 home runs, 74 RBIs).

3. ROD CAREW, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .350 average, 98 runs, 203 hits, 30 doubles, 11 triples, 6 home runs, 62 RBIs, 41 stolen bases.
• Carew finally began to put some muscle on his numbers after years of hitting just above .300—and little else.

4. SAL BANDO, OAKLAND

• Key Numbers: 162 games, .287 average, 97 runs, 170 hits, 32 doubles, 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, 82 walks.
• The A’s ironman—he only missed 18 games in the team’s first six years at Oakland—had one of his strongest years yet; his 32 doubles are the lowest by an AL leader in a non-shortened season.

5. GEORGE SCOTT, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: .306 average, 98 runs, 185 hits, 30 doubles, 24 home runs, 107 RBIs.
• The Brewers, after a surprisingly good first half, slipped afterward in the standings—but Scott kept it from being a freefall by hitting .341 with 16 of his 24 homers over the final three months.

6. REGGIE SMITH, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 115 games, .303 average, 79 runs, 21 home runs, 69 RBIs, 68 walks.
• A series of maladies kept the eighth-year Red Sock from pushing up strong numbers that would have elevated him into the MVP discussion; it would be his final year in Boston, and Smith—affected by racism from the front office and fans—was only too happy to depart.

7. AMOS OTIS, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 90 runs, 175 hits, 26 home runs, 93 RBIs, 13 stolen bases.
• After Reggie Jackson, Otis received the second most AL MVP votes among position players.

8. CARL YASTRZEMSKI, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 82 runs, 25 doubles, 19 home runs, 95 RBIs, 105 walks.
• After being mired in the mid-.200s with limited power the previous two years, Yaz put forth a dignified comeback.

9. FRANK ROBINSON, CALIFORNIA

• Key Numbers: .266 average, 85 runs, 29 doubles, 30 home runs, 97 RBIs, 82 walks, 10 hit-by-pitches.
• The advent of the designated hitter was perfectly timed for the 38-year-old Robinson, who hit 26 of his 30 home runs from that ‘position.’

10. DAVE MAY, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: .303 average, 96 runs, 189 hits, 25 home runs, 93 RBIs.
• A career-year wonder, May helped the Brewers reach a high-enough level of acceptance within Milwaukee to finally exercise the irritable ghosts of the Braves.

NL Pitchers

1. TOM SEAVER, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.08 ERA, 19 wins, 10 losses, 36 starts, 18 complete games, 290 innings, 63 walks, 251 strikeouts.
• Seaver won five less games than league leader Ron Bryant, but would have won five more had the Mets hit anywhere as good as the Giants; hence, he was given the NL Cy Young Award.

2. DON SUTTON, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.42 ERA, 18 wins, 10 losses, 33 starts, 256.1 innings, 57 walks, 23 grounded into double plays.
• For once, Sutton was the best of the Dodgers’ five-man rotation. The only team he finished below .500 against? The Reds (1-3 in six starts), who finished 3.5 games ahead of Los Angeles.

3. JERRY KOOSMAN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.84 ERA, 14 wins, 15 losses, 35 starts, 263 innings, 25 grounded into double plays.
• Koosman won his first five decisions and six of his last seven; in between, he was 3-14. Reason? The Mets averaged only 1.4 runs when he didn’t win.

4. JACK BILLINGHAM, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.04 ERA, 19 wins, 10 losses, 40 starts, 7 shutouts, 293.1 innings, 10 hit-by-pitches, 10 wild pitches, 32 grounded into double plays.
• The “other” guy in the trade that brought Morgan to the Reds two years earlier, Billingham became a rare workhorse within Sparky Anderson’s share-the-wealth pitching mindset.

5. DOCK ELLIS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.05 ERA, 12 wins, 14 losses, 28 starts, 192 innings.
• File this under “It Doesn’t Make Sense:” Ellis evenly split his 12 wins between home and away—but his 1.58 ERA at Three Rivers Stadium was considerably better than what it was on the road (4.72).

6. MIKE MARSHALL, MONTREAL

• Key Numbers: 2.66 ERA, 14 wins, 11 losses, 31 saves, 12 blown saves, 92 appearances, 0 starts, 179 innings, 12 wild pitches.
• Marshall was becoming ironman Wilbur Wood’s bullpen equal as a tireless reliever—and he was still just warming up.

7. STEVE ROGERS, MONTREAL

• Key Numbers: 1.54 ERA, 10 wins, 5 losses, 17 starts, 134 innings.
• Arguably the best pitcher in Montreal Expos history—certainly the most productive—hit the mound running; he threw two shutouts in his first three starts, the first of which was a one-hitter.

8. JIM ROOKER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.85 ERA, 10 wins, 6 losses, 5 saves, 41 appearances, 18 starts, 170.1 innings.
• After four miserable years in Kansas City (21-44 record, 3.93 ERA), Rooker came to Pittsburgh and thrived as a late-season starter, filling the void left behind by a suddenly wild Steve Blass.

