The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Fair to say the Indians have had a crack this offseason, while the Dodgers add Lefty to their already stacked staff and look tough to beat this year.

P Steve Carlton: Dodgers, 3 years / $10.3m / AAV $3.44m
1B Cecil Cooper: Yankees, 5 years / $13.0m / AAV $2.61m
P Rudy May: Phillies, 3 years / $7.8m / AAV $2.60m
1B Jason Thompson: Indians, 6 years / $15.3m / AAV $2.55m
3B Doug DeCinces: Angels, 5 years / $12.4m / AAV $2.48m
P Don Sutton: Dodgers, 3 years / $5.8m / AAV $1.93m (extension)
C Terry Kennedy: Red Sox, 6 years / $10.9m / AAV $1.82m
OF Gary Roenicke: Royals, 4 years / $7.1m / AAV $1.76m
1B Reggie Smith: Blue Jays, 2 years / $3.5m / AAV $1.74m
3B Graig Nettles: Indians, 2 years / $3.4m / AAV $1.72m
OF Cesar Cedeno: Cubs, 2 years / $3.4m / AAV $1.68m
P Len Barker: Brewers, 3 years / $5.0m / AAV $1.66m
P Scott Sanderson: Giants, 5 years / $8.3m / AAV $1.65m
3B Carney Lansford: Astros, 3 years / $4.5m / AAV $1.49m
OF Larry Parrish: Mets, 3 years / $4.5m / AAV $1.49m
OF Lyman Bostock: Cubs, 4 years / $5.9m / AAV $1.48m
P Joe Niekro: Reds, 3 years / $4.3m / AAV $1.43m
P Willie Hernandez: Cubs, 3 years / $4.1m / AAV $1.38m
3B Bill Madlock: Dodgers, 2 years / $3.2m / AAV $1.32m
P Roger Erickson: Brewers, 3 years / $3.4m / AAV $1.14m
P Jerry Koosman: Giants, 2 years / $2.2m / AAV $1.10m
P John Montefusco: Indians, 4 years / $4.1m / AAV $1.02m
P Jack Morris: Cubs, 3 years / $3.1m / AAV $1.01m


1B Ken Phelps from Giants to Expos for P Fred Breining
SS Domingo Ramos and P Bob James from Giants to Cubs for P Bruce Sutter
OF Mike Marshall from Mets to Phillies for OF Randy Johnson and P Odell Jones
C Milt May (retaining 30%) from Tigers to Blue Jays for P Bob Ojeda and P Luis Sanchez
P Mike Morgan, OF Albert Hall and P Kelly Scott from Mariners to White Sox for P LaMarr Hoyt
SS Scott Fletcher from Tigers to White Sox for P Britt Burns
OF Terry Francona and 2B Shooty Babitt from Royals to Brewers for OF Jose Cruz
C Rich Gedman and $139k from Royals to Brewers for P Eduardo Rodriguez
OF Jim Eisenreich from Royals to Rangers for P Mike Krukow
OF Glenn Wilson from Padres to Cardinals for P Bill Gullickson (retaining 10%)
OF Ron Kittle and P Tim Leary from Indians to Giants for C Ernie Whitt
P Dave LaPoint from Indians to Yankees for P Rollie Fingers and OF David Green
OF Brett Butler from Giants to Astros for C Bob Brenly
OF Paul Householder and OF Kevin Bass from Rangers to Orioles for OF Lee Lacy



We go 13-5 in Spring Training and reliever Victor Cruz will miss the season’s first month after badly spraining his ankle.

BNN sees div wins to the O's, Royals, Expos (by 2 from us) and Dodgers.

[luckymann]

We’re arguably a better squad on paper than last year across the board but especially on defence. Will that translate into a repeat of 1982’s fine result? One can only hope so.

So Kong moves to 1B, Johnny Ray to 2B and UL steps into SS, while Van starts at LF in the strong side of a platoon with Tony Armas.

With him in his walk year, we’re going to use Jerry Reuss in a late-inning BP role to start off with and see how things go. Andy Hassler starts the season at AA and Kent Tekulve will likely join him when Victor returns from the IL.

Our MiLB trawl nets Steve Nicosia, Ed Whitson and Rick Langford.

