The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

OUT & OUTS

A couple of newly-unemployed among the managerial ranks with Karl Olson (Twins) and Bill Kennedy (Dodgers) given their marching orders.

Mariners pilot Adolfo Phillips doesn't have his contract renewed, nor do Sam Jones with KC or Gene Gabler at Cleveland.

On the flipside, Sandy Koufax gets a 5-year extension as Houston skipper.


ROSTER MOVES

We execute the team options of Tony Armas and Gene Garber for 1985, but void that of Amos Otis.

We extend Johnny Ray on a 1/650 deal and send Jerry Dybzinski and Miguel Dilone to arb.

Will McEnaney is non-tendered (finally!), while Victor Cruz, Phil Garner and Dave Parker all walk.

The following extensions of note were signed at other clubs:

P Atlee Hammaker (Giants) 3/8480
P Bryn Smith (Padres) 3/4100
2B Wally Backman (Cubs) 3/1904


SIM ACCURACY



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


HANGIN' THEM UP

Some big-name pitchers take their leave of us but only Knucksie looks a decent chance of making it to the HoF.

Bill Buckner, in a prescient move, retires before 1986 arrives...

[luckymann]

As I think I might have mentioned previously, in an effort to keep the juice-junkies at bay over the remainder of this save, I am going to apply edited LTMs rather than historical ones from 1985 onwards.

They might need some work along the way, but the starting point for these edits looks like this:

For those interested, they are the average of the 40 seasons previous to and inclusive of the one being calculated, scaled to that season's IRL AB figure. EG for 1985 the average of 1946 thru 1985.

The average reduction in HR per season over the 39 in question is a smidge over 13% from the historical.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

With both Dave Kingman and Tony Armas in their walk years and not to be extended, this upcoming season will be our last roll of the dice with the TTO strategy. From there a transition - which is already in progress - to a smaller-ball, speed oriented offence where the longball is more peripheral to our run production than front-and-centre.

Our almost perennial need is for three main types of players: shortstops, CFs and LH pitchers of any distinction - and this season is no different. In our quest to stock the larder for these types of players this year, we see the Yankees have a SS and a LHP, both eligible PIT players, and approach them about a trade.

After the requisite to-ing and fro-ing, the following deal is struck:

We could in fact have expedited the aforementioned transition with this trade, as Tony Armas was on the list of acceptable players the Yanks brass sent through. But we wanted to give the bash-and-dash strategy one final hurrah and, while Ken has been great for us, he doesn't really fall into either strat cat and with Vance Law on the books almost an identical player we felt he was expendable.

So Vance will become the everyday 3B and Tom (we've now had Tim Foli and Tom Foley in back and gold) will slot into a backup IF role, while Dave will start off in the BP but likely end up as a spot starter before too long.

That big chunk of change will be put toward retaining Johnny Ray past his TC regime, which ends in '86.

[Lord Byron]

And with the 1985 legacy pick, you get...Barry Bonds!!!

Let's hope you win one (or two or three) with him in this sim...

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Lord Byron

And with the 1985 legacy pick, you get...Barry Bonds!!!

Let's hope you win one (or two or three) with him in this sim...

Ahhh, you see, this is yet to be decided - and, please, NO SPOILERS!!!

Barry (who will actually be among the 1986 LPs) is eligible for both us (just) and the Giants, so it will all come down to who has the higher pick. This is decided from the IRL standings, not the in-game ones, so I have purposely given them a wide berth so I don't find out until the pool release date in early July.

I'm perhaps surprisingly unfussed as to whether we get him or not. Clearly he'd be a huge plus for the squad but I just do not like him as a human being. So if it happens, it happens. If not, we'll just have to find the special sauce without him.

TBH I think I'd rather we got Bobby Bo.

Watch this space and thanks for following along!

G

[Lord Byron]

Yeah, 1986 will be interesting with both Bonds and Bobby Bonilla available in the LP draft...

Still, it's your decision--and Bonds is not a likeable person, so I agree with you there...

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Lord Byron

Yeah, 1986 will be interesting with both Bonds and Bobby Bonilla available in the LP draft...

Still, it's your decision--and Bonds is not a likeable person, so I agree with you there...

I don't really have any say in it, at least not for LPs. If they are yours, they are yours and vice-versa. Not even sure Bobby Bo will qualify as a Legacy for us. It's all in the lap of the historical gods, so to speak.