9. RON BRYANT, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 3.53 ERA, 24 wins, 12 losses, 41 appearances, 39 starts, 270 innings, 115 walks, 12 wild pitches.
• Bryant flourished as he kept a giant stuffed teddy bear in the dugout for good luck; too bad it wasn’t around when he suffered a freak swimming injury the following spring that sank his career.

10. DON GULLETT, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.51 ERA, 18 wins, 8 losses, .692 win percentage, 2 saves, 45 appearances, 30 starts, 228.1 innings.
• After suffering through his only losing season (9-10) the year before and struggling so badly to start the 1973 campaign that he got demoted to the bullpen, Gullett firmly found himself back on track in July—winning his last nine decisions.

AL Pitchers

1. JIM PALMER, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 2.40 ERA, 22 wins, 9 losses, .710 win percentage, 1 save, 38 appearances, 37 starts, 6 shutouts, 296.1 innings, 113 walks, 22 grounded into double plays.
• Palmer capped a five-year 99-42 record by nabbing his first Cy Young Award.

2. BERT BLYLEVEN, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 2.52 ERA, 20 wins, 17 losses, 40 starts, 25 complete games, 9 shutouts, 325 innings, 67 walks.
• For the only time in a long and winding career that would eventually lead to Cooperstown, Blyleven won 20 games.

3. KEN HOLTZMAN, OAKLAND

• Key Numbers: 2.97 ERA, 21 wins, 13 losses, 40 starts, 297.1 innings, 66 walks, 28 grounded into double plays.
• Here’s one of the reasons that the A’s were so damn good in the early 1970s; once opponents managed to get past the commanding Catfish Hunter and flashy Vida Blue, they next had to get past the underrated Holtzman, who quietly netted 21 wins in his second year at Oakland.

4. JOHN HILLER, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 1.44 ERA, 10 wins, 5 losses, 38 saves, 4 blown saves, 65 appearances, 125.1 innings.
• Barely two years removed from a heart attack, Hiller put forth a spectacular campaign and became the latest reliever to break the season saves record. Comeback Player of the Year, indeed.

5. BILL LEE, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.75 ERA, 17 wins, 11 losses, 1 save, 38 appearances, 33 starts, 284.2 innings, 33 grounded into double plays.
• Lee was not to be confused with the Bill Lee who starred for the Cubs during the 1930s; in fact, with a goofy (and often very sharp) wit that earned him the nickname Spaceman, he was not to be confused with anyone.

6. JIM COLBURN, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 3.18 ERA, 20 wins, 12 losses, 1 save, 43 appearances, 36 starts, 314.1 innings. 29 grounded into double plays.
• The Dave May of the Brewers’ pitching staff, Colburn quickly emerged from standard bullpen asset to team ace, making him the most unlikely of the American League’s dozen 20-game winners in 1973.

7. MEL STOTTLEMYRE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.07 ERA, 16 wins, 16 losses, 38 starts, 273 innings, 38 grounded into double plays.
• The unluckiest great pitcher in Yankees history, Stottlemyre had one last solid year before suffering a career-ending rotator cuff injury—just as George Steinbrenner was starting to assert himself and breed a winning attitude back to Yankeeland.

8. WILBUR WOOD, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.46 ERA, 24 wins, 20 losses, 49 appearances, 48 starts, 359.1 innings, 31 stolen bases allowed, 32 grounded into double plays.
• The throwback workhorse became the first pitcher since Walter Johnson in 1916 to both win and lose 20 games in the same season—but after a terrific start (13-3, 1.71 ERA after May), the exhaust of working every four or even three days began to catch up to him.

9. NOLAN RYAN, CALIFORNIA

• Key Numbers: 2.87 ERA, 21 wins, 16 losses, 1 save, 41 appearances, 39 starts, 26 complete games, 326 innings, 162 walks, 383 strikeouts, 15 wild pitches, 37 stolen bases allowed, 24 grounded into double plays.
• Ryan’s eye-popping campaign included a record number of strikeouts and two no-hitters; though he never won a Cy Young Award, he came closest in 1973, finishing a not-so-distant second to Jim Palmer in the vote.

10. DAVE MCNALLY, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 3.21 ERA, 17 wins, 17 losses, 38 starts, 266 innings, 19 caught stealing/picked off, 31 grounded into double plays.
• McNally’s strikeout total, which peaked at over 200 five years earlier, was now down to 87 over 266 innings—but he remained difficult to beat.

[luckymann]

For a while the offseason markets look like a Brewers swap meet but when things get into full swing it ends up being one of the craziest offseasons I can remember, led by the monster Yankees-Bill Freehan deal. Sandy K and Donny D stay as Dodgers, Al Kaline becomes a Cardinal, Judge Robinson a Brewer and Henry Aaron joins the Red Sox. Norm Cash returns to Motown. All of which and more sets the stage for a fascinating season.

