The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

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... pretty sure these guys are related...

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Tucson knocks out our Links in three and goes on to win it all by seeing off the Buffalos in another series that goes the distance.

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Oh, dear Lord. What a run we've had these past few years and, yet again, this one tops all the others. Even with a bit of time having passed I still can't believe what I just saw. I'll have to relate it to you via the source document otherwise I'll crash IMGUR...

OK, back to scheduled programming...


Batting titles to Eddie Murray and Mickey Rivers, the first for each. MLB bests on offense this season are Gorman Thomas's 36 homers, Eddie Murray's 119 RBI and Ron LeFlore's 122 steals.

Fernando - who wins his 20th of the season on the 12th of August, by which point not a one of our guys have even made it into double-figures, although Ron Guidry does so the very next day - misses out on a rookie year TC thanks to Ron Guidry's 2.12 ERA. Nando finishes with a league-best 25 wins (25-3, 2.20 is his final line) and 246 strikeouts. Bill Caudill's 42 Saves are the most by any reliever.


As for us, well I'm not going to point fingers - it's only bouquets from me rather than brickbats as anything else would seem like sour grapes.

George Hendrick and Dave Parker were phenomenal down that hectic stretch drive, while both Jason Thompson and Ben Ogilvie more than did their bit. And of course I forgive Ron Guidry that final stumble - we wouldn't have even been in that position without him and his 17-7, 2.12 contribution.


The $64k question: who won out of the big trade?

We traded away a couple of young guys for an expensive 1B only and a rental we can't keep. 3.2 WAR out, 2.5 in. Plus, they are going to the playoffs and we aren't, so you have to say they did.

Still, I think I'd do the same thing again if given the decision to make.


Here are all of our final reports.

Final Top 20s and Leaders

Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

• Batter – Eddie Murray (Orioles): 386 / 10 HR / 32 RBI
• Pitcher – Hal Kurtz (Tigers): 3-0 / 0.00 / 5 SV / 3 K / 14.1 IP
• Rookie – Steve Howe (Twins): 0-0 / 1.00 / 9 SV / 18 K / 27 IP

National League

• Batter – Leon Durham (Mets): 263 / 10 HR / 24 RBI
• Pitcher – Fernando Valenzuela (Dodgers): 5-0 / 2.64 / 55 K / 58 IP
• Rookie – Fernando Valenzuela

September

American League

• Batter – Cecil Cooper (Tigers): 324 / 6 HR / 28 RBI
• Pitcher – Jerry Koosman (Yankees): 5-0 / 1.85 / 20 K / 48.2 IP
• Rookie – Charlie Lea (Rangers): 4-0 / 0.69 / 23 K / 39 IP

National League

• Batter – Dave Parker (Reds): 354 / 7 HR / 13 RBI
• Pitcher – Bill Gullickson (Cardinals): 5-1 / 0.89 / 37 K / 50.1 IP
• Rookie – Fernando Valenzuela (Dodgers): 3-1 / 3.10 / 48 K / 49.1 IP

Milestones and Observations of Note

• 2500 Hits: Rod Carew
• The White Sox lose gun rookie Harold Baines for 7 weeks to back problems, while Dusty Baker has an early season end courtesy of a fractured elbow.
• Down in AAA, Jacksonville’s Ade Kenary no-hits Madisonville.

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American League
Detroit Tigers (96-68) v Oakland A’s (94-68)

This looks an evenly-matched series between two scrappy sides the result of which, I feel, will all depend on how much residual heat there is left in the Tigers after that torrid final run.

The A’s, who play a form of “middle-ball” with plenty of SB to keep the defence on their toes and have a young rotation that looks set to keep them competitive for the next few seasons. How well those young guys handle the pressure here will be another telling factor.

A late blowout gives the visiting A’s a strong opening game win but the Tigers square it up with a 2-0 win the next day behind a dominant Mike Norris.

The series moves to the Bay Area and Game 3 is one of the wildest I can recall as the Tigers eventually win it 15-10 thanks mainly to a 7-spot in the 9th with Cecil Cooper leading the way with 4 hits and 4 ribbies, and they finish the job in starkly different fashion with a 1-0 win in Game 4 that sends them to the WS for the 12th time.

Bruce Bochte wins the MVP.





National League
Los Angeles Dodgers (111-51) v Chicago Cubs (86-77)

You have to feel for the Cubbies, finally making it into the playoffs after so many near misses only to run headlong into one of the most dominant teams in MLB history, the 111-game winning Dodgers.

That’s 25 more wins than the Chicagoans had this year and, while I hope they’ll at least give their long-suffering fans a good showing, this looks an epic mismatch in every regard.

The legend of Fernando Valuenzula grows exponentially as he takes a no-hitter 26 outs into the opening game before a two-out single in the 9th by Luis Aguayo almost starts a riot and the Dodgers fans in attendance have to make do with a 9K 1-hitter in a 2-0 win that also features a fine outing by Lefty Carlton.

The Cubs come out swinging the next game only to let the Dodgers crawl all the way back from 6-2 down to send it into spares. The visitors score one in the top 10th and this time hang on to put things back on level par heading to the Windy City.

Almost unbelievably, another Dodgers pitcher takes a no-no deep into Game 3 at Wrigley, with Jim Clancy not allowing a hit until the 8th in a game that stays scoreless until that man Luis Aguayo strikes again, doubling in the winning run walkoff-style off Tug McGraw in the 11th to put the Cubs a game away from arguably the biggest MLB upset ever.

