The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

A quality bunch of Legacy Players incoming with two Marquees and one each of the modern era’s best pitchers and catchers among them.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1991 Season:

Baltimore Orioles: Mike Mussina (82.8; 288 GS)
Houston Astros: Jeff Bagwell (79.9; 2150) MARQUEE 100%
Cleveland Indians: Jim Thome (73.1; 1399) MARQUEE 65%
Boston Red Sox: Mo Vaughn (27.1; 1046)
Minnesota Twins: Chuck Knoblauch (44.6; 1013)
New York Yankees: Bernie Williams (49.6; 2076 – one-club player)
Texas Rangers: Ivan Rodriguez (68.7; 1507)
Toronto Blue Jays: Pat Hentgen (32.6; 238 GS)

Kenny Lofton (68.4; 1276) was also eligible for the Indians, but Thome’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 228 rookies for this season including a few MiLB remnants from a year ago and the Draft will consist of 8 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1990 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):


Round 1

1. Baltimore Orioles (472)
2. Houston Astros (463; dice roll)
3. Cleveland Indians (475; dice roll)
4. Texas Rangers (512)
5. New York Yankees (414)
6. Minnesota Twins (457; dice roll)
7. Toronto Blue Jays (531; dice roll)
8. Boston Red Sox (543)
9. Atlanta Braves (401)
10. St. Louis Cardinals (432)
11. Milwaukee Brewers (457; dice roll)
12. San Diego Padres (463; dice roll)
13. Kansas City Royals (466)
14. Philadelphia Phillies (475; dice roll)
15. Seattle Mariners (475; dice roll)
16. Chicago Cubs (475; dice roll)
17. Detroit Tigers (488)
18. California Angels (494)
19. Montreal Expos (525; dice roll)
20. San Francisco Giants (525; dice roll)
21. Los Angeles Dodgers (531; dice roll)
22. Cincinnati Reds (562; dice roll)
23. New York Mets (562; dice roll)
24. Chicago White Sox (580)
25. Pittsburgh Pirates (586)
26. Oakland Athletics (636)


Rounds 2 thru 12

1. Atlanta Braves (401)
2. New York Yankees (414)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (432)
4. Minnesota Twins (457; dice roll)
5. Milwaukee Brewers (457; dice roll)
6. San Diego Padres (463; dice roll)
7. Houston Astros (463; dice roll)
8. Kansas City Royals (466)
9. Baltimore Orioles (472)
10. Philadelphia Phillies (475; dice roll)
11. Cleveland Indians (475; dice roll)
12. Seattle Mariners (475; dice roll)
13. Chicago Cubs (475; dice roll)
14. Detroit Tigers (488)
15. California Angels (494)
16. Texas Rangers (512)
17. Montreal Expos (525; dice roll)
18. San Francisco Giants (525; dice roll)
19. Los Angeles Dodgers (531; dice roll)
20. Toronto Blue Jays (531; dice roll)
21. Boston Red Sox (543)
22. Cincinnati Reds (562; dice roll)
23. New York Mets (562; dice roll)
24. Chicago White Sox (580)
25. Pittsburgh Pirates (586)
26. Oakland Athletics (636)


Eligible PIT players: 10 position players + 10 pitchers = 20.


Low expectations to go with the position of our pick this time around.

Here’s who we take:

1. 3B Ed Sprague, 23 (PIT IRL: 1999)

• Not a bad consolation prize even if he wasn’t among our preferred targets.

2. IF Jose Hernandez, 21 (PIT IRL: 2003, 2006)

• Were there any better options still on the table then we would likely have risked Jose for another round. But there weren’t, so we didn’t.

3. IF Cesar Morillo, 17 (INELIGIBLE)

• Trade bait in a year’s time.

AAA depth and warm bodies from here on.

Might turn out better than we’d hoped.

[luckymann]

This is anything but a complaint as I love how challenging they have made things for me in this save, but man those house rules make it difficult to solve roster management problems.

(Perhaps too much so as we enter the modern era and full-blown free-agency and skyrocketing salaries - I am considering ticking up our trade allocation from 4 to 5 but not just yet, I'll think on it some more.)

We entered this offseason deep in the red even after a slight budget increase and things are only going to get tighter as previously discussed with Bonds and Van Slyke's big chunk of payroll onto which we voluntarily added Bobby Bo.

Long story short, we need to dump some salary in as efficient a way as possible given the trade limit in place. We end up doing so in one fell swoop by sending both Gant and Burks to the Red Sox because, well, they're doing it tough and look like they need some help...

As you can see, Carlos is a nice enough prospect and we should get some mileage out of him in a couple years.


We also free up another CC spot and add a guy we really should never have traded away in this swap with the Cards that also bolsters the coffers a wee bit:

We've understandably taken a bit of a hit at the turnstiles but the cash position looks much better for it.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

One of the all-time great Fall Classics sees two cellar-dwellers from the previous season go toe-to-toe for seven absorbing games – five of them decided by a run, three in extra innings, and four in the last at-bat – before the Twins ride a legendary 10-inning shutout by veteran Jack Morris to win Game 7 1-0 and claim their second series in five seasons. The year also includes Rickey Henderson taking the all-time stolen bases lead but have to share the limelight with Nolan Ryan, who pitches his 7th career no-no on the same day, and Dennis Martinez spin a perfecto for the Expos against the Dodgers.