• C Bill Freehan: Yankees, 6 years / $4570000
• P Wilbur Wood: Giants, 6 years / $2808000
• OF Lou Brock: Angels, 5 years / $2700000
• P Pat Dobson: A’s, 6 years / $2556000
• P Reggie Cleveland: Red Sox, 4 years / $2080000 (extension)
• P Rick Wise: Mets, 4 years / $2040000
• OF Henry Aaron: Red Sox, 3 years / $1980000
• OF John Briggs: Rangers, 6 years / $1980000
• 1B Boog Powell: Cubs, 5 years / $1720000
• OF Ron Fairly: Dodgers, 4 years / $1640000
• OF Frank Robinson: Brewers, 3 years / $1526000
• P Don Drysdale: Dodgers, 3 years / $1448000 (extension)
• P Al Downing: Indians, 4 years / $1440000
• 2B Dave Cash: Brewers, 4 years / $1292000 (extension)
• P Sandy Koufax: Dodgers, 2 years / $1160000 (extension)
• SS Tom Tresh: Cubs, 2 years / $1040000
• 1B Mike Epstein: A’s, 3 years / $1012000 (extension)
• OF Al Kaline: Cardinals, 3 years / $1010000
• 1B Lee May: Brewers, 3 years / $958000
• 1B Norm Cash: Tigers, 4 years / $960000
• 3B Don Money: A’s, 4 years / $918000 (extension)
• P Juan Marichal: Orioles, 3 years / $882000
• OF Bernie Carbo: Royals, 3 years / $828000 (extension)
• P Don Gullett: Brewers, 4 years / $792000 (extension)

• C Terry Mappin from Indians to Expos for P Bob Botz and P Doyle Alexander
• 2B Rennie Stennett from Royals to Tigers for 3B Bobby Etheridge and P Balor Moore
• OF Ken Henderson and P Dave Lemonds from Brewers to Cubs for P Wayne Twitchell and P Steve Dunning
• 1B Dave Kingman and C Bill Fahey from Indians to Angels for C Jerry Grote (retaining 95%)
• OF Rick Miller, OF Rusty Torres and P Milt Wilcox from Indians to Tigers for P Ken Holtzman
• OF Von Joshua, P Robert Sekel, OF Thomas Smith, P Wayne Simpson and 3B Eric Soderholm from Braves to Padres for P Jim Colborn
• P Ross Grimsley and P Gary Nolan from Red Sox to Phillies for P Jim Rooker
• OF Manny Mota and OF Steve Brye from Padres to Cubs for 2B Ken Hubbs
• P Ray Corbin from Cardinals to Angels for P Gary Gentry
• OF Don Baylor from White Sox to Braves for P Phil Niekro
• P Chuck Taylor from Brewers to Phillies for C Steve Yeager
• P Dick Ricketts and OF Rowland OFfice from Giants to Brewers for C Bob Boone and 2B Lenny Randle

ALL TRANSACTIONS


We go 12-6 in ST with nothing more than a couple minor niggles.

The BNN crew believes the NL West will be a ripper race this season. We’ve known the Mets have been coming for a couple years and now they look set to arrive, winning 102 and taking our division handily by a half-dozen games from us. Seems about right, although 90 wins might be a tad bullish for us.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

You know it - the Buccos' page is HERE.


As aggressively as we have plundered the playing group, we still have plenty of talent and don’t expect to suck totally or anything. 86 or so wins is where we see ourselves landing from the OD vantage point.

We bring Dal Maxvill back to the club on a minors deal but he’ll start the year as one of our backup IFs, and as previously indicated Kurt Bevacqua will come up as well. We now have a Cutlass Club slot open and our trade tickets still unused, and I expect this part of the squad to be a prime candidate for the deployment of one or both, particularly should injury strike. We’ll start Dave Parker at Lincoln but expect him at the parent club before the season is done.

Rotation stays as is from last year, with Ken Brett the Long Reliever / SP6 in place of Bob Johnson. Gossage comes up and will hover between MR and Setup roles. Marone will be at AAA to begin with, as will Dave Pagan.

[luckymann]

The turnover program we have just begun in earnest will stretch over a number of seasons, with the goal of having all of the pieces in place by 1976 or 1977 and making a strong run at the 1979 title. Over that time, we expect to turn almost the entire playing group over. Even Scoop Oliver - before Dave Parker's entry, the player under contract the longest with us - is coming to the end of his run by then and might not be around. As we have managed to do for almost this entire save so far, we want to effect this while still being at least partway competitive - 81-81 or better. So it'll be a tough job and the turnstiles will be continually spinning.

The priorities for us in '73 with regard to roster maintenance are to lock down Jerry Reuss long-term and make a decision regarding bob Bailey's future here. Assembling a Championship-caliber IF appears to me to be the biggest challenge we face; the OF and pitching staff will take work but has plenty more options available to us in doing so. We've mad a couple runs at Rennie Stennett without luck and will certainly do so again, but I am firmly of the opinion that our 2B or SS - maybe even both - over that period will be a ringer, a CC slot guy.

Some people hate the financial side of this game. I just don't understand how. It increases the challenge exponentially.