Which they duly pull off, shocking the baseball world with a tough 11-5 win led by MVP Larry Hisle, who hits 400 with 2 homers and 6 RBI, earning the Cubs their first Fall Classic appearance since 1945.

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Detroit Tigers v Chicago Cubs
Best-of-seven, Cubs with the home-field advantage.


DETROIT TIGERS S+ PAGE

CHICAGO CUBS S+ PAGE

No predictions here, I’m just going to sit back and enjoy this while quietly rooting for the Baby Bears. Their chances have certainly been helped by the news that Tigers SS Alan Trammell will miss the series due to a back injury. The home-field advantage won’t hurt, either.

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Game 1 in Chicago

Steve Carlton (17-8, 3.33) v Frank Tanana (17-13, 3.76)

A fine way to get this started with two of the good ones going head to head. Ivan De Jesus comes in for Trammell as Tigers SS.

It’s a game of two halves to open proceedings as Tanana dominates early and the Tigers go out to a 3-0 lead going into the home 7th. Then the Cubs bats come alive against the Detroit bullpen with a 7-run frame – unbelievably, without an extra-base hit – and the hosts go on to take it out 8-3.

Game 2 in Chicago

Rick Reuschel (8-13, 3.29) v Len Barker (15-12, 4.02)

Cubs lead series 1-0

The Tigers score early again but this time go on and finish the job with a fairly comprehensive 7-1 victory. Ken Landreaux has 3 hits and 2 RBI for the winners, while Cecil Cooper goes 4-for-5.

Game 3 in Detroit

Mike Norris (11-11, 4.86) v Gary Nolan (6-4, 2.56)

Series tied 1-1

For whatever reason, it isn’t due to injury, the Cubbies decide to go with Gary Nolan over our old friend Rick Langford.

In the end it possibly wouldn’t have mattered one way or the other as the Cubs bats stay cold and Mike Norris pitches a fine game with 6+ shutout innings in a 4-0 final. Darrel Porter goes deep with a man aboard for the victors.

Game 4 in Detroit

Rick Sutcliffe (8-11, 4.32) v Steve Mura (8-6, 2.62)

Tigers lead series 2-1

A much improved offensive showing from Chicago as they score 4 in the 1st and 3 more in the 7th to win it comfortably 7-2 and tie the series at 2 games apiece, guaranteeing the Wrigley fans at least one more go-around among the ivy. Eric Soderholm leads the way with a doubleand a 3-run homer, while Bake McBride also puts one in to the seats.

Game 5 in Detroit

Frank Tanana (0-1, 4.09) v Steve Carlton (1-1, 2.81)

Series tied 2-2

The series slowly picks up momentum as Lefty Carlton steers the Cubbies past the home side in a tough 4-2 decision. The great man allows just a run on 3 hits over 6 and Rollie Fingers does the rest with an 8-out save. Boy, oh boy, with Wrigley be rocking in a couple days time as the Cubbies try to close it out.

Game 6 in Chicago

Rick Reuschel (0-1, 5.54) v Len Barker (1-0, 4.50)

Cubs lead series 3-2

Needless to say, Reuschel will have to be way sharper than he was in Game 2 if the Cubs are going to get it done in one, as has become the Windy City catchphrase these past 24 hours or so.

Early doors it looks like the traditional sort of Cubs game as the Tigers smack Reuschel around and take a 4-0 lead thru the middle 3rd. But then, inch by inch and run by run, the Cubs get back into the game and eventually win it going away with a 3-run 6th and two more to pad it in the 8th en route to a famous 7-4 win delivering them their 5th World Championship and first since 1910! To those guys we traded away midseason - you're welcome...

Bump Wills, who goes 9-for-22 with 2 RBI over the six games, is named MVP.

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OUT & OUTS

Both the Angels and A's change ownership.

Richie Ashburn is fired as Yankees Manager, while Frank Thomas (Mariners), Norm Zauchin (Rangers), Bill Dailey (Expos) and Danny Cater (Braves) will be keeping him company at the employment agency.


ROSTER MOVES

The real futility of that Cubs trade hits how now as our mix gets torn apart by decreasing skills in the field. We have a key decision to make about George Hendrick, who basically can't field well anywhere anymore and that just doesn't fit our structure. We're also super thin around the diamond and I'm not sure Phil Garner's tenure with us will last much longer. Whatever the case, it is shaping up as a busy old offseason indeed.

We reluctantly exercise Lou Marone's final year because we have a paucity of LHRP and need all of our trade tickets for more pressing matters. He's only on $200k so it isn't a huge impost. We send Eds Ott and Whitson, along with Tony Armas, to arb and non-tender Gary Alexander.

Ben Ogilvie, Woodie Fryman and Dave May all walk, as does minor-league P Eddie Solomon.

Elsewhere, Don Sutton extends thru 1983 with the Dodgers and Rod Carew elects to stay at the Twins for the same period of time and that will hopefully let him leave the game as a one-club player.


SIM ACCURACY




*Ignore the SB figure, I often bump it up in the LTMs if I feel it's too low.


HANGIN' THEM UP

The Walloper will get a decent look-in but one would think that's about it from this year's retirees.