[luckymann]

John Tudor and Johnny Ray are our priority retentions in a fairly well-set roster for now. Victor Cruz is nearing his arb period so we'll look at what he wants to re-up and go from there. Dale Berra, as previously stated, will just be taken from year to year and Rod Scurry is the only other player at this stage uncontracted for '84.

[luckymann]

No no-nos in 1982 but we get one early in '83 courtesy of Toronto's Mike LaCoss, the franchise's first in this timeline.

Mike never threw one IRL.

[luckymann]

The lads start strongly with 8 wins from our first 10 but we suffer an early setback with Dave Parker knocked out of action for 6 weeks by a neck injury. Gene Clines gets the call-up, making his first MLB appearance in four years.

We regress a bit with the pitching – the BP in particular – really struggling, but eventually get it together and go on a nifty 8-2 run including one 13-2 win over the Mets in which every starter including pitcher Rick Rhoden gets at least two hits.

We hit the 40-game waypoint at 23-17 and go on to close out the sectional at 26-21, a decent achievement given we’ve been without Cobra for almost the entirety of the season to date.

Plans for him to do a rehab stint at Lincoln and be eased back in are derailed when Amos Otis goes down with an ankle injury that will keep him on ice for a few weeks.




We sort out the John Tudor situation nice and early and on friendly terms, signing him to a 4+1 extension at an AAV of less than $900k. We also re-up with Johnny Ray (1/275), Dale Berra (1/385), Victor Cruz (1/375) and Rod Scurry (1/128).




The Yanks start the year strongly but Boston keeps them close with an 11-game win streak in May and these two look set for a titanic battle this season, with the Tribe looking up for the fight as well in a competitive division.

The Royals are also looking strong again, at one point winning 15 straight. The Mets, on the other hand, start strong but then fall in a heap with a dozen losses on the trot.


Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

Batter – Wade Boggs (Red Sox): 481 / 2 HR / 12 RBI
Pitcher – Les Cain (Yankees): 4-0 / 1.54 / 26 K / 41 IP
Rookie – Randy Ready (Rangers): 358 / 3 HR / 13 RBI


National League

Batter – Darryl Strawberry (Mets): 272 / 12 HR / 19 RBI
Pitcher – Bill Laskey (Phillies): 5-0 / 1.13 / 22 K / 39.2 IP
Rookie – Orel Hershiser (Dodgers): 4-0 / 0.86 / 33 K / 42 IP


May

American League

Batter – Eddie Murray (Orioles): 333 / 9 HR / 25 RBI
Pitcher – Oil Can Boyd (Blue Jays): 7-0 / 2.30 / 27 K / 54.2 IP
Rookie – Greg Brock (Orioles): 5-1 / 4.75 / 31 K / 41.2 IP


National League

Batter – Tony Gwynn (Padres): 266 / 5 HR / 16 RBI
Pitcher – J.R. Richard (Braves): 4-0 / 1.23 / 54 K / 51.1 IP
Rookie – Ken Phelps (Expos): 273 / 8 HR / 22 RBI


News and Leaders




Milestones and Observations of Note

250 Wins: Nolan Ryan

2500 Hits: Al Oliver

Mets rookie Darryl Strawberry belts 5 homers in his first 6 games in the bigs and 12 in his first 20.

The Astros lose catcher Ron Hassey for 4 months to a severe hip strain, while White Sox pitcher Charlie Hough gets knocked out for the same amount of time by a finger injury.

A knee injury ends Phillies OF Mickey Hatcher’s season very early, while Tigers star Lou Whitaker will have to take another maximum 3-month Legacy break after suffering a broken kneecap.

[luckymann]

Three nods for us this year including a well-deserved maiden appearance for Ken Oberkfell.