AL EAST / WEST CHAMPIONS: Toronto Blue Jays (91-71) / Minnesota Twins (95-67)
NL EAST / WEST CHAMPIONS: Pittsburgh Pirates (98-64) / Atlanta Braves (94-68)
ALCS: Twins 4, Blue Jays 1
NLCS: Braves 4, Pirates 3
WORLD SERIES: Twins 4, Braves 3

Pittsburgh Pirates: 98-64, 1st in NL East

AL MVP: Cal Ripken jr (Orioles)
NL MVP: Terry Pendelton (Braves)

AL CYA: Roger Clemens (Red Sox)
NL CYA: Tom Glavine (Braves)

AL RoY: Chuck Knoblauch (Twins)
NL RoY: Jeff Bagwell (Astros)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. BARRY BONDS, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .292 average, 95 runs, 28 doubles, 5 triples, 25 home runs, 116 RBIs, 107 walks, 25 intentional walks, 43 stolen bases, .410 on-base percentage.
• If not for a strike in 1994 and injury in 1999, this would have been the second of 15 straight years in which Bonds knocked in 100 or more runs. He was edged out by Terry Pendleton in a bid for his second straight MVP.

2. HOWARD JOHNSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .259 average, 108 runs, 34 doubles, 38 home runs, 117 RBIs, 30 stolen bases, 15 sacrifice flies.
• HoJo became the first switch hitter to lead the NL in home runs and the second player (after Bobby Bonds) to reach 30-30 for a third time.

3. RYNE SANDBERG, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .291 average, 104 runs, 170 hits, 32 doubles, 26 home runs, 100 RBIs, 87 walks, 22 stolen bases.
• With a run-scoring double in his last at-bat of the season, Sandberg reached 100 RBIs for the second straight and last time.

4. WILL CLARK, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .301 average, 84 runs, 170 hits, 32 doubles, 7 triples, 29 home runs, 116 RBIs, .536 slugging percentage.
• Many people trying to ring Clark’s home phone and getting a recording of B.B. King’s The Thrill is Gone would have been happy to know that he was out blistering opposing pitchers.

5. BOBBY BONILLA, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 102 runs, 174 hits, 44 doubles, 6 triples, 18 home runs, 100 RBIs, 90 walks.
• Along with Barry Bonds, Bonilla—part of the Pirates’ Killer B’s unit—continued to sting opponents while buzzing to the media about their uncertain futures in Pittsburgh.

6. RON GANT, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: .251 average, 101 runs, 35 doubles, 32 home runs, 105 RBIs, 34 stolen bases.
• Though his average slid, Gant was still potent enough to reach 30-30 for the second straight year; only Hank Aaron, in 1963, had done it even once in Braves franchise annals.

7. BARRY LARKIN, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 123 games, .302 average, 88 runs, 27 doubles, 20 home runs, 69 RBIs, 24 stolen bases.
• On a Reds team increasingly fractured by dissension and, in Larkin’s case, anger over management’s lack of commitment to retain a winning roster, the young shortstop who never hit more than 12 home runs belted 20—all while missing nearly 40 games.

8. FRED MCGRIFF, SAN DIEGO

• Key Numbers: .278 average, 84 runs, 31 home runs, 106 RBIs, 105 walks, 26 intentional walks.
• New place, same McGriff: The ex-Toronto slugger kept right on going after a monumental trade that sent Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar to Canada.

9. TERRY PENDLETON, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: .319 average, 94 runs, 187 hits, 34 doubles, 8 triples, 22 home runs, 86 RBIs, 10 stolen bases.
• The key inclusion on a Braves team that stunningly jumped from worst to first, Pendleton outlasted Hal Morris (by one point) and Tony Gwynn (by two) to take the NL batting crown after entering the season with a career .259 batting average.

10. CHRIS SABO, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .301 average, 91 runs, 174 hits, 35 doubles, 26 home runs, 88 RBIs, 19 stolen bases.
• Nicknamed Spuds for his resemblance to a popular pitch-dog of the day for Budweiser, the goggle-wearing Sabo enjoyed the height of a short career before injuries got the better of him.

AL Hitters

1. FRANK THOMAS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .318 average, 104 runs, 178 hits, 31 doubles, 32 home runs, 109 RBIs, 138 walks, 20 grounded into double plays, .453 on-base percentage.
• A big, lumbering presence who played football with Bo Jackson at Auburn University, Thomas exploded in his first full major league season.

2. JOSE CANSECO, OAKLAND

• Key Numbers: .266 average, 115 runs, 32 doubles, 44 home runs, 122 RBIs, 26 stolen bases.
• Canseco’s last great year at Oakland, before assuming a more transient big-league existence, was all but overshadowed by tabloid accounts of a late-night visit to pop star Madonna’s New York pad.

3. CAL RIPKEN JR., BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 162 games, .323 average, 99 runs, 210 hits, 46 doubles, 5 triples, 34 home runs, 114 RBIs.
• After a long malaise, Ripken suddenly spiked—winning the AL MVP, the All-Star Game MVP and, finally, his first Gold Glove at shortstop.

4. PAUL MOLITOR, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: .325 average, 665 at-bats, 133 runs, 216 hits, 32 doubles, 13 triples, 17 home runs, 75 RBIs, 19 stolen bases.
• Playing it safe to avoid injury and typically subpar defense, Molitor was moved to more full-time DH duty and began an offensively productive reign that would take him all the way to his final game at age 42.

5. DANNY TARTABULL, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: 132 games, .316 average, 78 runs, 35 doubles, 31 home runs, 100 RBIs, .593 slugging percentage.
• The sometimes hot, sometimes not Tartabull sizzled in mid-summer, leading to his only All-Star appearance.

6. RUBEN SIERRA, TEXAS

• Key Numbers: .307 average, 661 at-bats, 110 runs, 203 hits, 44 doubles, 5 triples, 25 home runs, 116 RBIs, 16 stolen bases.
• Sierra was one of three Rangers (Rafael Palmeiro and Julio Franco being the others) to each bang out over 200 hits.