The other thing I have to consider is that LPs usually come way cheaper than if they were just entering the game like "normal" players, because I apply the historical salary to LPs for the duration of their contract, the length of which again is determined by how long they spent at the club IRL, with some caveats attached. (I do like to make things complicated, don't I?)

So to have Bonds on a discounted rate would be hugely beneficial to a small-market club like ours. As they say, "beggars can't be choosers" and, in the financial sense in this timeline, we definitely fall into the beggar category so if he does come our way I'll just have to swallow my personal feelings about the bloke and be thankful for the windfall...

Suffice to say, however it plays out, I'll be very eagerly awaiting the pool reveal this year!

G

[luckymann]

A fairly quiet year on the legacy front with just 4 coming in (the calm before the '85 storm?) and the pool overall is relatively nondescript on the whole.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1985 Season:

Boston Red Sox: Mike Greenwell (25.8; 1269 – one-club player)
Milwaukee Brewers: Teddy Higuera (30.3; 213 GS – one-club player conceded)
New York Yankees: Paul O’Neill (38.8; 1254)
Oakland Athletics: Jose Canseco (42.4; 1058)


There are 125 rookies for this season plus an influx of 364 MiLBers for a total of 489, and the Draft will consist of 15 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1984 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Oakland Athletics (475)
2. New York Yankees (537)
3. Milwaukee Brewers (416)
4. Boston Red Sox (531)
5. San Francisco Giants (407)
6. Texas Rangers (429)
7. Cincinnati Reds (432)
8. Seattle Mariners (457; dice roll)
9. Chicago White Sox (457; dice roll)
10. Cleveland Indians (463; dice roll)
11. Pittsburgh Pirates (463; dice roll)
12. Montreal Expos (484)
13. Los Angeles Dodgers (488)
14. Houston Astros (494; dice roll)
15. Atlanta Braves (494; dice roll)
16. Minnesota Twins (500; dice roll)
17. Philadelphia Phillies (500; dice roll)
18. California Angels (500; dice roll)
19. St. Louis Cardinals (519; dice roll)
20. Kansas City Royals (519; dice roll)
21. Baltimore Orioles (525)
22. Toronto Blue Jays (549)
23. New York Mets (556)
24. San Diego Padres (568)
25. Chicago Cubs (596)
26. Detroit Tigers (642)


Rounds 2 thru 15

1. San Francisco Giants (407)
2. Milwaukee Brewers (416)
3. Texas Rangers (429)
4. Cincinnati Reds (432)
5. Seattle Mariners (457; dice roll)
6. Chicago White Sox (457; dice roll)
7. Cleveland Indians (463; dice roll)
8. Pittsburgh Pirates (463; dice roll)
9. Oakland Athletics (475)
10. Montreal Expos (484)
11. Los Angeles Dodgers (488)
12. Houston Astros (494; dice roll)
13. Atlanta Braves (494; dice roll)
14. Minnesota Twins (500; dice roll)
15. Philadelphia Phillies (500; dice roll)
16. California Angels (500; dice roll)
17. St. Louis Cardinals (519; dice roll)
18. Kansas City Royals (519; dice roll)
19. Baltimore Orioles (525)
20. Boston Red Sox (531)
21. New York Yankees (537)
22. Toronto Blue Jays (549)
23. New York Mets (556)
24. San Diego Padres (568)
25. Chicago Cubs (596)
26. Detroit Tigers (642)


Eligible PIT players: 6 position players + 5 pitchers = 11


Even with the high-ish pick, the pool this year means pickings look slim and we go in with tempered expectations.

Here’s who we take home with us:

1. OF John Cangelosi, 21 (PIT IRL: 1987-90)

• Certainly no superstar but a solid depth OF guy who’ll stay affordable for most if not all of his career. We just need Tom Candiotti and John Cerutti now and we’ll have the full set...

2. P Bob Patterson, 25 (PIT IRL: 1989-92)
3. P Pat Clements, 22 (PIT IRL: 1985-86)

• A pair of potentially handy guys given our needs and one or both should allow either Heaton or LaPoint to move into the spin at some point if needs be.

4. P Rob Lopez, 22 (MiLB only)

• A quick reminder we are permitted to use these types of guys – who never played in the majors IRL – at the parent club.