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AL 1980 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1980 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Fernando Valenzuela goes within a whisker of becoming the first player I can recall to clean sweep the major awards, unanimously winning the NL Mantle-Mays and Johnson-Waddell gongs and coming up just 3 votes short in the Wagner-Lajoie behind Garry Templeton, who wins his first. That despite Nando's 13 first-place votes to Garry's 9 and the young legend also wins a Ruth-Gibson for good measure. The AL winners are Rickey Henderson (Wagner-Lajoie) and Britt Burns (Johnson-Waddell), the first for each. Paige-Koufax Plates to Steve Howe and Dave Smith.



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We take the first steps in trying to get our legs back under us, fairly positive ones on paper at least but a lot of whether we can get things right for '81 will depend on the Draft, always an iffy proposition. Very much looking forward to those lean IRL times hitting the club to push us up the pick list for a while to hopefully allow us some restocking.

As I said, I think we've done well on both counts here, firstly with a strong corner man and an everyday SS who was briefly with us previously but never played for us in the bigs:

Then, a solid replacement for Ed courtesy of the Tribe:

So the plan is for Oberkfell to start at 3B and Reynolds at SS with Derrell Thomas and Dale Berra the backup IFs. It was a toss-up between Dale and Bill Almon in the latter trade; Cleveland would take either but we just felt Dale being 4 years younger and currently able to cover 2B / 3B / SS makes him more indispensable right now.

Two of Candy Man, Larry McWilliams and Tudor will be in the rotation, with the other in the BP and in all likelihood they'll rotate those roles throughout the year depending on form etc.


That only leaves one trade ticket and we're on the hunt for a cheap FA. Like I said, the Draft will be key and almost certainly where we'll spend our third ringer slot as money is tight and FAs are out of our fiscal league for the most part.

If, however, we can swing a deal for Garner and Henny for a strong CF then that's also on the cards but we'll wait until after the Draft to make that call.


EDIT Scrap that (pun intended...), we found our trade:

Boom! Literally, as we pick up a huge bat to tide us over. The Draft strategy won't change and if we do pick up a suitable CF replacement we'll just have to keep them at AAA this year and move them up when GT goes. Hate to lose Henny and also to have spent all of our trade passes with Opening Day still months away, but desperate times yada, yada, yada...

This trade also pushes our free cash up above $1m so we'll now see if we can find a FA on which to spend some of it.

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Six new Legacies again this year including two of my personal faves as Marquees in a pretty interesting broader pool.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1981 Season:

Baltimore Orioles: Cal Ripken jr (95.9; 3001 – one-club player MARQUEE)
Chicago Cubs: Ryne Sandberg (67.9; 2151 MARQUEE (conceded))
Los Angeles Dodgers: Steve Sax (25.7; 1091)
Minnesota Twins: Gary Gaetti (42.1; 1361)
Philadelphia Phillies: Von Hayes (29.9; 1208)
Toronto Blue Jays: Jesse Barfield (39.4; 1032)

Kent Hrbek (38.6; 1747 – one-club player) was also eligible for the Twins, but Gaetti’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 184 rookies for this season (including some carry-over MiLBers from last year), and the Draft will consist of 7 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1980 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):


Round 1

1. Baltimore Orioles (617)
2. Chicago Cubs (395)
3. Minnesota Twins (478)
4. Toronto Blue Jays (414; dice roll)
5. Philadelphia Phillies (562)
6. Los Angeles Dodgers (564)
7. Seattle Mariners (364)
8. California Angels (406)
9. New York Mets (414; dice roll)
10. Chicago White Sox (438)
11. San Diego Padres (451)
12. St. Louis Cardinals (457)
13. San Francisco Giants (466)
14. Texas Rangers (472)
15. Cleveland Indians (494)
16. Atlanta Braves (503)
17. Oakland Athletics (512; dice roll)
18. Pittsburgh Pirates (512; dice roll)
19. Detroit Tigers (519; dice roll)
20. Boston Red Sox (519; dice roll)
21. Milwaukee Brewers (531)
22. Cincinnati Reds (549)
23. Montreal Expos (556)
24. Houston Astros (571)
25. Kansas City Royals (599)
26. New York Yankees (632)


Rounds 2 thru 10

1. Seattle Mariners (364)
2. Chicago Cubs (395)
3. California Angels (406)
4. Toronto Blue Jays (414; dice roll)
5. New York Mets (414; dice roll)
6. Chicago White Sox (438)
7. San Diego Padres (451)
8. St. Louis Cardinals (457)
9. San Francisco Giants (466)
10. Texas Rangers (472)
11. Minnesota Twins (478)
12. Cleveland Indians (494)
13. Atlanta Braves (503)
14. Oakland Athletics (512; dice roll)
15. Pittsburgh Pirates (512; dice roll)
16. Detroit Tigers (519; dice roll)
17. Boston Red Sox (519; dice roll)
18. Milwaukee Brewers (531)
19. Cincinnati Reds (549)
20. Montreal Expos (556)
21. Philadelphia Phillies (562)
22. Los Angeles Dodgers (564)
23. Houston Astros (571)
24. Kansas City Royals (599)
25. Baltimore Orioles (617)
26. New York Yankees (632)



Eligible PIT players: 3 position players + 5 pitchers = 8


As I mentioned in my previous post, we go into this Draft with a specific goal but are utterly dependent on things falling our way as to how we go. We’re slightly better positioned with our first pick around the middle of the order, so we have to ride 11 picks after the Legacies before we get our first crack at them. Fingers crossed, with slim pickings again among the eligibles this has got “hit or miss” written all over it.