7. RAFAEL PALMEIRO, TEXAS

• Key Numbers: .322 average, 115 runs, 203 hits, 49 doubles, 26 home runs, 88 RBIs.
• While Rangers fans still rue the day that the team traded Sammy Sosa to the Cubs, it serves to recall that they did get Palmeiro—in his more complete, pre-chem stage of his career—as part of the deal.

8. KEN GRIFFEY JR., SEATTLE

• Key Numbers: .327 average, 179 hits, 42 doubles, 22 home runs, 100 RBIs, 21 intentional walks, 18 stolen bases.
• The young Griffey continued to show that he was growing with each passing week, hitting .375 after the All-Star Break and helping to lead the Mariners to their first-ever winning season.

9. RICKEY HENDERSON, OAKLAND

• Key Numbers: 134 games, .268 average, 105 runs, 18 home runs, 57 RBIs, 98 walks, 58 stolen bases.
• On an Oakland team that slipped gears after three straight pennants, Henderson remained one of the team’s more effective threats, pacing the AL for the 11th time in steals; he’d get a 12th title, in 1998 at age 39.

10. LOU WHITAKER, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 138 games, .279 average, 94 runs, 26 doubles, 23 home runs, 78 RBIs, 90 walks.
• In his 15th year for the Tigers, Whitaker bucked the team’s trend of bashing home runs at the expense of overwhelming strikeout totals, whiffing just 45 times.

NL Pitchers

1. MIKE MORGAN, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.78 ERA, 14 wins, 10 losses, 1 save, 33 starts, 236.1 innings, 24 stolen bases allowed, 23 grounded into double plays.
• The Mike Morgan Road Show continued with a terrific year in Los Angeles, the sixth of 13 stops he would make in his big-league career.

2. TOM GLAVINE, ATLANTA

• Key Numbers: 2.55 ERA, 20 wins, 11 losses, 34 starts, 9 complete games, 246.2 innings, 10 wild pitches.
• Good enough at hockey to have once been drafted by the NHL, Glavine took his fledgling pitching career off ice and caught fire with the first of three straight years winning 20 games.

3. JOSE RIJO, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.51 ERA, 15 wins, 6 losses, .714 win percentage, 30 starts, 204.1 innings.
• Without the ever-dependable Rijo, the Reds’ post-championship campaign would have been even more miserable than its final 74-88 record.

4. DENNIS MARTINEZ, MONTREAL

• Key Numbers: 2.39 ERA, 14 wins, 11 losses, 31 starts, 9 complete games, 5 shutouts, 222 innings, 22 stolen bases allowed.
• El Presidente’s perfect game at Los Angeles on July 28 was just part of his year-long dominance against the Dodgers, not allowing an earned run in three total starts covering 25 innings.

5. LEE SMITH, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.34 ERA, 6 wins, 3 losses, 47 saves, 6 blown saves, 67 appearances, 73 innings, 13 walks.
• The Hall-of-Fame closer set a career mark and then-NL record in saves, to be broken two years later by Randy Myers; second to Smith in 1991 was Ron Dibble, with 31.

6. ZANE SMITH, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.20 ERA, 16 wins, 10 losses, 35 starts, 228 innings, 29 walks, 26 stolen bases allowed, 27 grounded into double plays.
• Like everyone else, the southpaw must have been startled to be facing the out-of-nowhere Braves in the NLCS after struggling in Atlanta from 1985-89 with a 38-58 record.

7. JOHN SMILEY, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 3.08 ERA, 20 wins, 8 losses, .714 win percentage, 32 starts, 207.2 innings, 44 walks.
• The Pennsylvania-born lefty became the second 20-game winner in as many years for the Pirates by getting that last W on the regular season’s final day; the Bucs haven’t had anyone reach 20 since.

8. TIM BELCHER, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.62 ERA, 10 wins, 9 losses, 33 starts, 209.1 innings.
• Belcher was at his efficient best, posting a career-low ERA; he would struggle through the remaining nine years of his career, registering a 4.74 figure.

9. BRUCE HURST, SAN DIEGO

• Key Numbers: 3.29 ERA, 15 wins, 8 losses, 31 starts, 221.2 innings.
• One of baseball’s more unsung aces plodded along, a year before a torn rotator cuff effectively ended his career.

10. MITCH WILLIAMS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.34 ERA, 12 wins, 5 losses, 30 saves, 9 blown saves, 69 appearances, 88.1 innings, 62 walks, 8 hit-by-pitches, 12 stolen bases allowed.
• Ricky Vaughn, meet the real “Wild Thing”: Williams evoked Charlie Sheen and succeeded in spite of wildness that spooked opposing hitters and created angst and coronaries among his teammates and coaches.

AL Pitchers

1. ROGER CLEMENS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.62 ERA, 18 wins, 10 losses, 35 starts, 13 complete games, 4 shutouts, 271.1 innings, 241 strikeouts, 23 stolen bases allowed, 16 caught stealing/picked off.
• It was status quo for the Rocket: Clemens continued to do anything but flame out in Boston.

2. JIM ABBOTT, CALIFORNIA

• Key Numbers: 2.89 ERA, 18 wins, 11 losses, 34 starts, 243 innings, 4 balks, 22 grounded into double plays.
• The one-handed Abbott was the most impressive of three Angels pitchers (Mark Langston and Chuck Finley being the others) who toyed with 20 wins.

3. SCOTT ERICKSON, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 3.18 ERA, 20 wins, 8 losses, .714 win percentage, 32 starts, 204 innings, 22 grounded into double plays.
• After losing his first two starts of the season, the sophomore from Long Beach reeled off 12 straight wins.