[Brad K]

Looks like the development engine is being good to Koufax in this save.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Looks like the development engine is being good to Koufax in this save.

And Drysdale as well.

[luckymann]

Once again I can only look on with awe at this remarkable game's phenomenal ability to replicate the historical performance of MLB ballplayers. Roberto of course finished on exactly this milestone at the end of the 1972 season and was left stranded there by fate's cruel strikeout.

Here is his IRL statistical breakdown:




And the simulated one from this timeline:




Considering all of the customisation and the fact that 3-year year recalc is being applied to this save, that accuracy is nothing short of ridiculous, really. I don't think I've ever seen one so close to the IRL under these circumstances. Same number of HR and just 4 off the TB total! Kudos, devs. <Doffs cap>

[luckymann]

We face our first hurdle early as Willie Montanez hurts his elbow and will miss 5 months. We call Dave Parker up to replace him, switching Scoop to CF and putting Dave in at 1B v RHP. This doesn’t stop us going on an 10-win streak and taking 15 of our first 20.

Things get a bit sticky after that as the pitching comes back to earth with a thud and Joe Coleman in particular looking decidedly mortal for once. Thankfully our offence continues to thrive and for the most part scores enough runs to at least someway offset this.

A late-May flourish of five straight wins sends us into June at 31-18 and a game clear of the Mets on top of the NL East.





Amazing how slow we are now without Bobby T.




This could well be the year in which Scoop Oliver becomes a bona fide superstar.




Woodie Fryman wins the May pitching award and is the one standout in an otherwise shaky performance by our staff. While not a full backslide to his bad old ways, Dave Giusti has certainly regressed in that direction, including a couple spectacular meltdowns already.


We lock down Jerry Reuss in the long-term manner we are seeking with a what we consider very friendly 10/1985 deal and keep Ramon Hernandez at the club thru 1975 on a 2/86 agreement. We cannot trade away Bill Bailey as he has invoked his 10/5 veto, but neither will we be extending him is the decision we have come to.




All still very close indeed.


Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

• Batter – John Mayberry (Yankees): 312 / 12 HR / 27 RBI
• Pitcher – Bert Blyleven (Twins): 4-0 / 1.48 / 37 K / 48.2 IP
• Rookie – Wayne Garland (Rangers): 3-1 / 2.25 / 19 K / 44 IP

National League

• Batter – Darrell Evans (Giants): 310 / 9 HR / 16 RBI
• Pitcher – Tom Seaver (Mets): 4-0 / 2.36 / 30 K / 42 IP
• Rookie – Randy Jones (Braves): 2-2 / 2.01 / 17 K / 40.1 IP

May

American League

• Batter – Cesar Cedeno (Indians): 337 / 6 HR / 20 RBI
• Pitcher – Randy Moffitt (Brewers): 4-1 / 1.57 / 9 SV / 8 K / 23 IP
• Rookie – Randy Moffitt

National League

• Batter – Darrell Evans (Giants): 348 / 11 HR / 28 RBI
• Pitcher – Woodie Fryman (Pirates): 5-0 / 2.44 / 28 K / 44.1 IP
• Rookie – Bill Campbell (Padres): 2-1 / 2.35 / 20 K / 23 IP

News and Leaders






Milestones and Observations of Note

• 2000 Hits: Maury Wills
• 200 Saves: Jim Brewer
• Bert Blyleven hurls an 11-inning 1-hitter against the Rangers in a 1-0 win and leads all three TC cats at the end of the sectional.
• The Braves lose P Win Butler for the year to an RC tear, while a torn labrum knocks Dodgers ace Sandy Koufax out for 3 months.
• Bad news for the Cards and veteran offseason signing Al Kaline, who’ll miss what’s left of the season – no longer being a Legacy strips him of his 3-month max protection – after tearing his PCL.
• Mickey Mantle hits career homer numbers 611, 612 and 613. Given this is almost certain to be his final season, I don’t see too many more being added to this total. All the same, we’ll keep tabs on where the HR clubhouse lead looks set to be. Henry Aaron – almost impossibly with ZERO Wagner-Lajoies to the Mick’s 11 – currently has 12 so far this season, taking his career total to 563.

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[luckymann]

Being somewhat unexpectedly competitive this season is a bit of an annoying fly buzzing around my head as I gaze wistfully into the distance, but I'm also not foolish enough to turn down the chance of another title. The compromise is to make deals aimed at helping us in the long term without hurting us (too much) this season.

The first of the two trades we engage in as July is just getting underway certainly fulfils that ethos, as we get the guy we see as our 3B for the rest of the decade for a guy that, apart from his brilliant 1972 season, generally underwhelmed and is doing so again this year:






Richie, who IRL played for our club from 1968-76 and again in the early 80s, is in his walk year but I felt having him now and negotiating an extension was far preferable to someone else acquiring him and then having the inside running. In fact, the day after he arrives we sit down to see what he's looking for long-term and, when his response doesn't scare us off, make an 8-year pitch with an AAV a smidge over $500k. A week later, we settle on 7+1/ 4300 deal.