Our picks are as follows:

1. OF Dave Henderson, 22 (ineligible)

• Not our first choice, but featured on our SHORT shortlist and we’re happy to have him; will have to bide his time down at AAA for ’81 unless one of the CC slots frees up—we are slated to get two of them back next year with the Thomases Derrell and Gorman in their walk year.

2. P Dave Rucker, 23 (PIT IRL: 1988)

• Only the fact that he’s a southpaw gets him even close to consideration at some point; the only eligible guy we get to take this time around.

3. C Chris Bando, 23 (ineligible)
4. OF Gene Roof, 22 (ineligible)
5. IF Pedro Medina, 17 (ineligible)
6. P Dave Wilhelmi, 20 (ineligible) no relation to Hoyt, I’m afraid
7. C Jeff Remo, 19 (ineligible)

• All AAA depth.

A close call but we got there.


FULL DRAFT LOG

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One of the largest inductions I can remember sees five new additions to the HoF including our own mighty Roberto Clemente. The chisels will be busy in Cooperstown.

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On-field strikes give way to one off the field in the infamous “split season” that sees overall records thrown out the window and the Division Series make its first appearance.

In the wash-up, teams such as the Reds and Cardinals rightly feel hard done by, while the Expos make their sole playoff appearance as a result, losing out to Rick Monday’s famous curtain-raiser to Kirk Gibson’s a few years later. The World Series sees the Dodgers finally break through for their first title in 16 years.


AL EAST / WEST CHAMPIONS: New York Yankees (59-48) / Oakland A’s (64-45)
NL EAST / WEST CHAMPIONS: Montreal Expos (60-48) / Los Angeles Dodgers (63-47)
ALCS: Yankees 3, A’s 0
NLCS: Dodgers 3, Expos 2
WORLD SERIES: Dodgers 4, Yankees 2

Pittsburgh Pirates: 46-56, 4th in NL East

AL MVP: Rollie Fingers (Brewers)
NL MVP: Mike Schmidt (Phillies)

AL CYA: Rollie Fingers (Brewers)
NL CYA: Fernando Valenzuela (Dodgers)

AL RoY: Dave Righetti (Yankees)
NL RoY: Fernando Valenzuela (Dodgers)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. MIKE SCHMIDT, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .316 average, 78 runs, 112 hits, 19 doubles, 31 home runs, 91 RBIs, 73 walks, 18 intentional walks, 12 stolen bases, .435 on-base percentage, .644 slugging percentage.
• One shudders to think what kind of numbers Schmidt might have racked up had the strike not stripped him of a third of the season. We’ll pace it out for you anyway: 47 home runs and 138 RBIs. (If you basically want 162-game projections for everybody on this page, just divide the numbers by two and multiply by three—except averages, of course.)

2. ANDRE DAWSON, MONTREAL

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 71 runs, 119 hits, 21 doubles, 24 home runs, 64 RBIs, 7 hit-by-pitches, 26 stolen bases.
• Dawson could have easily become Montreal’s first 30-30 ballplayer had it not been for the strike; Expos fans would have to wait until Vladimir Guerrero (in 2001) finally reached the milestone.

3. GEORGE FOSTER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .295 average, 64 runs, 122 hits, 23 doubles, 22 home runs, 90 RBIs.
• Foster had one last productive fling at Cincinnati before initiating an unhappy tenure at New York.

4. GARY MATTHEWS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .301 average, 62 runs, 21 doubles, 9 home runs, 67 RBIs, 59 walks, 15 stolen bases.
• Though with light round-tripper muscle, Matthews satisfied Phillies front-office personnel who agreed to take him off the hands of a Braves team that didn’t want to grant him another voluminous contract.

5. TIM RAINES, MONTREAL

• Key Numbers: 88 games, .304 average, 61 runs, 13 double, 7 triples, 5 home runs, 37 RBIs, 71 stolen bases.
• Among the would-haves and should-haves from the strike-shortened campaign: An outside shot for rookie Raines, the latest Montreal sonic-speedster, to break Lou Brock’s season stolen base record.

6. KEITH HERNANDEZ, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .306 average, 65 runs, 115 hits, 27 doubles, 4 triples, 8 home runs, 48 RBIs, 61 walks, 12 stolen bases.
• Hernandez managed to hit over .300 for a third straight year despite a deepening cocaine addiction that would muffle what could have been his peak years.

7. BILL MADLOCK, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 82 games, .341 average, 23 doubles, 6 home runs, 45 RBIs, 18 stolen bases.
• The perennial .300 hitter complained at spring camp that he wouldn’t win a third batting title batting in the six-spot of the Pirates’ order. But after a hot start, the Bucs smartly moved him up to bat third and, sure enough, he got his crown.

8. GEORGE HENDRICK, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .284 average, 67 runs, 112 hits, 19 doubles, 18 home runs, 61 RBIs.
• Putting up numbers comparable to his strong 1980 results (on a per-game basis, anyway), Hendrick was equally good in each half of the season—just like the Cardinals in total, though it criminally wasn’t good enough to get them into the expanded postseason.

9. BILL BUCKNER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .311 average, 131 hits, 35 doubles, 10 home runs, 75 RBIs.
• Billy Buckshoes was one of the few saving graces of a really bad (38-65) Cubs team, on pace to hit over 50 doubles and knock in well over 100 runs.