5. OF Jose Gonzalez, 23 (PIT IRL: 1991)
6. P John Cerutti, 24 (INELIGIBLE, just couldn’t resist…)

• AAA depth, and I haven’t bothered with Rounds 7 thru 15.

A decent enough night for us.





Now, where's that Candiotti fella...

[luckymann]

This is the BBRef front page that greeted me when I went in to do the LP salaries...




And, yes Bradley, that's your BF Bartolo there as well...

[luckymann]

Sweet Swingin' Billy finally gets his plaque and Sam McDowell goes close - maybe next year! No such luck for Mr Cub, who drops off after his full complement. Maybe the Centennial Committee will look favourably on him in 2000?

[luckymann]

An all-Mizzou World Series and maiden World Championship for the Royals are all but overshadowed by that blown call. It is a season of great performances by both the young (Gooden, Saberhagen) and the old (Seaver, Darrell Evans, Phil Niekro) filled with milestones galore (Tom and Knucksie’s 300th, Nolan’s 4000th) and a brief work strike. Welcome to 1985, MLB style!


AL EAST / WEST CHAMPIONS: Toronto Blue Jays (99-62) / Kansas City Royals (91-71)
NL EAST / WEST CHAMPIONS: St. Louis Cardinals (101-61) / Los Angeles Dodgers (95-67)
ALCS: Royals 4, Blue Jays 3
NLCS: Cardinals 4, Cubs 2
WORLD SERIES: Royals 4, Cardinals 3

57-104, 6th in NL East (I guess that answers the Bonds question, then…)

AL MVP: Don Mattingly (Yankees)
NL MVP: Willie McGee (Cardinals)

AL CYA: Bret Saberhagen (Royals)
NL CYA: Dwight Gooden (Mets)

AL RoY: Ozzie Guillen (White Sox)
NL RoY: Vince Coleman (Cardinals)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. WILLIE MCGEE, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .353 average, 114 runs, 216 hits, 26 doubles, 18 triples, 10 home runs, 82 RBIs, 56 stolen bases.
• Yet another escapee from the Yankees farm system as part of George Steinbrenner’s addiction to trading later for now, McGee set the NL mark for the highest batting average by a switch-hitter.

2. DALE MURPHY, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: 162 games, .300 average, 118 runs, 185 hits, 32 doubles, 37 home runs, 111 RBIs, 90 walks, 141 strikeouts, 10 stolen bases.
• The ever-steady Murphy was becoming increasingly indispensable to a devolving Braves team, finishing a four-year run where he annually hit between 36-37 homers and drove in at least 100.

3. PEDRO GUERRERO, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 137 games, .320 average, 99 runs, 33 home runs, 89 RBIs, 83 walks, 12 stolen bases, .422 on-base percentage, .577 slugging percentage.
• After Guerrero began the year at third base—a position he continued to be uncomfortable at—the Dodgers moved him to the outfield on June 1; that month he hit 15 home runs, and then batted .460 in July—including a NL-record 14 straight plate appearances reaching base safely.

4. RYNE SANDBERG, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .305 average, 113 runs, 186 hits, 31 doubles, 6 triples, 26 home runs, 83 RBIs, 54 stolen bases.
• Ryno’s follow-up to his 1984 MVP effort was equally effective, but the accolades were fewer on the awards circuit as the Cubs sank in the standings.

5. TIM RAINES, MONTREAL

• Key Numbers: .320 average, 115 runs, 184 hits, 30 doubles, 13 triples, 11 home runs, 41 RBIs, 81 walks, 70 stolen bases.
• Alerting opposing teams that he was becoming as talented with the bat as he was with his legs, Raines hit .388 over his last 33 games; a year later, he would win the NL batting title.

6. TOM HERR, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 97 runs, 180 hits, 38 doubles, 8 home runs, 110 RBIs, 80 walks, 31 stolen bases, 13 sacrifice flies.
• Not since 1950 had anyone knocked in over 100 runs on less than 10 homers until Herr showed up.

7. DAVE PARKER, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .312 average, 88 runs, 198 hits, 42 doubles, 34 home runs, 125 RBIs, 24 intentional walks, 26 grounded into double plays.
• After five rough years of underachievement fueled by drug and weight problems, Parker’s monster season evoked his glory years at Pittsburgh.

8. DARRYL STRAWBERRY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 111 games, .277 average, 78 runs, 29 home runs, 79 RBIs, 73 walks, 26 stolen bases.
• In his third year, the Mets’ “Chosen One” might have reached 40 homers and led the league had it not been for numerous injuries that saw him sit out a good chunk of the season’s first half.