4. MARK LANGSTON, CALIFORNIA

• Key Numbers: 3.00 ERA, 19 wins, 8 losses, .704 win percentage, 34 starts, 246.1 innings.
• On an Angels staff dominated by lefties, Langston got oh-so-close to 20 wins but finished just short for the second time in his career. (In 16 years of play, he’d never get to 20.)

5. BRET SABERHAGEN, KANSAS CITY

• Key Numbers: 3.07 ERA, 13 wins, 8 losses, 28 starts, 196.1 innings.
• Another upbeat odd-year campaign after a disappointing even-year one, highlighted by his sole career no-hitter on August 26 against the White Sox.

6. BRYAN HARVEY, CALIFORNIA

• Key Numbers: 1.60 ERA, 2 wins, 4 losses, 46 saves, 6 blown saves, 67 appearances, 78.2 innings, 17 walks, 12 stolen bases allowed.
• Without Harvey, the Angels probably would have been the only below-.500 team in the AL West. (As it was, they finished in last place—at 81-81.)

7. JIMMY KEY, TORONTO

• Key Numbers: 3.05 ERA, 16 wins, 12 losses, 33 starts, 209.1 innings, 44 walks.
• The veteran southpaw saved his best stuff for divisional opponents, going 12-4 against the AL East while only 4-8 against the West.

8. BILL WEGMAN, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 2.84 ERA, 15 wins, 7 losses, .682 win percentage, 28 starts, 193.1 innings, 40 walks.
• Entering the season battered by injuries and a career 4.63 ERA, Wegman suddenly turned it around and, for his efforts, received a nice, new four-year contract worth $9.5 million.

9. NOLAN RYAN, TEXAS

• Key Numbers: 2.91 ERA, 12 wins, 6 losses, 27 starts, 173 innings, 169 total bases allowed, 72 walks, 203 strikeouts, 24 stolen bases allowed.
• Ryan’s wildly popular autumn existence in the DFW zone included his seventh career no-hitter for the Rangers, the team he’d eventually end up owning. Ryan twice struck out 14 or more batters; no one else in the AL did it once.

10. JACK MCDOWELL, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 3.41 ERA, 17 wins, 10 losses, 35 starts, 15 complete games, 253.2 innings, 10 wild pitches, 22 stolen bases allowed.
• The intimidating, highly-touted right-hander finally began to reach peak form, completing at least 10 games for the first of three straight years.

[luckymann]

The Tigers absolutely dominate a busy offseason market with the Royals also showing they won’t be resting on their laurels.

1B Fred McGriff: Royals, 8 years / $51.6m / AAV $6.45m
P David Cone: Tigers, 5 years / $28.2m / AAV $5.64m
OF Danny Tartabull: Braves, 5 years / $28.0m / AAV $5.60m
P Tom Candiotti: Cubs, 5 years / $26.0m / AAV $5.20m
OF Devon White: Red Sox, 6 years / $30.0m / AAV $5.01m
C Benito Santiago: Angels, 3 years / $14.2m / AAV $4.75m
OF Dave Henderson: Indians, 4 years / $15.3m / AAV $3.82m
OF Ivan Calderon: Astros, 7 years / $24.9m / AAV $3.56m
OF John Kruk: Dodgers, 6 years / $21.1m / AAV $3.52m
1B Cecil Fielder: Astros, 2 years / $6.9m / AAV $3.46m
P Pascual Perez: Cubs, 3 years / $10.2m / AAV $3.40m
OF Kal Daniels: Tigers, 4 years / $13.3m / AAV $3.32m
Mike Parrott: Yankees, 2 years / $6.6m / AAV $3.32m
OF Tim Raines: Tigers, 5 years / $13.0m / AAV $3.24m
P Jose Guzman: Cubs, 3 years / $9.6m / AAV $3.20m
OF Brian Downing: Royals, 2 years / $6.3m / AAV $3.16m
C Terry Steinbach: Red Sox, 4 years / $12.5m / AAV $3.12m
1B Jack Clark: Brewers, 3 years / $8.8m / AAV $2.92m
P Melido Perez: Twins, 5 years / $13.6m / AAV $2.73m
1B Wally Joyner: White Sox, 2 years / $5.3m / AAV $2.66m
1B Dave Magadan: Tigers, 5 years / $12.9m / AAV $2.58m
1B Andres Galarraga: A’s, 1 year / $2.2m / AAV $2.24m
OF Randy Bush: Cubs, 2 years / $4.2m / AAV $2.08m
C Lance Parrish: Phillies, 1 year / $2.1m / AAV $2.08m
OF Dwight Evans: Royals, 3 years / $6.1m / AAV $2.04m
1B Glenn Davis: Mets, 3 years / $5.5m / AAV $1.82m
OF Kirk Gibson: Mets, 2 years / $3.6m / AAV $1.78m


3B Jose Vizcaino from Blue Jays to Dodgers for P Jack McDowell
OF Vince Coleman from A’s to Red Sox for P Kevin Gross
P Robert Vavrock from Tigers to Cardinals for OF Jay Buhner
P Mike Harkey and P Jose Mesa from Twins to A’s for P Tim Belcher
P Bill Landrum from Dodgers to Yankees for OF Greg Vaughn
P Trevor Wilson from Royals to Cardinals for OF Mark Gubicza
C Chris Hoiles LEGACY from Orioles to Cardinals for OF Dave Gallagher and 3B Dean Palmer
P Scott Scudder and OF Junior Felix from Yankees to Royals for 2B Harold Reynolds and 3B Bob Zambrano
OF Brett Butler from Padres to Red Sox for P Jaime Navarro
2B Willie Randolph from Dodgers to Giants for P Tommy Greene
P David Wells from Rangers to Red Sox for P Tom Gordon and OF Cliff Gonzalez
SS Roy Smalley (retaining 95%) from Mariners to A’s for C Brent Mayne
OF John Jackson and P Jeff Shaw from Cubs to Braves for P Mike Morgan
P Charlie Leibrandt from Tigers to A’s for 2B Mickey Morandini
C Hector Villanueva from Rangers to Blue Jays for 2B Jody Reed (retaining 65%)
P Tim Rumer from Yankees to Brewers for OF Roberto Kelly
P Kirk McCaskill and OF Deion Sanders from Expos to Reds for 3B Sean Berry
P Donn Pall, 3B Dave Hansen and P Pedro Munoz from Orioles to White Sox for OF Brian McRae


We go 10-8 in an injury-free Spring Training.