To counter the "loss" of the Singer Throwing Machine, we have to part with a guy who has become a real favourite of mine during his time with us.




Spanky's defence behind the dish only barely passes muster these days, and with our surfeit of OFs and Ron Brand also offering his glove at 3B and SS, this is a pretty easy decision despite my fondness for the bloke.




I doubt Bibbs (IRL Bucco 1979-81) has a Johnson-Waddell in his future, but he'll serve as a fine low-rotation / spot starter, and will come in particularly handy right now given we are reluctant to expose Ken Brett to a full workload just yet.

I hate wasting OYs, so - despite it leaving us thin around the IF defensively - we send Maxvill to AAA and keep Bevacqua here. Bailey, too, although Hebner will take over the bulk of the duties at 3B. We gave Bob one final chance to waive his trade veto but he held firm, so this should come as no shock to him. He's playing for his FA contract now, so I don't expect any let-up in his intensity.

This means we now have 2 of the 3 CC slots free. Were I a betting man, I'd wager a small amount on this not being the case when the Deadline passes.

[luckymann]

Just Fryman and Oliver for us this time around.


American League

• SP Bert Blyleven (MIN)* - 14-5, 1.78 ERA, 192.0 IP, 0.89 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 6.8 WAR
• SP Wayne Garland (TEX) - 10-8, 2.67 ERA, 175.0 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 3.9 K/9, 2.6 WAR
• SP Ken Holtzman (CLE) - 14-4, 2.28 ERA, 173.1 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 4.5 K/9, 3.9 WAR
• SP Doc Medich (TEX) - 9-10, 2.62 ERA, 161.1 IP, 1.24 WHIP, 5.1 K/9, 3.6 WAR
• SP Jim O'Toole (NYY) - 8-8, 3.19 ERA, 160.2 IP, 1.36 WHIP, 6.7 K/9, 3.0 WAR
• SP Jim Palmer (BAL) - 11-8, 2.45 ERA, 176.0 IP, 1.22 WHIP, 4.9 K/9, 3.2 WAR
• RP Bill Monbouquette (CAL) - 2-2, 2.30 ERA, 62.2 IP, 1.37 WHIP, 5.3 K/9, 0.9 WAR
• RP Bob Reynolds (OAK) - 2-3, 1.32 ERA, 41.0 IP, 1.54 WHIP, 5.7 K/9, 1.0 WAR
• CL Rollie Fingers (OAK)* - 5-8, 12 SV, 2.17 ERA, 70.2 IP, 1.34 WHIP, 7.0 K/9, 2.5 WAR
• CL Bill Slayback (CLE) - 3-5, 17 SV, 2.42 ERA, 52.0 IP, 1.27 WHIP, 6.2 K/9, 0.8 WAR
• C Carlton Fisk (CWS)* - .288/.360/.511, 278 AB, 15 HR, 1 SB, 147 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
• C Gene Tenace (BOS) - .278/.401/.571, 252 AB, 21 HR, 174 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
• 1B Frank Howard (CLE) - .271/.353/.500, 332 AB, 19 HR, 142 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
• 1B John Mayberry Sr. (NYY) - .286/.379/.512, 336 AB, 19 HR, 154 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
• 1B George Scott (MIN)* - .325/.386/.501, 357 AB, 13 HR, 7 SB, 153 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
• 2B Rod Carew (MIN) - .339/.401/.421, 366 AB, 1 HR, 28 SB, 126 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
• 2B Dick McAuliffe (CWS)* - .306/.413/.448, 281 AB, 5 HR, 2 SB, 144 wRC+, 2.1 WAR (Injured)
• 3B Earl Williams (TEX)* - .248/.324/.427, 302 AB, 14 HR, 108 wRC+, 1.2 WAR
• SS Don Kessinger (CWS) - .328/.385/.445, 335 AB, 2 HR, 1 SB, 133 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• SS Chris Speier (MIN)* - .269/.341/.411, 297 AB, 10 HR, 1 SB, 114 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
• LF Henry Aaron (BOS)* - .288/.386/.554, 312 AB, 24 HR, 162 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
• LF John Briggs (TEX) - .259/.386/.456, 320 AB, 18 HR, 6 SB, 140 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
• LF Al Bumbry (BAL)* - .296/.375/.414, 362 AB, 5 HR, 39 SB, 127 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
• CF Cesar Cedeno (CLE)* - .306/.383/.477, 346 AB, 14 HR, 47 SB, 138 wRC+, 4.9 WAR
• RF Bernie Carbo (KC) - .299/.426/.497, 294 AB, 11 HR, 2 SB, 154 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
• RF Reggie Smith (BOS)* - .336/.429/.542, 330 AB, 14 HR, 3 SB, 174 wRC+, 5.0 WAR