American League

• SP Joaquin Andujar (KC) - 11-3, 2.53 ERA, 138.2 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 3.7 K/9, 1.7 WAR
• SP Ray Burris (BAL) - 7-7, 3.17 ERA, 130.2 IP, 1.19 WHIP, 3.7 K/9, 2.0 WAR
• SP Les Cain (NYY)* - 8-5, 2.58 ERA, 132.2 IP, 1.23 WHIP, 5.9 K/9, 1.9 WAR
• SP John Denny (NYY) - 10-6, 3.00 ERA, 144.0 IP, 1.19 WHIP, 4.2 K/9, 2.9 WAR
• SP Dave LaPoint (NYY) - 7-5, 2.30 ERA, 113.2 IP, 1.27 WHIP, 4.8 K/9, 1.9 WAR
• SP Luis Leal (BOS) - 9-2, 2.36 ERA, 99.0 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 4.6 K/9, 2.7 WAR
• RP Rollie Fingers (CLE)* - 7-3, 16 SV, 2.19 ERA, 49.1 IP, 0.93 WHIP, 5.7 K/9, 1.0 WAR
• CL Luis De Leon (CAL) - 8-4, 16 SV, 2.74 ERA, 65.2 IP, 1.32 WHIP, 5.1 K/9, 0.8 WAR
• CL Gary Lavelle (TEX) - 4-5, 17 SV, 2.82 ERA, 54.1 IP, 1.25 WHIP, 6.8 K/9, 1.7 WAR
• CL Dan Quisenberry (KC) - 3-4, 17 SV, 2.60 ERA, 65.2 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 3.6 K/9, -0.0 WAR
• C Jody Davis (OAK) - .252/.292/.423, 234 AB, 8 HR, 100 wRC+, 1.6 WAR
• C Terry Kennedy (BOS) - .293/.325/.472, 229 AB, 9 HR, 123 wRC+, 1.3 WAR
• C Tony Pena Sr. (KC)* - .341/.373/.523, 220 AB, 7 HR, 1 SB, 155 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
• 1B Wade Boggs (BOS) - .363/.457/.475, 278 AB, 4 HR, 167 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
• 1B Eddie Murray (BAL)* - .291/.377/.516, 275 AB, 17 HR, 2 SB, 150 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
• 2B Bobby Grich (CAL)* - .268/.406/.436, 250 AB, 12 HR, 2 SB, 148 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
• 2B Tom Herr (CAL) - .336/.415/.441, 304 AB, 5 HR, 13 SB, 147 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• 3B George Brett (KC)* - .284/.340/.481, 268 AB, 9 HR, 124 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• SS Julio Franco (CLE)* - .303/.364/.462, 264 AB, 5 HR, 10 SB, 134 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
• SS Cal Ripken Jr. (BAL)* - .285/.361/.484, 277 AB, 10 HR, 1 SB, 141 wRC+, 3.8 WAR
• SS Dickie Thon (CLE) - .312/.361/.515, 301 AB, 13 HR, 20 SB, 150 wRC+, 4.5 WAR
• SS Alan Trammell (DET) - .305/.367/.450, 298 AB, 9 HR, 25 SB, 134 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
• SS Robin Yount (ML4) - .300/.383/.491, 283 AB, 10 HR, 9 SB, 144 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
• LF Don Baylor (CLE) - .311/.370/.537, 270 AB, 13 HR, 6 SB, 154 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
• LF Brian Downing (CAL) - .295/.380/.511, 237 AB, 14 HR, 153 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
• LF Rickey Henderson (OAK)* - .317/.420/.493, 284 AB, 5 HR, 55 SB, 161 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
• CF Chet Lemon (DET)* - .253/.339/.506, 269 AB, 18 HR, 3 SB, 139 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
• RF Harold Baines (CWS) - .337/.367/.519, 291 AB, 10 HR, 8 SB, 151 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
• RF Jesse Barfield (TOR) - .296/.366/.550, 260 AB, 12 HR, 4 SB, 157 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
• RF Dwight Evans (BOS)* - .319/.419/.591, 254 AB, 18 HR, 184 wRC+, 3.5 WAR