10. PETE ROSE, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .325 average, 73 runs, 140 hits, 18 doubles, 5 triples, 0 home runs, 33 RBIs.
• For the second time, Rose was robbed of a 200-hit season due to a work stoppage (he collected 198 in a 1972 campaign shortened by eight games). On June 2 against the Mets, he became the first player age 40 or over since Sam Rice in 1930 to hit two triples in a game.

AL Hitters

1. DWIGHT EVANS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 84 runs, 122 hits, 19 doubles, 4 triples, 22 home runs, 71 RBIs, 85 walks.
• There wasn’t anything eye-popping about Evans’ stats until you discover it historically took him 162 games, not 108, to put up similar figures.

2. RICKEY HENDERSON, OAKLAND

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 89 runs, 135 hits, 18 doubles, 7 triples, 6 home runs, 35 RBIs, 64 walks, 56 stolen bases, 22 caught stealing.
• Had he been given a full season, Henderson might have surpassed both 200 hits and 100 walks; he finished a close second to Rollie Fingers in the AL MVP count (319-308).

3. EDDIE MURRAY, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: .294 average, 57 runs, 111 hits, 21 doubles, 22 home runs, 78 RBIs.
• Steady Eddie claimed the lone home run title of his Hall-of-Fame career, even if he did have to share the lead with three other players (Dwight Evans, Bobby Grich and Tony Armas).

4. TOM PACIOREK, SEATTLE

• Key Numbers: .326 average, 132 hits, 28 doubles, 14 home runs, 66 RBIs, 13 stolen bases.
• The career part-timer easily proved he could play every day and became an instant fan favorite in Seattle.

5. BOBBY GRICH, CALIFORNIA

• Key Numbers: .304 average, 56 runs, 22 home runs, 61 RBIs, .543 slugging percentage.
• How the Grich stole California: On a star-studded Angels team loaded with marquee performers (Fred Lynn, Rod Carew, Don Baylor), the long-time supporting cast member took center stage.

6. CECIL COOPER, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: .320 average, 70 runs, 133 hits, 35 doubles, 12 home runs, 60 RBIs.
• On a Brewers team that struggled to hit (but not win), Cooper emerged as the most reliable veteran by hitting over .300 for the fifth of seven straight seasons.

7. CARNEY LANSFORD, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .336 average, 61 runs, 134 hits, 23 doubles, 4 home runs, 52 RBIs, 15 stolen bases.
• Lansford won his first and only batting title, but he was just an ankle injury away from being replaced by another batting champ (Wade Boggs).

8. GORMAN THOMAS, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: .259 average, 54 runs, 22 doubles, 21 home runs, 65 RBIs.
• The Brewers’ slugger managed to finally get his batting average over the .250 mark for the first time since he became an everyday regular; 15 of his 21 homers were crushed in the season’s first half.

9. DAVE WINFIELD, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .294 average, 52 runs, 114 hits, 25 doubles, 13 home runs, 68 RBIs, 11 stolen bases.
• The über-talented Winfield began a tormented tenure in Steinbrennerland with an agreeable—but not entirely superlative—set of numbers.

10. CHET LEMON, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 50 runs, 23 doubles, 6 triples, 9 home runs, 50 RBIs, 13 hit-by-pitches.
• The unheralded but not always unhurt (13 HBPs in a short season) Lemon enjoyed his last of seven years with the White Sox, before being traded to Detroit one-up for Steve Kemp.

NL Pitchers

1. JERRY REUSS, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.30 ERA, 10 wins, 4 losses, .714 win percentage, 22 starts, 152.2 innings, 27 walks, 18 grounded into double plays.
• For all the attention afforded to Fernandomania, teammate Reuss actually had a better ERA (1.90) through the season’s first half—and complemented his overall regular season performance with 18 shutout innings thrown against Houston in the divisional series.

2. NOLAN RYAN, HOUSTON

• Key Numbers: 1.69 ERA, 11 wins, 5 losses, .688 win percentage, 21 starts, 149 innings, 16 wild pitches, 21 stolen bases allowed.
• In his second year with the Astros, Ryan delivered a career-best ERA and fifth no-hitter; four teams (Cubs, Dodgers, Expos and Mets) couldn’t notch a single earned run off him over 52 combined innings.

3. STEVE CARLTON, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.42 ERA, 13 wins, 4 losses, .765 win percentage, 24 starts, 10 complete games, 190 innings, 179 strikeouts, 9 wild pitches.
• Carlton pitched well enough to earn his fourth Cy Young Award, but maybe voters got bored of picking him and gave it to Fernando.

4. FERNANDO VALENZUELA, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.48 ERA, 13 wins, 7 losses, 25 starts, 11 complete games, 8 shuouts, 192.1 innings, 180 strikeouts, 25 stolen bases allowed.
• Even within a condensed season, Valenzuela still broke the NL rookie record with eight shutouts.

5. BOB KNEPPER, HOUSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.18 ERA, 9 wins, 5 losses, 22 starts, 5 shutouts, 156.2 innings, 16 grounded into double plays.
• Knepper may have been the most effective nine-game winning starter, halving his ERA from the previous two years at San Francisco.

6. DON SUTTON, HOUSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.61 ERA, 11 wins, 9 losses, 23 starts, 158.2 innings, 29 walks.
• Stingy as ever, Sutton spurned the Yankees and headed for the quieter, more expansive pastures of the Astrodome—where he produced a 1.22 ERA in eight starts.