National League

• SP Tom Bradley (CHC) - 5-10, 5.38 ERA, 118.2 IP, 1.56 WHIP, 6.0 K/9, 2.1 WAR
• SP Steve Carlton (PHI) - 11-6, 2.87 ERA, 169.1 IP, 1.16 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 3.4 WAR
• SP Woodie Fryman (PIT) - 11-1, 2.15 ERA, 130.0 IP, 1.06 WHIP, 5.5 K/9, 3.5 WAR
• SP Sandy Koufax (LAD)* - 3-0, 0.84 ERA, 32.1 IP, 1.21 WHIP, 10.0 K/9, 1.6 WAR (Injured)
• SP Tom Seaver (NYM) - 13-3, 2.22 ERA, 182.1 IP, 1.03 WHIP, 7.3 K/9, 4.8 WAR
• SP Rick Wise (NYM) - 12-6, 2.85 ERA, 161.1 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 5.2 K/9, 4.7 WAR
• RP Charlie Beamon (HOU)* - 1-3, 3.51 ERA, 33.1 IP, 1.56 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, 0.5 WAR
• RP Jim Bethke (CHC) - 4-3, 7 SV, 2.24 ERA, 52.1 IP, 1.26 WHIP, 5.5 K/9, 0.8 WAR
• RP Mike Caldwell (NYM) - 1-3, 2.52 ERA, 25.0 IP, 1.52 WHIP, 6.5 K/9, 0.3 WAR
• CL Bill Campbell (SD) - 4-4, 21 SV, 1.91 ERA, 56.2 IP, 1.38 WHIP, 6.4 K/9, 0.5 WAR
• C Johnny Bench (CIN)* - .296/.383/.532, 267 AB, 19 HR, 1 SB, 158 wRC+, 5.0 WAR
• C Ted Simmons (STL) - .264/.305/.382, 296 AB, 6 HR, 4 SB, 86 wRC+, 0.5 WAR
• 1B Willie McCovey (SF)* - .309/.428/.545, 330 AB, 22 HR, 172 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
• 1B Al Oliver (PIT) - .343/.375/.557, 350 AB, 12 HR, 1 SB, 163 wRC+, 3.9 WAR
• 1B Tony Perez (CIN) - .311/.377/.576, 347 AB, 23 HR, 1 SB, 165 wRC+, 3.9 WAR
• 2B Joe Morgan (CIN)* - .261/.415/.487, 314 AB, 19 HR, 47 SB, 161 wRC+, 5.0 WAR
• 3B Buddy Bell (MON) - .340/.383/.492, 368 AB, 6 HR, 5 SB, 144 wRC+, 3.8 WAR
• 3B Darrell Evans (SF)* - .317/.432/.680, 331 AB, 35 HR, 210 wRC+, 6.7 WAR
• SS Mark Belanger (HOU)* - .253/.312/.334, 332 AB, 5 HR, 13 SB, 78 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• LF Greg Luzinski (PHI) - .352/.416/.632, 182 AB, 13 HR, 199 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
• LF Billy Williams (CIN)* - .333/.407/.518, 336 AB, 13 HR, 165 wRC+, 4.5 WAR
• CF Dusty Baker (LAD)* - .289/.362/.403, 305 AB, 6 HR, 13 SB, 118 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
• CF Amos Otis (PHI) - .306/.364/.461, 356 AB, 10 HR, 18 SB, 134 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
• RF Bobby Bonds (SF)* - .281/.369/.472, 352 AB, 14 HR, 44 SB, 141 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
• RF Jim Wynn (HOU) - .273/.439/.479, 282 AB, 11 HR, 10 SB, 158 wRC+, 4.4 WAR

Lee May beats Mike Epstein 7-6 to take out the HR Derby, with Greg Luzinski leading the NL to an 11-6 in the game itself.

[luckymann]

Up there with the most frantic, hectic and manic two-month periods I can remember, at our club in particular but all around the league as well.

We lose Cobra Parker for a minimum IL stint in the first couple days of June courtesy of a back strain, but it coincides with the return of Willie Montanez and we simply swap one for t’other. Still, it is an horror start to the new month as we drop a home sweep to the Reds, then another one to the Giants, as both George Hendrick and Woodie Fryman pick up niggles that will need some managing.

This ends up being one of the worst periods in recent memory for our club as we just keep getting beat and beat bad with our pitching just pathetic. In a fortnight we go 2-10, which moves us from one game ahead to 7 GB until the lads sort themselves out and win all four games of a homestand against the Mets near the end of June that eventually stretches to 10 straight. Suddenly, we are right back in the thick of it.

We’re all square at the time of the Hebner-Bibby double switch and immediately Ron Brand – without a word of a lie, suddenly up there with the players we can least afford to get hurt – gets hurt. It’s a soft-tissue problem that won’t require an IL stint, thankfully, but still it increases the strain all the same. By now, the Mets have started running hot again and there’s no doubt my off-field machinations are proving to be ill-timed, especially when Brand’s return is delayed and he does end up needing an IL stint, forcing us to promote ineligible C Larry Howard as a short-term measure to make his MLB debut.