National League

• SP Steve Carlton (LAD)* - 8-7, 3.10 ERA, 124.2 IP, 1.22 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 3.5 WAR
• SP Atlee Hammaker (NYM) - 10-4, 2.73 ERA, 135.1 IP, 0.99 WHIP, 5.7 K/9, 4.2 WAR
• SP Jon Matlack (STL) - 10-3, 2.53 ERA, 139.0 IP, 1.06 WHIP, 4.8 K/9, 1.9 WAR
• SP J.R. Richard (HOU) - 10-4, 2.82 ERA, 143.2 IP, 1.23 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 4.8 WAR
• SP Mario Soto (CIN) - 8-2, 2.89 ERA, 127.2 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 7.8 K/9, 2.4 WAR
• SP Fernando Valenzuela (LAD) - 8-6, 3.28 ERA, 126.1 IP, 1.29 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 2.8 WAR
• RP Jerry Reuss (PIT) - 4-0, 12 SV, 2.30 ERA, 47.0 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 3.3 K/9, 1.0 WAR
• RP Frank Wills (ATL) - 3-1, 6 SV, 1.79 ERA, 45.1 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 5.6 K/9, 1.1 WAR
• CL Carlos Diaz (NYM) - 2-3, 16 SV, 1.31 ERA, 55.0 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 4.9 K/9, 1.6 WAR
• CL Lee Smith (CHC)* - 4-11, 11 SV, 4.45 ERA, 64.2 IP, 1.33 WHIP, 6.3 K/9, -0.4 WAR
• C Gary Carter (MON) - .260/.357/.395, 215 AB, 7 HR, 113 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
• C Lance Parrish (PIT)* - .323/.372/.568, 220 AB, 13 HR, 163 wRC+, 3.3 WAR
• C Darrell Porter (CHC) - .260/.371/.475, 204 AB, 11 HR, 1 SB, 139 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• 1B Greg Walker (NYM)* - .307/.352/.507, 300 AB, 13 HR, 4 SB, 142 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
• 2B Damaso Garcia (MON)* - .318/.346/.425, 308 AB, 3 HR, 33 SB, 118 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• 3B Bob Horner (ATL) - .297/.365/.465, 273 AB, 9 HR, 1 SB, 136 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• 3B Howard Johnson (CHC)* - .304/.378/.558, 217 AB, 16 HR, 8 SB, 160 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• 3B Ken Oberkfell (PIT) - .347/.407/.451, 268 AB, 9 SB, 148 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
• 3B Luis Salazar (STL) - .340/.367/.479, 265 AB, 4 HR, 12 SB, 136 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• SS Dave Concepcion (CIN)* - .371/.411/.458, 286 AB, 1 HR, 12 SB, 151 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
• LF Brett Butler (HOU) - .284/.350/.465, 275 AB, 7 HR, 21 SB, 131 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
• LF Dave Collins (CHC) - .341/.395/.483, 232 AB, 1 HR, 18 SB, 145 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
• LF Leon Durham (NYM)* - .260/.332/.459, 281 AB, 11 HR, 13 SB, 122 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
• LF Mel Hall (STL) - .313/.375/.489, 262 AB, 8 HR, 5 SB, 147 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
• CF Andre Dawson (MON) - .295/.352/.495, 285 AB, 14 HR, 18 SB, 138 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
• CF Pedro Guerrero (LAD)* - .360/.436/.562, 272 AB, 8 HR, 5 SB, 185 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
• CF Jerry Mumphrey (CIN) - .326/.384/.408, 282 AB, 2 HR, 9 SB, 124 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
• CF Dale Murphy (ATL) - .281/.379/.464, 263 AB, 12 HR, 12 SB, 137 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
• RF Tony Gwynn (SD)* - .363/.406/.502, 289 AB, 4 HR, 5 SB, 159 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
• RF Darryl Strawberry (NYM) - .246/.321/.570, 272 AB, 25 HR, 10 SB, 150 wRC+, 3.6 WAR

Chet Lemon beats Darryl Strawberry in the HR Derby final, with an 8-1 win edging the NL back in front on a running total basis 25-24. Leon Durham wins the MVP.

[luckymann]

A first for the Padres as Joe Cowley throws the club's first no-no in this timeline.

Joe threw one a couple of years later IRL, on September 19, 1986 for the White Sox against the Halos.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

We start June in ominously poor form being swept at Chicago, with the Cubs supplanting us atop the division but then bounce back with seven straight wins as the Cubs and ourselves pull away from the pack just a bit with the Expos riding in our slipstream.

After losing his first six decisions for us, Don Robinson finally gets a win against the Cubs in a home series toward the end of July in a game that also sees Dave Kingman mash a pair of taters and drive in four. We take three of four in that series but two are lucky walkoff wins and our BP is still untrustworthy, as a 13-5 pummelling in the final game highlights. Rod Scurry in particular has completely lost the strike zone.

Inconsistency continues to be our main bugbear throughout a 16-12 July and we enter August in a virtual tie for top spot with the Cubs.

The All-Star break sees us 1½ behind the Cubs at 45-35.

We have to negotiate the next period without UL Washington, who is a bit banged up and unable to do much, but the lads dig deep on a west coast road trip, winning six straight but the Cubbies come with us and this looks like it’s going to be yet another dogfight between the two of us.