9. MIKE SCHMIDT, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .277 average, 89 runs, 31 doubles, 5 triples, 33 home runs, 93 RBIs, 87 walks.
• Despite his usual outstanding numbers, Schmidt finally lashed out at Phillies fans who had still yet to fully appreciate him. After his comments went to print, he went on the field wearing a Rastafarian wig and sunglasses to comically conceal his identity.

10. JACK CLARK, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 126 games, .281 average, 26 doubles, 22 home runs, 87 RBIs, 83 walks.
• Plucked away from the Giants, Clark provided the muscle as the only pure right-handed bat within a speedy, switch-hitting lineup, easily leading the club in home runs.

AL Hitters

1. RICKEY HENDERSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 143 games, .314 average, 146 runs, 172 hits, 28 doubles, 5 triples, 24 home runs, 72 RBIs, 99 walks, 80 stolen bases.
• Seemingly at his most content (and therefore his best) when playing for Billy Martin, Henderson scored the most runs by a major leaguer since 1949, and became the first since Jimmie Foxx in 1939 to average over a run per game.

2. GEORGE BRETT, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: .335 average, 108 runs, 184 hits, 38 doubles, 5 triples, 30 home runs, 112 RBIs, 103 walks, 31 intentional walks, .585 slugging percentage.
• Ballplayers across the country were seeking the conditioning recipe used by Brett after his offensive revival in 1985.

3. DON MATTINGLY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .324 average, 107 runs, 211 hits, 48 doubles, 3 triples, 35 home runs, 145 RBIs, 15 sacrifice flies.
• One of the reasons Rickey Henderson scored so many runs was because Mattingly was there to knock him in; 26 of his 35 home runs came after the All-Star Break.

4. EDDIE MURRAY, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: .297 average, 111 runs, 173 hits, 37 doubles, 31 home runs, 124 RBIs, 84 walks.
• On August 26 at California, Murray achieved his third (and last) career hat trick of home runs while driving in a personal-best nine runs.

5. KIRK GIBSON, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .287 average, 96 runs, 37 doubles, 5 triples, 29 home runs, 97 RBIs, 30 stolen bases, 4 caught stealing.
• Though the Tigers slipped from invincible form, it wasn’t because of Gibson—who came as close to 30-30 as he ever would, failing to go deep in either of his last four games in pursuit of #30.

6. WADE BOGGS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .368 average, 653 at-bats, 107 runs, 240 hits, 42 doubles, 8 home runs, 78 RBIs, 96 walks, .450 on-base percentage.
• Boggs won his second batting title while going hitless in only 26 games; his 240 hits were the most by any major leaguer since 1930.

7. JESSE BARFIELD, TORONTO

• Key Numbers: .289 average, 94 runs, 34 doubles, 9 triples, 27 home runs, 84 RBIs, 22 stolen bases.
• The rise of Barfield, after three part-time seasons, was a key factor in the Blue Jays making the postseason for the first time.

8. DARRELL EVANS, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .248 average, 81 runs, 40 home runs, 94 RBIs, 85 walks.
• The 38-year-old veteran, whose career appeared ready to flicker out a year earlier, became the oldest player to lead the AL in home runs—and the first to hit at least 40 in both leagues.

9. PHIL BRADLEY, SEATTLE

• Key Numbers: .300 average, 641 at-bats, 100 runs, 192 hits, 33 doubles, 8 triples, 26 home runs, 88 RBIs, 12 hit-by-pitches, 22 stolen bases.
• In the pre-Ken Griffey Jr. era of Seattle baseball where every year it seemed to be a different guy leading the charge offensively, it was Bradley’s turn; his 192 hits remained the Seattle team record until Alex Rodriguez exploded in 1996.

10. CAL RIPKEN JR., BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 161 games, .282 average, 642 at-bats, 116 runs, 181 hits, 32 doubles, 5 triples, 26 home runs, 110 RBIs, 32 grounded into double plays.
• This was the first of six seasons during Ripken’s epic consecutive-game streak in which he actually didn’t lead the league in games played. (How? Because rained-out Orioles games not made up kept Ripken below the 162 threshold reached by others.)