While this is a nice touch, it nevertheless adds to an unsettled feeling around the place that is reflected by an up-and-down series of performances in which we are neither scoring enough runs nor being protective enough of those few we do score.

Over the same stretch that the Mets win 16 straight, we go 7-9. In nearly every one of those losses, one or another of our relievers has a meltdown, and in those 16 games our hitters clear the fences just 5 times and eventually go homer-less in 12 consecutive games. By the time the Mets do finally lose one, they are off to the races with a 7-game lead.

We limp into the ASB with a few more horrendous performances as we once again struggle against the West Coast clubs (1-8 against the Giants, for example), falling 9 GB and into 3rd place. I’ve not seen anything like what has transpired in these past two weeks: 4-12 since the trades. These guys have given so much over the past two seasons that I’m willing to say this one’s on me. But as a standalone affair it sets a few of them in a rather unflattering light, especially with regard to leadership.

At our midpoint management meeting it is agreed upon that we sacrifice whatever entrails of expectation we have left for this season on the altar of progress and not long after use our final trade ticket for the year on the following switch with the Brewers:




DJ has been one of our better hitters this season, but there was little chance of us exercising the $300k team oppy for next season and so this is a good deal for us on that basis alone. Dave (who was an IRL Pirate from 1969-73) is under contract thru 1976 on relatively easy terms from our side of the equation, but it’ll be touch-and-go as to whether he stays on past that.




I’m nothing if not a man of my word and we do, in fact, use what is now one of our three free CC slots on a backup IF. With no dice for now regarding Stennett and with the asking price for our next pick too steep, Woody is a handy pickup for us and we quickly pay $85k per to hang onto him for another year with an option for a second as our IF defence is pretty poor.




That means Bailey should go to AAA – not something he deserves but that’s how it works sometimes. We decide instead to do so via the Waiver Wire to at least give other clubs a chance to take him and play him as should be the case. He does indeed get claimed by Atlanta, and we wish him all the best for the future.

As for the present, things don’t improve and we finish up with a 10-18 record for July that leaves us 9½ games adrift at 58-49.





Those metrics paint a picture of a team not doing anything particularly well, or poorly.






With all of the changes in personnel, these mean very little for us this season. I do feel this power outage is only a temporary thing and should right itself at some point.

I believe the BP issues are also transitory and transitional. Gossage, Garber and Forster are very young and raw, so hopefully this is a formative experience.




While they just fade a tad at the end of July, how about them Indians! The Royals, too! Plenty of twists and turns left across the board, methinks, but there's some chance of the playoffs rolling around with all four combatants seeking their first title. That would be pretty cool indeed.


News, Leaders and Top 20s











Monthly Award Winners

June

American League

• Batter – Bernie Carbo (Royals): 348 / 5 HR / 21 RBI
• Pitcher – Ken Holtzman (Indians): 4-1 / 2.41 / 26 K / 52.1 IP
• Rookie – Wayne Garland (Rangers): 3-1 / 2.25 / 19 K / 44 IP

National League

• Batter – Richie Zisk (Expos): 416 / 2 HR / 22 RBI
• Pitcher – Gary Nolan (Phillies): 5-1 / 1.47 / 23 K / 49 IP
• Rookie – Don Hood (Astros): 3-0 / 1.69 / 27 K / 37.1 IP

July

American League

• Batter – Doug Rader (Royals): 348 / 7 HR / 24 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim Palmer (Orioles): 5-1 / 1.50 / 26 K / 48 IP
• Rookie – Doug Bird (Royals): 2-0 / 0.87 / 7 SV / 7 K / 10.1 IP

National League

• Batter – Joe Morgan (Reds): 299 / 6 HR / 12 RBI
• Pitcher – Rick Wise (Mets): 5-1 / 1.95 / 30 K / 60 IP
• Rookie – Jackie Brown (Dodgers): 3-1 / 0.69 / 28 K / 39 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

• 400 HR: Frank Howard
• 2000 Hits: Harmon Killebrew
• Bert Blyleven remains on top of all three TC stat cats.
• The Expos lose Jeff Burroughs for 5 weeks with a back injury, while veteran Willie Mays goes down for a month with elbow inflammation.
• Jerry Koosman’s 1973 season is cut short by the need for elbow surgery, one of four Yankees pitchers out with injuries, while former Bucco Tommy Helms will miss anywhere up to two months with an oblique strain.
• Giants young gun Darrell Evans is currently at 36 HR for the season, which puts him on pace for 55.
• On the topic of the longball, I may have spoken prematurely about the Mick being done as he adds 7 more over June and July to take his career total to 620. Henry Aaron, meanwhile, has 25 for the year and 576 all up. In a nice touch, that's 44 behind.
• IRL career minor-leaguer Orestes Minoso jr, son of the great “Minnie”, actually breaks into the bigs in this timeline as a member of the Giants organisation.
• Here are the swaps of note from a fairly uneventful Deadline period:

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[luckymann]

Most RBIs without Scoring a Run (Does not include pitchers)

[luckymann]

Which pitchers are leading the MLB in career wins above replacement (WAR)?