In the meantime, we spend our last transaction ticket of the year in the following manner:




No blockbuster by any stretch, but in return for Kent Tekulve – who has never really been of much use for us during his long tenure – and a couple ineligibles we get a much-needed LHRP and a young IF who should prove pretty handy in a backup role. Both come straight into the group, with Tim Foli making way. Al, who is in his walk year and whom we will consider extending if things work out OK, will have a go at the vacant Closer role to begin with.

Despite a stretch of light hitting, we reach the 100-game mark at 59-41 and with a slight lead over the Cubs as our pitchers keep the runs down for a nice change, only for a the sectional to end in disaster as we lose Lance Parrish for the rest of the year to a broken kneecap. Steve Nicosia comes up in his place but it is a massive setback for us.




KC cools right off to open the AL West up for business just a little bit before steadying and they enter the stretch run NO clear. Boston and LA each has a similar break but plenty of work left to do.




Monthly Award Winners

June

American League

Batter – Rickey Henderson (A’s): 333 / 3 HR / 21 RBI
Pitcher – Bruce Hurst (Red Sox): 5-1 / 2.15 / 18 K / 46 IP
Rookie – Danny Cox (White Sox): 3-1 / 2.82 / 20 K / 38.1 IP


National League

Batter – Greg Walker (Mets): 380 / 6 HR / 18 RBI
Pitcher – Fernando Valenzuela (Dodgers): 4-1 / 1.76 / 42 K / 51 IP
Rookie – Charles Hudson (Cardinals): 4-0 / 2.14 / 19 K / 33.2 IP


July

American League

Batter – Eddie Murray (Orioles): 360 / 10 HR / 23 RBI
Pitcher – Sid Fernandez (Twins): 5-1 / 1.36 / 39 K / 53 IP
Rookie – Sid Fernandez


National League

Batter – Rudy Law (Mets): 455 / 2 HR / 20 RBI
Pitcher – Orel Hershiser (Dodgers): 5-0 / 1.72 / 38 K / 47 IP
Rookie – Orel Hershiser


News, Leaders and Top 20s




Milestones and Observations of Note

3000 Hits: Rod Carew (16th player to reach this mark)

2000 Hits: Jose Cruz, Johnny Bench

The Halos put a 22-2 whipping on the Rangers in late-July and re-up with outfielder Tim Corcoran in August with a 4/3030 deal.

Another AAA no-no, with Dave Freisleben throwing one for Medford against Lamesa.

Doc Medich pitches a no-hitter for our AAA Lincoln club against Ottawa.

The Phillies lose pitcher Larry Christenson for the season to elbow surgery, as do the A’s with Pete Broberg after he suffers a torn labrum.

Veteran Brewers backstop Buck Martinez is another gone for the season after suffering a broken elbow bone.

Deadline trades of note:

[luckymann]

A bit of an odd one here for Danny Jackson, but I'm sure he'll take it all the same.

Danny never pitched one IRL.

[luckymann]

Steve Carlton becomes member number fourteen of this timeline's 300-Win club.




Knucksie Niekro, with 270, is the only active player with a chance to join them.

[luckymann]

The pitchers do everything to throw this one away but the offence simply refuses to lie down and we get a dramatic walkoff win in extras against the FBB (Future Bin Bashers).

[luckymann]

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

• Steve Carlton, LAD, 4976.2
• Phil Niekro, MIN, 4870.0
• Nolan Ryan, BOS, 4427.2
• Don Sutton, LAD, 4415.2
• Jim Palmer, BAL, 4378.1

All-time leader: Walter Johnson, 7887

[luckymann]

I've not seen a player hit two slams in a single game, as Ron Cey does here for the Jints against the Astros. Apparently it has only happened 13 times IRL (see below, courtesy www.baseball-almanac.com).

[luckymann]

Denver comes back from 0-2 to pinch their first-ever title from Medford, who had knocked out our Links in the previous round.

[luckymann]

We play some solid baseball in early August to just nab a little break on our pursuers but then undo all of our good work with a dreadful stretch and things tighten right up once more.

If we do get home this year, we may well look at the game I have previously posted about against the Astros as one of the crucial wins, one of three straight in which we get home with the last play of the game.

That leads into arguably our best stretch of the season as we eventually win seven straight only to finish off an otherwise positive August with three losses that put us at 77-55 and leave us 5 clear with 30 to play.