NL Pitchers

1. DWIGHT GOODEN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 1.53 ERA, 24 wins, 4 losses, .857 win percentage, 35 starts, 16 complete games, 276.2 innings, 268 strikeouts, 22 stolen bases allowed, 21 grounded into double plays.
• If there was any sophomore jinx related to the phenomenal Gooden, then it was on the confounded batters he faced. With the second-lowest season ERA (after Bob Gibson’s 1.12 in 1968) since the Deadball Era, the 20-year old was a unanimous choice for the NL Cy Young Award.

2. JOHN TUDOR, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 1.93 ERA, 21 wins, 6 losses, .724 win percentage, 36 starts, 10 shutouts, 275 innings, 49 walks.
• Any other year, and odds are that Tudor would have grabbed the Cy—but not in the year of Dr. K. Tudor did, however, match Gooden for the year’s longest streak of consecutive scoreless innings (31.2)—starting one day after Gooden began his.

3. OREL HERSHISER, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.03 ERA, 19 wins, 3 losses, .864 win percentage, 34 starts, 239.2 innings, 23 stolen bases allowed, 25 grounded into double plays.
• In an exceptional second full season, Hershiser tossed two one-hitters—the first of which came against San Diego and Tony Gwynn, the only batter to reach base, twice. Each time he reached, he was thrown out attempting to steal.

4. FERNANDO VALENZUELA, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.45 ERA, 17 wins, 10 losses, 35 starts, 272.1 innings, 101 walks, 10 wild pitches, 21 grounded into double plays.
• In a start to the season that dared to draw comparisons to the incredible onset of his 1981 campaign, Valenzuela didn’t allow an earned run over his first 41.1 innings thrown. (He did allow four unearned tallies, though.)

5. BRYN SMITH, MONTREAL

• Key Numbers: 2.91 ERA, 18 wins, 5 losses, .783 win percentage, 32 starts, 222.1 innings, 41 walks, 21 grounded into double plays.
• Within a rather common statistical biography that could have led to the nickname “Mr. .500,” Smith’s highly winning 1985 campaign was bumped up thanks to his cleaning up (13-0, 2.25 ERA) of three below-.500 teams: The Phillies, Cubs and Braves.

6. RICK REUSCHEL, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.27 ERA, 14 wins, 8 losses, 1 save, 31 appearances, 26 starts, 194 innings.
• Talk about contrasting reversal of fortunes: Reuschel won Comeback Player of the Year honors for a wreck of a team that plummeted to 104 losses; the Bucs’ rotation was a humiliating 28-64 without him.

7. JOAQUIN ANDUJAR, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 3.40 ERA, 21 wins, 12 losses, 38 starts, 269.2 innings, 11 hit-by-pitches, 29 stolen bases allowed, 32 grounded into double plays.
• The fiery Andujar, who boycotted the All-Star Game (because they wouldn’t let him start) and received a 10-day suspension for his World Series tirade against umpire Don Denkinger, claimed 20-win status for a second straight year—but the Cardinals shipped him to Oakland after the season anyway, pointing to a rough finish (5.82 ERA from July 31 through the postseason).

8. DENNIS ECKERSLEY, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.08 ERA, 11 wins, 7 losses, 25 starts, 169.1 innings, 19 walks.
• Eck went on a winning flourish down the stretch to keep the Cubs’ staff from being the first in franchise history without a 10-game winner in a non-strike season.

9. TOM BROWNING, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 3.55 ERA, 20 wins, 9 losses, .690 win percentage, 38 starts, 261.1 innings.
• Browning became the first rookie in 31 years to win 20 games. He wouldn’t do it a second time in any of his other 11 seasons.

10. DANNY COX, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.88 ERA, 18 wins, 9 losses, 35 starts, 241 innings.
• Joaquin Andujar wasn’t the only Cardinals pitcher who got feisty in October; after earning a critical victory—his career-high 18th—against the Mets in his last regular season start, he quickly retreated to Georgia and punched out his ex-brother-in-law, who was threatening Cox’ sister.

AL Pitchers

1. BRET SABERHAGEN, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: 2.87 ERA, 20 wins, 6 losses, .769 win percentage, 32 starts, 253.1 innings, 38 walks.
• The AL’s youthful answer to Dwight Gooden, without the glitz—until it came his turn to shine in the postseason.