BNN likes how the Astros are travelling and thinks they’ll cruise in the NL West with the other three races fairly close-run things.

[luckymann]

I think BNN has us pretty much pegged correctly at slightly above 500 and mid-standings. Our pitching is a concern and injuries will hurt wherever they occur. Still, we should be competitive and if the others stumble then anything is possible.

Junior Ortiz comes up to the backup catcher role ahead of Joe Oliver, who is coming along more slowly than anticipated. New faces Baerga at 2B and Hayes at 3B, with Bell back to SS and Dunston the 4th IF. After years of faithful backup service, Joe Orsulak gets a crack at starting in RF. We'll try to hold Finley back just one more year to better time his arb years against our existing payroll constraints.

Burkett the ESP with Smiley beating him to the SP5 for now.

[luckymann]

Orel never pitched one IRL and this is his first in this timeline.

[luckymann]

Bell the only real big-ticket item to be locked down. De Leon, Slaught and Webster will all go at the end of the year if not before depending on where we're at, standings-wise.

[luckymann]

Can't remember seeing this before as Jack Clark belts 2 grand slams in the one game. Just 13 players have done so IRL.

[luckymann]

Well, if our window has closed, the boys mustn’t have got the memo early as they open the season with 5 wins and go 14-6 in April with Bonds just killing it.

We keep it going and are 21-9 after 30, 28-12 after 40 and finish this sectional 31-15, 5 ½ clear of the Mets and Phils.

Would that the start of every season were so uncomplicatedly agreeable.



We roll the dice with Jay Bell, locking him down for the next decade on what we see as a very reasonable AAV of $1.86m.

We also sign a 1-year deal with Charlie Hayes for $355k.




Keep those heart pills handy, Yankee fans...


Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

Batter – Paul Sorrento (Blue Jays): 483 / 6 HR / 16 RBI
Pitcher – Melido Perez (Twins): 4-1 / 1.70 / 33 K / 37 IP
Rookie – Pete Schourek (Royals): 3-0 / 3.45 / 21 K / 28.2 IP


National League

Batter – Barry Bonds (Pirates): 385 / 6 HR / 21 RBI
Pitcher – Curt Schilling (Phillies): 4-1 / 1.50 / 27 K / 36 IP
Rookie – Cal Eldred (Dodgers): 2-2 / 2.29 / 27 K / 39.1 IP


May

American League

Batter – Frank Thomas (White Sox): 427 / 4 HR / 13 RBI
Pitcher – Erik Hanson (Angels): 6-0 / 2.47 / 29 K / 47.1 IP
Rookie – Brian Williams (A’s): 3-0 / 1.17 / 12 K / 23 IP



National League

Batter – Barry Bonds (Pirates): 402 / 10 HR / 27 RBI
Pitcher – Billy Swift (Mets): 5-0 / 1.60 / 13 K / 33.2 IP
Rookie – Rod Beck (Phillies): 3-0 / 1.80 / 6 SV / 9 K / 15 IP


News and Leaders




Milestones and Observations of Note

400 HR: Eddie Murray

The Phillies lose SP David Palmer for the season to an elbow blowout, as do the Astros with Gregg Jeffries to a labrum tear.

[luckymann]

Just three in for us this year, with Barry receiving the highest number of votes in either league and Jay Bell and Doug Drabek each earning their first nod.