Without playing our best baseball after that, we do enough to maintain a comfortable lead into the final 20 games.

With the winning post in sight, we get an untimely dose of the staggers losing four of five but we pull ourselves together and eventually take out the NL East in relatively uncomplicated fashion.

However, we do lose Steve Nicosia for the remainder to really test our depth at catcher, with age-39 Carl Taylor the best option available to us and he makes his first MLB appearance in seven years.

Dave Henderson also has a hamstring issue and will need to be nursed through the rest of the regular season.

Far from ideal preparation for the playoffs.




No dramas in the two West races, with the Dodgers and Royals both getting the job done easily in the end.

The AL East is another matter entirely as the season-long dogfight between the Red Sox and Yanks persists to the very end. At one point, Boston looks to have kicked clear but then collapse and the Yanks pounce, overhauling them to lead by a couple games with 10 to play.

They cling to a 1-game advantage with six games left and then take two of three in a home series with the BoSox to lead by two with three to go.

Both teams lose their 160th game to reduce the Yanks’ MN to 1 but a BoSox win and Yankee loss the next day sends them to their final games with the division still unresolved. The Yanks couldn’t possibly do it again, could they?

They could, and do, setting up a one-game tiebreaker, which they also lose. Amazing how the fortunes of these two clubs are pretty much the inverse of the IRL.




Final Leaders and Top 20s

Batting titles to Wade Boggs and Tony Gwynn, surprise, surprise. Eddie Murray leads the MLB with 39 homers, while Harold Baines and Jesse Barfield tie for the most RBI with 118. Tim Raines' 113 SB just edge out Rickey's 112.

Presumptive NL RoY Orel Hershiser leads the pack in Wins with 22 from a bunch including teammates Fernando Valenzuela and Steve Carlton on 20. Bulldog also posts the low ERA this year with 2.63 and must be a real chance for the double. JR Richard takes out this year's King of K title with 253, with Dave Lemonds' 40 Saves the most of any pitcher.

On the topic of strikeouts, Nolan Ryan ends 1983 with 4483 for his career, just 13 short of second-placed Satchel Paige. He still needs nearly 900 to catch all-time leader Sandy Koufax's 5293 but should give it a shake in a few seasons.

Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

Batter – Harold Baines (White Sox): 375 / 9 HR / 24 RBI
Pitcher – Sid Fernandez (Twins): 4-2 / 2.40 / 48 K / 48.2 IP
Rookie – Sid Fernandez


National League

Batter – Andre Dawson (Expos): 390 / 7 HR / 21 RBI
Pitcher – Fernando Valenzuela (Dodgers): 5-1 / 1.86 / 55 K / 48.1 IP
Rookie – Orel Hershiser (Dodgers): 3-1 / 1.38 / 29 K / 52.1 IP


September

American League

Batter – Eddie Murray (Orioles): 389 / 5 HR / 21 RBI
Pitcher – Britt Burns (Tigers): 4-0 / 1.41 / 31 K / 44.2 IP
Rookie – Sid Fernandez (Twins): 4-2 / 2.50 / 40 K / 50.1 IP


National League

Batter – Willie McGee (Cardinals): 381 / 2 HR / 13 RBI
Pitcher – Don Sutton (Dodgers): 5-1 / 2.38 / 27 K / 45.1 IP
Rookie – Ray Fontenot (Cardinals): 4-0 / 1.99 / 11 K / 22.2 IP


Milestones and Observations of Note

250 Wins: Don Sutton

200 Wins: Vida Blue

2000 Hits: Bill Russell, Hal McRae

Glenn Wilson’s 6-for-6 performance with 2 homers and a whopping 9 ribbies (for an astounding 149 GSc!) powers the Cards in a 22-3 thumping of Houston.

Indians’ Closer Rollie Fingers has his season derailed by bone chips in his elbow, while an elbow injury also curtails 1983 for O’s veteran Al Bumbry.

[luckymann]

American League
Kansas City Royals (92-70) v Boston Red Sox (88-75)

Joaquin Andujar and, to a slightly lesser extent, Bruce Kison are two big losses here for the Royals and you just know the Red Sox rarely fail to take advantage of any edge presented them.

KC has the home-field advantage and will need to use it if they want to get to the final stage.

The Royals take a tight first game 3-1 behind Mike Krukow but the Red Sox tie the series the next day with a 6-3 win in which Wade Boggs and Ruppert Jones each have 4 hits.