7. TOM SEAVER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.54 ERA, 14 wins, 2 losses, .875 win percentage, 23 starts, 166.1 innings, 23 stolen bases allowed.
• The 36-year-old Seaver’s performance was so good, he nearly stole the Cy Young Award from Fernando Valenzuela—losing in the final vote tally, 70-67.

8. BURT HOOTON, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.28 ERA, 11 wins, 6 losses, 23 starts, 142.1 innings, 33 walks, 18 stolen bases allowed.
• Valenzuela actually had the third-best ERA just on the Dodgers; Hooton had everyone beat with a personal-best figure.

9. RICK CAMP, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: 1.78 ERA, 9 wins, 3 losses, .750 win percentage, 17 saves, 5 blown saves, 48 appearances, 76 innings, 12 walks.
• The reinvention of Camp continued, posting his second straight sub-2.00 ERA.

10. BILL GULLICKSON, MONTREAL

• Key Numbers: 2.80 ERA, 7 wins, 9 losses, 22 starts, 157.1 innings, 15 stolen bases allowed.
• Here’s the primary reason that the 22-year-old Gullickson didn’t sport a more deserving record: Tim Raines and Andre Dawson, easily the Expos’ two best hitters, batted just .246 when he started. (When he didn’t pitch, they hit .316.)

AL Pitchers

1. STEVE MCCATTY, OAKLAND

• Key Numbers: 2.33 ERA, 14 wins, 7 losses, 22 starts, 16 complete games, 4 shutouts, 185.2 innings.
• McCatty emerged as the most prominent workhorse of workhorses on the A’s staff, helping Oakland to complete 60 games overall—nearly on pace with their 1980 total.

2. LARRY GURA, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: 2.72 ERA, 11 wins, 8 losses, 23 starts, 172.1 innings, 35 walks.
• Gura’s second-half numbers (7-3, 1.25 ERA) were crucial in getting the Royals to a second-half ‘title’ and a spot in the playoffs with an overall 50-53 record.

3. ROLLIE FINGERS, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 1.04 ERA, 6 wins, 3 losses, 28 saves, 6 blown saves, 47 appearances, 78 innings, 13 walks.
• The veteran closer was never more automatic than in his first year at Milwaukee, where he became instantly loved not only by Brewers fans but also by the BBWAA—which handed him both the AL Cy Young and MVP awards.

4. DAVE RIGHETTI, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.05 ERA, 8 wins, 4 losses, 15 starts, 105.1 innings.
• Even with Madison Avenue right down the street, Righettimania never quite broke out in New York like it did with Fernando Valenzuela in Los Angeles. That was puzzling, considering Righetti’s excellent rookie showing—on the heels of a 5-0, 1.60 ERA start at Triple-A Columbus.

5. DENNIS LAMP, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.41 ERA, 7 wins, 6 losses, 27 appearances, 10 starts, 127 innings, 18 stolen bases allowed.
• A failure as a starter the year before, Lamp was demoted to the bullpen—where he found his better pitching self, serving him well over his remaining 12 big-league seasons.

6. JACK MORRIS, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.05 ERA, 14 wins, 7 losses, 25 starts, 198 innings, 78 walks, 14 stolen bases allowed, 25 grounded into double plays.
• Morris got off to a sharp start in a decade in which he’d win more games than any other pitcher.

7. KEN FORSCH, CALIFORNIA

• Key Numbers: 2.88 ERA, 11 wins, 7 losses, 20 starts, 4 shutouts, 153 innings, 27 walks, 19 grounded into double plays.
• Dealt to Anaheim in a trade that would serve both the Astros and Angels well (Houston got Dickie Thon), Forsch was at his best before the strike, winning nine games.

8. DENNIS MARTINEZ, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 3.32 ERA, 14 wins, 5 losses, .737 win percentage, 24 starts, 179 innings, 15 stolen bases allowed.
• The Nicaraguan’s superb 1981 season prompted the Orioles to hand him a five-year contract—which would prove a disaster as Martinez began sinking more and more into alcohol.

9. SAMMY STEWART, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 2.32 ERA, 4 wins, 8 losses, 4 saves, 29 appearances, 3 starts, 112.1 innings.
• Even with a 4-8 record, reliever Sammy Stewart won the AL ERA title—but then he didn’t, thanks to a strange interpretation in which rounding out to the nearest full inning gave Steve McCatty the honor instead. (The rule was changed for 1982, and most people now except Stewart as the winner.)

10. DENNIS LEONARD, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: 2.99 ERA, 13 wins, 11 losses, 26 starts, 201.2 innings, 41 walks, 15 stolen bases allowed.
• Had it not been for the strike, it’s possible that Leonard—not Steve Carlton in 1980—would have been the last pitcher to date to amass 300 innings in a season. (He was on pace for 317.)

[luckymann]

Seems ‘tis the season to swap big-name OFs with a bunch changing clubs in a fairly active trade market. The FA action, as you can see from the list below, is even more frantic. Not much loyalty shown by the Cubs to WS hero Luis Aguayo as they trade him to the Phils for Pete Rose, while Mookie Wilson leaves the Mets and Smoke Stewart goes to the A’s.