American League

• SP Roger Clemens (BOS)* - 9-8, 3.26 ERA, 135.1 IP, 1.23 WHIP, 7.0 K/9, 2.7 WAR
• SP Teddy Higuera (ML4) - 4-8, 3.29 ERA, 90.1 IP, 1.23 WHIP, 7.0 K/9, 2.6 WAR
• SP Mike Mussina (BAL) - 6-7, 3.49 ERA, 134.0 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 5.8 K/9, 3.6 WAR
• SP Melido Perez (MIN) - 12-4, 2.75 ERA, 134.1 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, 3.4 WAR
• SP Bret Saberhagen (KC) - 6-6, 3.18 ERA, 130.0 IP, 1.25 WHIP, 6.2 K/9, 3.6 WAR
• SP Dan Schatzeder (SEA) - 8-2, 2.52 ERA, 96.1 IP, 1.11 WHIP, 3.5 K/9, 1.5 WAR
• RP Steve Howe (CLE)* - 4-1, 0.83 ERA, 43.1 IP, 1.11 WHIP, 4.4 K/9, 1.1 WAR
• RP Jose Segura (TEX) - 4-1, 1.77 ERA, 45.2 IP, 1.23 WHIP, 2.4 K/9, 0.2 WAR
• CL Jeff Montgomery (KC) - 2-1, 10 SV, 1.26 ERA, 35.2 IP, 1.07 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 0.5 WAR
• CL Duane Ward (CLE) - 3-4, 11 SV, 4.33 ERA, 35.1 IP, 1.53 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 0.7 WAR
• C Greg Olson (MIN) - .268/.355/.394, 198 AB, 3 HR, 1 SB, 107 wRC+, 1.4 WAR
• C Ivan Rodriguez (TEX) - .304/.333/.451, 204 AB, 4 HR, 120 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
• C Mickey Tettleton (NYY)* - .217/.367/.458, 203 AB, 13 HR, 139 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• 1B Francisco Cabrera (SEA) - .280/.314/.595, 296 AB, 25 HR, 3 SB, 154 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
• 1B Fred McGriff (KC) - .299/.409/.536, 274 AB, 18 HR, 2 SB, 167 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
• 1B Mark McGwire (OAK) - .253/.395/.531, 241 AB, 19 HR, 167 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• 1B Paul Molitor (ML4) - .356/.427/.464, 278 AB, 3 HR, 10 SB, 152 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• 1B Paul Sorrento (TOR) - .335/.399/.575, 275 AB, 19 HR, 2 SB, 177 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
• 1B Frank Thomas (CWS)* - .367/.486/.603, 267 AB, 14 HR, 207 wRC+, 5.0 WAR
• 2B Julio Franco (CLE)* - .362/.419/.480, 304 AB, 7 HR, 15 SB, 158 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
• 2B Robby Thompson (CAL) - .291/.355/.487, 275 AB, 12 HR, 8 SB, 143 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
• 3B Travis Fryman (DET)* - .282/.325/.446, 287 AB, 11 HR, 11 SB, 120 wRC+, 2.1 WAR (Injured)
• 3B Dave Hollins (TOR) - .298/.393/.564, 225 AB, 17 HR, 2 SB, 168 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• 3B Robin Ventura (CWS) - .320/.403/.527, 256 AB, 11 HR, 168 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
• SS Cal Ripken Jr. (BAL)* - .286/.346/.410, 273 AB, 7 HR, 2 SB, 111 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• LF Kal Daniels (DET)* - .280/.356/.450, 211 AB, 7 HR, 3 SB, 130 wRC+, 0.8 WAR (Injured)
• LF Rickey Henderson (OAK)* - .260/.384/.385, 262 AB, 7 HR, 39 SB, 124 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
• CF Juan Gonzalez (CAL)* - .316/.369/.670, 285 AB, 28 HR, 192 wRC+, 4.7 WAR
• CF Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA) - .263/.350/.500, 266 AB, 16 HR, 6 SB, 137 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
• CF Kirby Puckett (MIN) - .332/.389/.462, 277 AB, 5 HR, 7 SB, 135 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
• RF Jay Buhner (DET) - .280/.368/.474, 232 AB, 14 HR, 1 SB, 141 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
• RF Jose Canseco (OAK)* - .255/.338/.511, 282 AB, 21 HR, 6 SB, 142 wRC+, 2.4 WAR

National League

• SP Steve Avery (HOU) - 7-6, 2.28 ERA, 122.1 IP, 1.12 WHIP, 5.7 K/9, 2.4 WAR
• SP Tom Candiotti (CHC)* - 8-5, 2.55 ERA, 148.1 IP, 1.20 WHIP, 5.1 K/9, 2.9 WAR
• SP Doug Drabek (PIT) - 8-5, 2.25 ERA, 120.0 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 5.1 K/9, 3.5 WAR
• SP Cal Eldred (LAD) - 9-4, 1.89 ERA, 133.2 IP, 0.93 WHIP, 5.6 K/9, 2.9 WAR
• SP Dennis Martinez (SF) - 4-7, 2.38 ERA, 128.1 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 4.6 K/9, 2.7 WAR
• SP Mike Morgan (CHC) - 10-4, 2.57 ERA, 129.2 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 5.8 K/9, 3.8 WAR
• SP Terry Mulholland (NYM) - 10-3, 2.20 ERA, 126.2 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 5.0 K/9, 3.5 WAR
• SP Jose Rijo (CIN) - 8-7, 2.41 ERA, 138.1 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 6.5 K/9, 3.2 WAR
• SP Curt Schilling (PHI) - 11-6, 1.56 ERA, 138.1 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 5.6 K/9, 2.9 WAR
• SP Randy Tomlin (MON) - 8-4, 3.16 ERA, 119.2 IP, 1.25 WHIP, 5.2 K/9, 3.1 WAR
• CL Rob Dibble (SF) - 3-5, 16 SV, 1.51 ERA, 41.2 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 5.8 K/9, 1.2 WAR
• CL John Franco (HOU) - 1-4, 13 SV, 3.69 ERA, 31.2 IP, 1.67 WHIP, 3.1 K/9, 0.2 WAR
• CL Doug Jones (STL)* - 1-4, 25 SV, 2.85 ERA, 53.2 IP, 1.27 WHIP, 4.5 K/9, 1.0 WAR
• CL Lee Smith (CHC) - 6-2, 18 SV, 3.16 ERA, 42.2 IP, 1.38 WHIP, 4.6 K/9, 1.5 WAR
• C Brian Harper (CHC)* - .375/.403/.556, 144 AB, 6 HR, 169 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
• C Chris Hoiles (STL) - .248/.315/.398, 226 AB, 8 HR, 105 wRC+, 1.5 WAR
• C Mike LaValliere (LAD) - .297/.382/.333, 219 AB, 1 HR, 111 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
• 1B Will Clark (SF) - .289/.344/.489, 280 AB, 13 HR, 2 SB, 131 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
• 1B Kent Hrbek (ATL)* - .320/.393/.498, 291 AB, 13 HR, 2 SB, 155 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
• 1B John Olerud (STL) - .263/.370/.453, 274 AB, 14 HR, 137 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
• 2B Roberto Alomar (SD)* - .289/.365/.366, 298 AB, 2 HR, 28 SB, 110 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• 3B Terry Pendleton (SF)* - .309/.352/.523, 262 AB, 11 HR, 3 SB, 149 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
• SS Jay Bell (PIT) - .304/.399/.505, 204 AB, 7 HR, 155 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
• SS Barry Larkin (CIN)* - .287/.384/.429, 268 AB, 7 HR, 12 SB, 131 wRC+, 4.2 WAR
• LF George Bell (MON) - .277/.312/.520, 296 AB, 18 HR, 130 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• LF Barry Bonds (PIT)* - .332/.450/.668, 250 AB, 20 HR, 14 SB, 214 wRC+, 5.8 WAR
• LF Shane Mack (CHC) - .311/.380/.539, 267 AB, 15 HR, 12 SB, 156 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
• CF Ray Lankford (STL)* - .302/.367/.478, 278 AB, 9 HR, 26 SB, 142 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
• RF Randy Bush (CHC) - .312/.376/.507, 215 AB, 8 HR, 152 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
• RF David Justice (HOU)* - .263/.415/.529, 240 AB, 16 HR, 3 SB, 167 wRC+, 3.6 WAR