2. DAVE STIEB, TORONTO

• Key Numbers: 2.48 ERA, 14 wins, 13 losses, 36 starts, 265 innings, 96 walks.
• The record simply doesn’t match the ERA, and here perhaps is why: In nine no-decisions, Stieb’s ERA was 2.03. On top of that, here was a sign of further frustration to come: Stieb took a no-hitter into the ninth inning at Chicago on August 24, and immediately gave up back-to-back home runs before being removed.

3. RON GUIDRY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 3.27 ERA, 22 wins, 6 losses, .786 win percentage, 33 starts, 259 innings, 42 walks, 30 grounded into double plays.
• Buoyed by generous run support (5.6 per start), Guidry gave it a last great ride before his career slowly but surely began to peter out.

4. CHARLIE LEIBRANDT, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: 2.69 ERA, 17 wins, 9 losses, 33 starts, 237.2 innings, 21 grounded into double plays.
• Rescued from the minors after disappointing the Reds earlier in the decade, Leibrandt was a sidebar success story relative to Bret Saberhagen—even if he had a better ERA.

5. BERT BLYLEVEN, CLEVELAND-MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 3.16 ERA, 17 wins, 16 losses, 37 starts, 24 complete games, 5 shutouts, 293.2 innings, 206 strikeouts, 34 stolen bases allowed, 21 grounded into double plays.
• A 1970s-era relic in a time of diminishing returns (quantity-wise) from starting pitchers, Blyleven played the ultimate workhorse well—and even got the trade he had long sought from Cleveland.

6. MIKE MOORE, SEATTLE

• Key Numbers: 3.46 ERA, 17 wins, 10 losses, 34 starts, 247 innings.
• Moore tied a Mariners record with 17 wins—a year after tying another team mark with 17 losses.

7. DAN QUISENBERRY, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: 2.37 ERA, 8 wins, 9 losses, 37 saves, 12 blown saves, 84 appearances, 129 innings, 16 walks.
• Quisenberry remained the AL’s top closer, leading the league in saves for the fourth straight year.

8. DANNY JACKSON, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: 3.42 ERA, 14 wins, 12 losses, 32 starts, 208 innings, 26 grounded into double plays.
• Another young breakout arm for the Royals, Jackson allowed just seven home runs—two over 98.2 innings at home.

9. BOB JAMES, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.13 ERA, 8 wins, 7 losses, 32 saves, 9 blown saves, 69 appearances, 110 innings, 23 walks.
• Bouncing between the Expos and Tigers over the previous seven seasons, James was finally given a full-time platform as closer and set a White Sox saves record (soon to be annihilated by Bobby Thigpen)—all despite missing three weeks in July with a leg injury.

10. DAN PETRY, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 3.36 ERA, 15 wins, 13 losses, 34 starts, 238.2 innings, 24 grounded into double plays.
• Petry’s run of seven straight winning records to start his career would come to an end in 1986, but for now he remained every bit the equal to star ace teammate Jack Morris.

[luckymann]

Funderburks are GO! as the unheralded outfielder gets a massive deal from the Tigers in an offseason market that starts late and ends early but in-between is very busy indeed.

Ron Guidry and Dave Parker join IRL teams, while age-39 Davey Lopes, age-37 Nolan Ryan and Darrell Evans and age-36 Lee Lacy get nice little send-off deals from the Dodgers, Cards, Jays and Cubs.