• C Carlton Fisk: Tigers, 5 years / $10.9m / AAV $2.18m
• OF Fred Lynn: Cardinals, 6 years / $12.8m / AAV $2.13m
• 3B Toby Harrah: Yankees, 5 years / $10.4m / AAV $2.08m
• P Nolan Ryan: Red Sox, 4 years / $8.3m / AAV $2.08m
• OF Jerry Mumphrey: Reds, 7 years / $7.9m / AAV $1.98m
• OF Ben Ogilvie: Yankees, 6 years / $10.7m / AAV $1.79m
• 1B John Mayberry: A’s, 4 years / $6.5m / AAV $1.62m
• P Larry Christenson: Phillies, 7 years / $10.6m / AAV $1.52m
• C Darrell Porter: Tigers, 4 years / $5.9m / AAV $1.48m (extension)
• OF Gary Matthews: Blue Jays, 5 years / $5.7m / AAV $1.42m
• 3B Darrell Evans: Giants, 4 years / $5.4m / AAV $1.34m (extension)
• P Danny Darwin: Mariners, 4 years / $5.3m / AAV $1.32m (extension)
• OF Bobby Murcer: Padres, 4 years / $5.1m / AAV $1.28m
• OF Omar Moreno: Rangers, 3 years / $3.8m / AAV $1.26m
• OF Lee Lacy: Orioles, 4 years / $4.9m / AAV $1.22m

• 2B Luis Aguayo from Cubs to Phillies for 1B Pete Rose (retaining 10%) and P Dave LaPoint
• OF Mickey Rivers from Cubs to A’s for OF Claudell Washington
• OF Cesar Cedeno from Yankees to Phillies for OF Sixto Lezcano
• OF Jeff Burroughs from White Sox to Indians for P Bert Roberge and OF Thad Bosley
• P Charlie Hough from Braves to Orioles for C Rick Dempsey
• P Jim Clancy from Dodgers to Braves for 1B Mike Hargrove
• P Dave Stewart, P Danny Frisella and 2B Keith Thrower from Reds to A’s for P Ed Lynch and P Geoff Combe
• OF Bob Dernier from Astros to Giants for C Mike Scioscia and P Dave Lemonds
• P Dave Goltz and 2B Vance Law from Reds to Braves for OF Joe Lefebvre and SS Thomas Brunswick
• P Tim Lollar and P Scott Johnston from Yankees to Royals for P Les Cain and P Mike Boddicker
• P Mark Davis and P Jeff Jones from White Sox to Blue Jays for 3B Doug DeCinces
• 1B Chris Chambliss from Red Sox to Giants for P Jim Barr and OF Danny Heep
• P Mardie Cornejo and SS Rafael Ramirez from Reds to Twins for P Charlie Leibrandt
• P Jim Baker from Rangers to Tigers for 3B Graig Nettles and OF Kirk Gibson

We go 11-7 in Spring Training with a couple niggles but nothing more. The same, unfortunately, can't be said for a couple other clubs with the Dodgers losing Don Sutton for the mandatory 3-month Legacy count the big news.

[luckymann]

Two points.

Firstly, there'll be none of that strike nonsense in this timeline where players have been paid accordingly from the get-go, so a full 162-game schedule awaits.

Also, my Stats+ annual subscription comes due soon and I won't be re-upping so I'll henceforth cull any future reference to that page and advise those following along when it has been switched off for good.

Thanks

G

[luckymann]

Well we've somehow ducked and weaved our way into a pretty decent squad but, oh my, any injuries to the main guys will really cruel our chances as there's not much in back of them.

The boss ticked our Budget up a bit and we tried to acquire a FA outfielder - Lee Lacy and then Omar Moreno - just to help our shoddy depth at that position, but they were out of our price range for the designated role so we signed SS Freddie Taveras instead because to not sign anyone would be wasteful.

We also did our usual MiLB trawl and picked up a few free eligibles including Mitchell Page, who will be with us on OD as our fifth OF.

Call me an old softie but we're going to keep Frank at AAA to enable Pops to stay up, at least to begin with. He'll PH and rest Jason Thompson at 1B. Should that not end up being viable, I'll have no choice but to send him to Lincoln but I really want to avoid that if at all possible - I think he's earned that right. With Hitting Coach Joe Muffoletto turning 60 not long ago, the plan is to replace him with Pops when he retires as a player.

Ken Oberkfell will lead off, while Wally Backman takes over everyday 2B duties and Craig Stevens will man the strong side of a platoon at SS with Dale Berra / Derrell Thomas. We’ve moved Jason to 3 and GT will hit clean-up.

In the pitching department, John Tudor will come in as SP5 to begin with and we’ll use Larry McWilliams in the BP. Andy Hassler will get some spot starts but if he struggles changes will be wrought. Same deal with Lou Marone, who gets one more chance in the pen. Kent Tekulve – mainly because he has all his OY intact – will head to AAA with Odell Jones staying up.

Here they are, your 1981 Pittsburgh Pirates!

[luckymann]

This might well be our last hurrah for a wee while as a lot of the core guys who have been with us long-term age out or come to the end of their contracts over the next few years. We'll be assessing things over that period to see if we finally have to do the long-promised tear-down or can manage to navigate those stormy seas without capsizing or being submerged completely.

Gorman and - almost certainly - Derrell will walk at season-end, as will guys like Stennett and Taveras, and we expect Pops to call time. Our pitching is more a 4-6 year thing so we're fairly OK in that department but the position players we'll be left with for 1983 and thereabouts ain't pretty. The trade / FA limits mean we'll have to try pull some moves earlier than we otherwise might just to cushion the blow as much as possible.