Juan Gonzalez beats Francisco Cabrera 6-5 to win the HR Derby, with the AL winning their fourth straight ASG despite an MVP performance by John Olerud. The final score is 8-7 and it puts the AL a couple clear in the running score, 29 wins to 27.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

Don Slaught has been struggling with various niggles all year and we finally have to IL him for the minimum stint with Joe Oliver making his long-awaited MLB debut.

Initially, the lads don’t miss a beat with a 10-game win streak in July that includes three straight shutouts but then a poor West Coast swing after that seems to knock the stuffing out of us as we go 4-12 and play really poorly in the second half of June.

Three more losses to the Cubs and they briefly supplant us at the top of the NL East but we reach the midpoint / ASB at 48-33 and 1½ clear of them and the Phillies.

We get Sluggo back and return Joe Oliver to AAA for some more seasoning.

What we can’t seem to regain is any semblence of our early form as the poor performances continue with Bonds almost invisible since the start of June.

Then we lose both Baerga (bone bruise, 2 months) and Oberkfell (hamstring, 5 weeks) in the same game and are forced two call up two guys we picked up on minors deals, Wally Backman and Darnell Coles.

Fair to say the wheels have fallen off the bus.

Even with two wins to close out the sectional, we have gone 16-26 since June 13, when we sat at 41-17.

Entering the stretch run after an even 100 games we are tied with the Phils at 57-43, 3 clear of the Cubs in a tight division separated top-to-bottom by just 7 games.

With still two unused transaction tickets in my pocket and the looming need for pitching depth, we pull a minor swap with the Dodgers that I'll include with the Deadline trades at the bottom of this update.




The Mariners tease their fans by winning their first 10 games in June to grab top spot in the AL West and they are still right in it as we hit the stretch run.

The Yanks have put themselves in contention again – can they hold off the Red Sox this time?

The Astros look strong in the NL West.




Monthly Award Winners

June

American League

Batter – Frank Thomas (White Sox): 385 / 5 HR / 17 RBI
Pitcher – Bruce Hurst (Red Sox): 5-0 / 2.51 / 21 K / 46.2 IP
Rookie – Pete Schourek (Royals): 4-0 / 2.09 / 26 K / 38.2 IP


National League

Batter – Shane Mack (Cubs): 344 / 7 HR / 23 RBI
Pitcher – Eric King (Cardinals): 4-1 / 1.88 / 22 K / 48 IP
Rookie – Cal Eldred (Dodgers): 3-1 / 1.93 / 25 K / 46.2 IP


July

American League

Batter – Ken Griffey jr (Mariners): 378 / 11 HR / 22 RBI
Pitcher – Jimmy Key (Blue Jays): 5-0 / 1.79 / 23 K / 40.1 IP
Rookie – Mike Mussina (Orioles): 5-1 / 2.93 / 27 K / 46 IP


National League

Batter – David Justice (Astros): 382 / 6 HR / 22 RBI
Pitcher – Ramon Martinez (Dodgers): 5-1 / 1.12 / 39 K / 48.1 IP
Rookie – Darryl Kile (Phillies): 4-2 / 2.47 / 30 K / 47.1 IP


News, Leaders and Top 20s




Milestones and Observations of Note

Exciting young Angels OF Alex Cole’s 1991 season ends early courtesy of a kneecap break and Darryl Strawberry is aldo done for the year after he suffers a ruptured finger tendon.

Expos SP Ben McDonald is another to have his 1991 campaign cut short after tearing a labrum.

Boston extends SP Bruce Hurst for two years at roughly $1.4m per.

Seattle’s Francisco Cabrera, who had 17 HR total for his 5-season IRL career, is currently sitting on 30 for this season alone.

Some Deadline trades of note:

[luckymann]

If there is one box score that explains all there is to know about this group, it is this one:

Don Slaught gets on base 8 times – 3 walks, 3 doubles, a triple and a homer, meaning he somehow missed the cycle by a single! – for a GSc of 105, we score 11 but rack up 20 LOB, blow a 5-run save and then lose it on an error in the 17th.

Yep, sounds about right for basically the same players that blew a 3-1 World Series lead including two games at home…

[luckymann]

Auburn, who had Ron Gant at the club for almost the entire season and Mo Vaughn for some of it (bloody Red Sox riches...), go all the way for their 4th AAA title.

Our Links dominate the regular season but are knocked out by Medford, who had to survive a tiebreaker just to be there.

[luckymann]

This one was up there with the very best of them.

Our inconsistent form carries into August as we start the stretch run 8-8 and it would have been way worse if not for a red-hot Mitch Webster, with Andy Van also chiming in on occasion.

Still, nobody makes a decisive move and little changes standings-wise until the end of August, when the Phillies just kick away a bit.