OF Davey Lopes: Dodgers, 2 years / $7.3m / AAV $3.64m
P Nolan Ryan: Cardinals, 3 years / $10.8m / AAV $3.60m
OF Dave Winfield: Tigers, 5 years / $17.2m / AAV $3.44m
C Ron Hassey: Cubs, 2 years / $6.8m / AAV $3.40m
OF Lee Lacy: Cubs, 2 years / $6.7m / AAV $3.36m
1B Darrell Evans: Blue Jays, 3 years / $9.3m / AAV $3.11m
OF Jerry Mumphrey: Cubs, 2 years / $5.7m / AAV $2.68m
OF Mark Funderburk: Tigers, 4 years / $10.9m / AAV $2.72m
P Ron Guidry: Yankees, 4 years / $10.4m / AAV $2.60m
P Mike Krukow: Giants, 3 years / $7.3m / AAV $2.44m
P Joaquin Andujar: Yankees, 2 years / $4.8m / AAV $2.40m
C Rich Gedman: Phillies, 4 years / $8.5m / AAV $2.13m
OF Hal McRae: Twins, 1 year / $2.0m / AAV $2.04m
OF Jose Cruz: White Sox, 2 year / $4.0m / AAV $1.98m
2B Glenn Hubbard: Astros, 3 years / $5.2m / AAV $1.73m
SS Dave Concepcion: Cubs, 1 year / $1.7m / AAV $1.70m
3B Graig Nettles: Astros, 1 year / $1.7m / AAV $1.70m
C Darrell Porter: Angels, 4 years / $6.1m / AAV $1.52m
1B Cliff Johnson: Red Sox, 3 years / $4.4m / AAV $1.46m
OF Dave Parker: A’s, 3 year / $4.4m / AAV $1.46m
P Frank Tanana: Rangers, 4 years / $5.8m / AAV $1.46m
3B Bill Madlock: Dodgers, 2 years / $2.8m / AAV $1.40m
3B Johnny Bench: Blue Jays, 1 year / $1.4m / AAV $1.36m
OF Gary Matthews: Giants, 3 years / $4.0m / AAV $1.33m
P Moose Haas: Cubs, 3 years / $3.9m / AAV $1.30m
1B Rod Carew: Dodgers, 1 year / $1.1m / AAV $1.12m
P Rich Gossage: Tigers, 2 years / $1.4m / AAV $0.71m


2B Steve Sax from Tigers to A’s for P Dave Schmidt
1B Sid Bream from Royals to White Sox for P Donnie Moore
P Mark Davis and OF Mike Brown from Giants to White Sox for P Steve Bedrosian and 2B Luis Quinones
1B Gerald Perry from Padres to Expos for P Jesse Orosco and SS Spike Owen
SS Lenny Faedo from Giants to Yankees for 2B Toby Harrah
P Julio Solano from Mets to Yankees for OF Ben Ogilvie
OF Howard Johnson from Cubs to Mariners for 1B Kent Hrbek
OF Johnny Grubb and OF Mike Diaz from Mariners to Mets for 1B Leon Durham (retaining 10%)
3B Rick Schu from Expos to Brewers for P Len Barker (retaining 85%)
2B Kelly Gruber and OF John Christensen from Tigers to Mariners for P Allen Ripley
3B Carney Lansford from Astros to Tigers for 3B Denny Gonzalez and SS Alvaro Espinoza
1B Nick Esasky, OF Jeff Stone and SS Greg Gagne from Rangers to Braves for 3B Bob Horner (retaining 45%)
P Roy Smith and P Edwin Nunez from Cardinals to Indians for OF Don Baylor


We go 11-7 in Spring Training with no injuries to speak of.

BNN are tipping division wins for the Blue Jays, White Sox, Cubs and Dodgers and a fairly long season for us—they see us finishing dead last at 75-87.

With our pitching, I don’t think we’re that bad but will be satisfied with a winning record and don’t expect us to be featuring in the pointy end this time around.

[luckymann]

This season will come down to two main factors: how good our pitching actually is and how many runs our offence can scratch together to support their efforts. Baseball 101, really.

We turn an eye to the future, moving Scott Sanderson up to SP1 and promoting John Tudor to the rotation and the expense of Rick Rhoden, who we're going to try in a setup role for the final year at the club.

Cecilio Guante retains the Closer role and Jerry Don Gleaton makes his MLB debut after a long wait down at AAA, with Neal Heaton making way for now.

Gary Redus in at LF and leading off. Joe Orsulak will get a ton of ABs as our main backup OF and Miguel Dilone starts the year with us but that thinness at CF makes John Cangelosi or someone else (we have a WW claim in for Terry Harper) almost certain to come in before too long because of Miguel's defensive limitations. Bill Almon makes his return and will fill a variety of roles in both the IF and OF.

A few familiar faces return to the club in our annual MiLB trawl, with George Hendrick, Tim Foli and Larry McWilliams at Lincoln.

A bit of a patchwork quilt but there's a real "brothers in arms" feel to this group and I'm looking forward to seeing if that translates to on-field performance.

[luckymann]

A bunch of budget space and a stack more payroll coming off the books at the end of this season, with Kong, Armas, Rhoden and Wash all in their walk year and unlikely to return.

Johnny Ray and Dave LaPoint the two big-ticket items we'll have to navigate this year, with a few smaller ones like Don Slaught, Tom Foley, Rod Scurry and Cecilio Guante also to be dealt with.

Three transaction tickets still up our sleeve and if the right guy(s) come along we'll give them our utmost consideration but the larder is quite full of youngsters as well.