At some point in the not-too-distant future I'll tick up either the FA tickets from 1 to 2, the trade tickets from 3 to 4 or the ringer allotment from 3 to 4; perhaps even a couple of those. But I want to see what happens when Barry Bonds comes in as I don't want to go back to being dominant. Not that the early version of him was overpoweringly good, but I'd prefer to err on the side of conservatism for now. We've had a good old run although no titles in six seasons. Rebuilds are fun, anyway. Or perhaps challenging is the better word.


Here's all of the financial details as at OD:

[luckymann]

So, who is the active leader in the MLB in career RBI?

• Willie Stargell, PIT, 1588
• Tony Perez, BOS, 1385
• Reggie Smith, BOS, 1356
• Carl Yastrzemski, -, 1322
• Ron Fairly, -, 1224

All-time leader: Babe Ruth, 2013

[luckymann]

Dennis "El Presidente" Martinez had to wait until 1991 IRL - worth the wait, however, as it was the 13th perfect game in MLB history - but he gets a garden-variety no hitter a decade earlier in this timeline with this beaut against Texas. Same scoreline, too, and same number of errors committed by his opponents. Cue the Scooby-Doo music...

[luckymann]

All is travelling nicely early on as we win six of our first eight but then we lose Rick Rhoden for a minimum IL stint to a bout of plantar fascitis. We move Larry McWilliams into the rotation and call up Rod Scurry for his MLB debut. He ends up staying with us as Lou Marone gets up to his usual nonsense and we banish him hopefully for the last time to AAA.

Led by a red-hot Gorman Thomas – who wins the April hitting prize – and some good pitching, and despite Al Oliver getting off to a very slow start, we look to be cruising but then go cold with a 4-game losing streak to sit at 12-8 after 20 games.

We do send Lou Marone to Lincoln via the WW when Rhoden returns and keep Rod Scurry up with us, as Al Oliver finds his swing and we go on a nice little 14-1 run including 10 straight wins.

We play well for the remainder but a really positive first sectional ends on a slightly sour note as Wally Backman goes down with a back injury and will need an IL stint, with Frank Taveras summoned to replace him. Still, at 30-14 and 2 ½ games clear on top of the divison, we’ve little to complain about for the moment.

Extensions are signed with John Tudor (1/450), Ken Oberkfell (6/2700, very amenable), Larry McWilliams (1/375), Craig Reynolds (1/345), Ed Ott (1/295) and Tony Armas (3+1/2770).

Most interestingly, Dave Knigman is still unsigned and we add him to AAA Lincoln on a minors deal with the view of hopefully extending him cheap and using him next year when the two CC slots free up. We sit straight down with him, explain our plan and he is amenable to it so we sign him on a very friendly 4/800 deal, along with fellow Lincolnites Frank Taveras (1/280) and Bruce Kison (1+1/310).

Getting Kong back and seeing Rick Langford at AAA makes me feel much better about that trade, the results in its immediate aftermath notwithstanding of course. Beating them three of four at Wrigley in our first meeting of the season in late May doesn’t hurt, either.

An incredibly even set of standings to this point, with just one club more than ten games out.

Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

Batter – Dwight Evans (Red Sox): 359 / 6 HR / 17 RBI
Pitcher – Craig Swan (Twins): 3-0 / 1.64 / 18 K / 33 IP
Rookie – Bud Black (A’s): 2-0 / 0.00 / 14 K / 23 IP


National League

Batter – Gorman Thomas (Pirates): 302 / 7 HR / 16 RBI
Pitcher – Tug McGraw (Dodgers): 3-1 / 2.18 / 6 SV / 14 K / 20.2 IP
Rookie – Atlee Hammaker (Mets): 2-1 / 2.96 / 17 K / 27.1 IP


May

American League

Batter – Reggie Smith (Red Sox): 356 / 8 HR / 30 RBI
Pitcher – Bob Stoddard (Red Sox): 2-1 / 1.29 / 8 SV / 8 K / 21 IP
Rookie – Bob Stoddard


National League

Batter – Jason Thompson (Pirates): 380 / 7 HR / 16 RBI
Pitcher – Ron Guidry (Pirates): 5-0 / 0.99 / 37 K / 45.2 IP
Rookie – Tom Gorman (Expos): 5-2 / 3.47 / 4 SV / 14 K / 23.1 IP



News and Leaders

Milestones and Observations of Note

250 Wins: Steve Carlton

200 Wins: Gary Nolan

Veteran pitcher Gaylord Perry, now with the Yanks, will miss a full year after tearing his UCL and, in his age-40 season, one has to wonder if he makes it back. At the other end of his career, White Sox rookie Mike Witt also goes down with a season-ending injury and will miss part of ’82 as well after he blows out his elbow. Nasty stuff.

Mets young gun Leon Durham is forced to miss 6 weeks with a strained oblique and they also lose pitcher Rudy May for the season to an RC tear. The Expos will have to make do without budding superstar Andre Dawson for six weeks courtesy of a forearm strain.

A rough start sees the Astros drop their first 8 games until we generously put them out of their misery. The Padres also drop nine of their first ten.

We get two no-nos down in AAA—both buy a guy named Larry – Corr from El Paso and Kiser from Kinston – and both against Jacksonville.