• Walter Johnson, -, 161.2
• Sandy Koufax, LAD, 141.7
• Satchel Paige, -, 139.4
• Willis Flournoy, -, 124.5
• Rube Waddell, -, 116.7

[luckymann]

Our AAA boys at Lincoln are rarely pushed as they cruise to the playoffs and then go unbeaten agains Tucson and Moline to lock down their 18th title.

[luckymann]

Plenty of action over the closing stages of season 1973.

We finish the season well behind the dominant Mets, who book the franchise’s first playoff run with a fantastic 96-win campaign.

Houston surge into contention in the NL West on the back of a 16-game win streak but the Giants pretty much put paid to that with a home sweep and they go on to win the division comfortably.

The Tribe’s challenge seems to fizzle out by dint of a 14-14 August and, while the Red Sox never really put them away, they nevertheless stroll to their fifth straight AL East title – in fact, no other club is yet to win it since the divisional alignment was introduced.

Finally, the AL West race tightens right up by the start of September as the Royals get the staggers and the Angels emerge as the main threat, with the Twins still in it as well. The Halos beat KC 4-from-4 in mid-September to put them 4½ clear and go on to seal the deal with a series of dramatic wins that in the end emphatically delivers them their first playoff appearance and give us a 2-from-4 chance of a first-time winner.




Billy Williams (185-for-547; .33821) just edges out Scoop Oliver (199-for-589; .33786) to repeat as NL batting champ, while Matty Alou wins his first across in the AL with a career-high 351 mark. Although he slows down over the final weeks, Darrell Evans still leads all players with 44 HR (the only to finish above 40 in fact). Tony Perez tops the RBI list with 120.

Lou Brock becomes the first player to steal 100 bases in an MLB season, doing so 104 times from 126 attempts. That leaves him with 793 for his career, closing in on Wild Bill Wright’s all-time career record of 882.

Mickey Mantle finishes with 11 HR for the season and 621 all told, 33 ahead of Henry Aaron's 588 - who closes the gap markedly with 37 on the year.

After missing much of the year injured, Sandy Koufax returns to the game in style, passing Satchel Paige’s previous record of 4496 to close the season as the all-time King of K with 4509.

Both Tom Seaver and Bert Blyleven finish 1-1-2 across the Triple Crown slash. Tom edges out Bert by one for the most wins with 23 and also pips him on ERA with 2.12 to 2.19. It's the strikeouts they both miss out on, with JR Richard (278) and Nolan Ryan (273) finishing on top. Jim Brewer has the most Saves with 42.


With our eyes very much fixed on the horizon, we give some of the next-gen lads a more prominent role over the stretch run. They generally acquit themselves well, but our pitching remains as utterly on the nose as it has been all season, with even Woodie Fryman succumbing in the final period before we move him to the BP.

Again, I’ll take the rap for most of this. The sweeping changes could have been transacted in a far more orderly manner and, accordingly, the group has played like a rudderless ship for most of the year. All the same, I do feel such short-term pain will be worth the long-term gain and am equally confident we have laid the groundwork here for the club’s next run of success in a few years’ time by assembling a lot of the guys who will form the nucleus of that run. Plenty more pieces needing to be found and added but we're on the right track, I feel.









Final Top 20s and Leaders








Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

• Batter – Cesar Cedeno (Indians): 463 / 11 HR / 33 RBI
• Pitcher – Paul Splittorff (Royals): 5-1 / 1.70 / 23 K / 53 IP
• Rookie – Charlie Spikes (Indians): 299 / 7 HR / 22 RBI

National League

• Batter – Jeff Burroughs (Expos): 500 / 8 HR / 29 RBI
• Pitcher – Rich Hand (Expos): 4-1 / 1.37 / 37 K / 46 IP
• Rookie – Steve Rogers (Expos): 4-2 / 1.50 / 25 K / 54 IP

September

American League

• Batter – Earl Williams (Rangers): 337 / 9 HR / 23 RBI
• Pitcher – Dave Downs (Angels): 4-0 / 0.70 / 7 SV / 10 K / 25.2 IP
• Rookie – Barry Foote (Rangers): 449 / 3 HR / 11 RBI

National League

• Batter – Bobby Bonds (Giants): 374 / 8 HR / 25 RBI
• Pitcher – Tom Seaver (Mets): 5-0 / 1.80 / 49 K / 50 IP
• Rookie – Randy Jones (Braves): 2-1 / 3.26 / 26 K / 47 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

• 2500 Hits: Luis Aparicio, Vada Pinson
• 2000 Hits: Willie Davis, Norm Cash
• The Brewers lose Don Gullett for the remainder to elbow trouble, while Marv Breeding has his season cut short by a back injury and Larry Bowa of the Friars by a concussion.
• Bad news for young Brewers pitcher Wayne Twitchell as an elbow blowout means he’ll miss the little bit that’s left of this season and the entirety of 1974; even worse for Mets OF Del Unser, who is knocked out of the playoffs with a medial rupture.

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