KC shows they mean business with a blowout 10-2 win at Fenway in Game 3 and finish it off with a dogged 4-3 win in a seesawing affair to book their first-ever appearance in the Fall Classic.

George Brett wins the MVP.


National League
Los Angeles Dodgers (99-63) v Pittsburgh Pirates (95-67)

This series will in all likelihood come down to whether our bats can master their tremendous pitching staff.

It’s a big ask but we’re a group of gamers and if any bunch can do it ours can.

Our pitching will also need to be parsimonious with allowing runners on because they have a few big bats that can really punish you if you give them too many chances.

As we showed last year, we’re a decent hope here if we can just get a roll on and execute like we know we can.

We push them in the opener despite managing just 6 hits all up but eventually come up short as they score late and hold on for a 4-3 win.

We drop another heartbreaker the next night after John Candelaria pitches four no-hit frames and then keeps us in the game as we score in the top 9th to tie it but then lose 3-2 in 10.

Back at home for Game 3, Larry McWilliams is the only thing between us and elimination but he has to see off Lefty Carlton to keep us alive.

He does his level best but our bats have no answer to the quality of the opposing pitchers as we manage just 17 hits over the three games and drop out of the competition via another one-run defeat, this time 4 to 3.

Former Pirate Bill Madlock is named series MVP, mainly by dint of his 2-homer performance in the clincher.

[luckymann]

Los Angeles Dodgers v Kansas City Royals
Best-of-seven, Royals with the home-field advantage.


Always exciting to see a club in with a chance to earn their maiden title and this should be an engrossing contest between the two sides that have clearly been this year’s best.

As previously noted, KC will be without pitcher Joaquin Andujar and they have also lost 2B Frank White to forearm tendinitis. That gets squared up a bit by the absence of Dodgers OF Hal McRae, who is done for the season due to a broken tibia.

Sorry Royals fans, it’s the Dodgers in five for mine. Even with KC again having the home-field advantage, that pitching is just too good.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Kansas City

Mike Krukow (12-17, 4.89) v Orel Hershiser (22-7, 2.63)

Wow, I did not see that coming as the Royals fall behind 8-3 only to explode with a dozen runs and prove very unhospitable with a 15-8 opening game win. Willie Wilson leads the way with 4 hits and 4 RBI in a massive wake-up call for the Dodgers as Hershiser gets bombed and can’t make it out of the 4th.





Game 2 in Kansas City
Bruce Kison (19-10, 4.02) v Fernando Valenzuela (20-9, 3.04)
Royals lead series 1-0

Game 2 goes a bit more according to script as Fernando Valenzuela pitches a 5-hitter and the Dodgers head home with the series tied at 1 after winning it 5-0. Just 8 hits for the victors with a bases-clearing trip in the 8th by Steve Sax the decisive blow.





Game 3 in Los Angeles
Charlie Lea (17-11, 4.53) v Ron Guidry (11-15, 3.61)
Series tied 1-1

Lefty Carlton’s late-30s renaissance has continued this season with just his second 20-win campaign (after winning 22 last year), including the 300th of his magnificent career and he gets the job done here with a CG effort in which he gives up 1 run on 6 hits while fanning 8. The bats do the rest, with Gamble, Madlock and Garvey all going yard in a comfortable 7-1 win.





Game 4 in Los Angeles
Don Sutton (13-12, 3.57) v Dan Spillner (3-0, 2.30)
Dodgers lead series 2-1

I’m sure there’s been some gentle ribbing for Don Sutton from his rotation mates about being one of the odd men out not to win 20 this year and, while he holds his own here, for most of the game he looks destined to wear the loss as the Royals take a 2-1 lead into the bottom 8th. But the home side rallies with a pair of runs off Dan Quisenberry and Rick Mahler closes it out to give LA a 3-1 series lead.





Game 5 in Los Angeles
Orel Hershiser (1-0, 7.84) v Mike Krukow (1-0, 7.45)
Dodgers lead series 3-1

Redemption is on offer for both of these pitchers after their Game 1 nightmares but it is the rookie who prevails as LA win their 5th Championship in dramatic fashion courtesy of a walkoff single by Bill Madlock to lock down a 4-3 win.

Oscar Gamble’s 500 / 2 HR / 4 RBI effort earns him MVP honours.

[luckymann]