[luckymann]

Just that pesky walk off a perfect game. Jose threw neither IRL.

[luckymann]

A few years after the IRL, but The Bird's career ends in similarly abrupt fashion in this timeline.

[luckymann]

Who holds the single season record in the MLB for wins?

• Dazzy Vance, LAD, 33, 1923
• Satchel Paige, BOS, 33, 1928
• Satchel Paige, BOS, 33, 1931
• Walter Johnson, MIN, 32, 1912
• Schoolboy Rowe, DET, 31, 1935
• Ed Brandt, BSN, 31, 1935
• Dick Redding, WAS, 31, 1912
• Doc White, DET, 31, 1906
• Red Ruffing, NYY, 31, 1930

Rube Waddell (1904, 1907), Lefty Grove (1932), Doc White (1905), Smokey Joe Williams (1913), Smoky Joe Wood (1909), Dutch Leonard (1914), Rube Vickers (1916) and Barney Brown (1936) all won 30.

[luckymann]

Things that make you go hmmm.

We do get Terry Harper via the WW and that means Miguel Dilone goes to AAA. A nice little short-term add for us.




We lose Gene Garber to the O’s via the same means.

The lads come out to play from the off, going 9-1 over our first 10 including no fewer than three walkoff wins including one against the Mets in which we rally with 4 and Terry Harper wins it with a 3-run double.

This hot start can’t hide the fact, however, that our pitchers are going extremely poorly, with the rotation ERA ranked next-to-last and just under 5.

An all-in-all upside-down scenario compared with what we expected.

Except, that is, for Dave Kingman hitting 097… which we knew was a distinct possibility.

The inevitable forces of gravity take hold and we cool off, losing five straight and then four on the bounce as well to fall into mid-standings mediocrity with our starting pitching still very much on the nose.

Still, no faulting the way the offence is applying itself. The runs are coming and, if we can keep that up while fixing our performance on the mound then we’re a bit of a dark horse.

But that’s a big if.

As is shown when we lose 0-2 then 0-13 to the Astros, with Danny Darwin shelled in the latter game.

Maybe I should just keep my big trap shut, hey?

Compounding this, Gary Redus goes down for a month with a hamstring strain and so, rather than rush John Cangelosi, George Hendrick makes a welcome return to the fold.

A poor finish to an utterly bewildering opening stanza sees us lose our last four games to finish May at 23-21.

Methinks some fast-simming is in my immediate future...




We commence our roster management for the year by signing Johnny Ray to a 4-year / $5.6m deal. We also keep Dave LaPoint around thru 1988 with a 3/2700 extension. Others we re-up with are Don Slaught (1/365) and Tom Foley (1/410).

Wouldn’t mind some of what our AAA boys are having as they enter June sitting at a scintillating 25-4. Lee Mazzilli is another to enter their ranks on a minors deal.




What odds an all-Canada World Series this year?


Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

Batter – Don Mattingly (Yankees): 392 / 3 HR / 26 RBI
Pitcher – Bret Saberhagen (Royals): 4-0 / 2.48 / 15 K / 32.2 IP
Rookie – Teddy Higuera (Brewers): 3-0 / 2.57 / 22 K / 35 IP


National League

Batter – George Bell (Phillies): 406 / 9 HR / 19 RBI
Pitcher – Kirk McCaskill (Expos): 4-0 / 1.43 / 21 K / 37.2 IP
Rookie – Kirk McCaskill


May

American League

Batter – George Brett (Royals): 341 / 6 HR / 16 RBI
Pitcher – Shane Rawley (Orioles): 5-0 / 1.20 / 28 K / 45 IP
Rookie – Ernest Riles (Rangers): 330 / 3 HR / 11 RBI


National League

Batter – Joe Morgan (Reds): 364 / 6 HR / 17 RBI
(still showing the kids how to do it at age 41!)
Pitcher –Ron Robinson (Expos): 6-0 / 1.54 / 24 K / 46.2 IP
Rookie – Kirk McCaskill (Expos): 5-1 / 3.92 / 28 K / 39 IP


News and Leaders




Milestones and Observations of Note

400 HR: Johnny Bench

2500 Hits: Cecil Cooper

The Astros lose veteran SP Rudy May to a back injury for 4 months.

The Halos sign FA outfielder Dwayne Murphy on a 1/1540 deal.