For us, the plain fact is that we are scoring nowhere near enough runs and being too profligate in the late innings with those we do, with our differential sitting at just +59 entering September.

With 30 games to go, we trail Philly by 5 games but Barry comes alive again, at one point belting 4 homers and knocking in 12 runs over successive games and we enjoy our best period of the year with 10 straight wins to completely erase the gap by the time we take on the Phils.

Of our 20 remaining games, 6 are against them and with the Cubs holding down third place 8 games in arrears it looks to be between the two of us.

We win the first three of those games to take our streak to 13, where it concludes at that number the following day against the Cubs.

We’re two clear when they come to TRS for the return bout and three clear with a dozen to play when we win two of the three.

Three tight wins at Shea including an 18-inning epic in which Dante Bichette (see below) has a 5-hit debut for the club greatly advance our cause, leaving us five clear with nine to play and while we have to fight almost to the end we finally see off a brave Phillies outfit with a clinching win at home over the Mets.

We get Carlos Baerga back right at the very end and finish the regular season 97-65 and 5 clear. Just to show how strongly we finished, our run diff ends up at +143.


The Rangers inexplicably put Dante Bichette on waivers and, with two spare CC slots to avail ourselves of, we claim him never expecting he’d end up with us. Three days later that’s exactly where he is. Won’t be eligible for any potential playoff action but is on the minimum and is very handy indeed moving forward. A big win!

We re-up cheaply for a year with catcher Junior Ortiz.




Houston is the first to clinch and look the team to beat this year.

Oh, those Yankees… seemingly cruising at 7½ clear of the Sox with fewer than 20 to play, they proceed to give them all back with interest and trail by a game with 3 to go. They are still one behind entering the final day and hang on for a desperate 2-1 win at home to the Indians, only for the Sox to break their hearts all over again with a walkoff 13-inning 2-1 win against the Brewers.

The Mariners have similar difficulties closing out the AL West after looking unbeatable but still hold a one-game advantage over the Royals with one to play. That disappears when KC wins 4-3 at Cali and Seattle drops their 5th straight, a 6-5 10-inning home game against the White Sox after scoring in the 9th to stay alive. Ho-ly Cow!

Against all odds, the M’s travel to Royals Stadium and win the ‘breaker 7-4 to knock out the reigning Champions and earn their first-ever playoff appearance.

What a season.




Final Leaders and Top 20s

Barry Bonds is locked in a ferocious four-way go with Larry Walker, George Bell and Terry Pendleton for the NL batting title, which in his case would give him the Triple Crown.

Sadly, he goes 0-for-3 on the final day as Larry Walker goes 0-for-2 and pips him .311958 to .311538. Pendleton finishes at 310 and Bell at 309.

Across in the AL, Juan Gonzalez also just misses a TC by 5 RBI. His 45 HR lead both leagues, as do Barry's 125 RBI and Otis Nixon's 77 steals.

By WAR, Barry’s 10.52 makes his the 22nd-best season in history by a position player and it is the first over 10 since Rod Carew’s 10.03 in 1974. Rajah Hornsby’s 12.98 in 1925 remains the best by this metric.

On the pitching side of things, Curt Schilling is the only 20-game winner this year. Cal Eldred's 2.34 ERA is the low and Ramon Martinez just beats out The Big Unit as King of K, 226 to 217. Doug Jones leads all relievers with 44 Saves.




Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

Batter – Harold Reynolds (Yankees): 417 / 3 HR / 22 RBI
Pitcher – Erik Hanson (Angels): 5-1 / 2.18 / 36 K / 45.1 IP
Rookie – Bernie Williams (Yankees): 291 / 2 HR / 19 RBI


National League

Batter – Randy Milligan (Phillies): 304 / 3 HR / 15 RBI
Pitcher – Jose Rijo (Reds): 5-0 / 1.34 / 37 K / 47 IP
Rookie – Juan Guzman (Braves): 4-1 / 3.63 / 47 K / 44.2 IP


September

American League

Batter – Ken Griffey jr (Mariners): 391 / 6 HR / 23 RBI
Pitcher – Chris Bosio (Rangers): 5-0 / 1.57 / 28 K / 46 IP
Rookie – Joel Johnston (Twins): 1-1 / 3.86 / 7 SV / 9 K / 14 IP


National League

Batter – Barry Bonds (Pirates): 343 / 10 HR / 37 RBI
Pitcher – Greg Maddux (Braves): 5-0 / 1.88 / 32 K / 48 IP
Rookie – Rod Beck (Phillies): 2-0 / 0.61 / 8 SV / 9 K / 14.2 IP


Milestones and Observations of Note

3000 Hits: Dave Parker (17th player to reach this mark)

2000 Hits: Alan Trammell

200 Wins: Bob Welch

Back problems put an early end to Phillies OF Von Hayes’s season, while the Mets also lose Al Leiter for the duration to shoulder issues.

Lee Smith re-ups with the Cubs on a 2/3120 deal.

In AAA, rookie Eric Karros of Paris wins the competition’s first-ever Triple Crown with a 392 AVG, 32 HR and 104 RBI.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

American League
Boston Red Sox (94-68) v Seattle Mariners (85-78)

The BoSox just keep getting it done in this timeline and it never ceases to amaze me how the roles have inverted for them and the Yanks.

They will have their hands full here with another one of the league’s real improvers but what effect will that draining stretch fade have on this young group?

That for mine, particularly without the experienced hand of the injured Hawk Dawson to guide them, will prove the main stumbling block for the M’s in a series that I’ll like their chances in the longer it goes.

Clemens gets the Sox away strongly with a 6-2 Game 1 win and they double their lead the following day with a tight 3-2 victory before the series moves to Seattle for the city’s first-ever playoff game.

A wild 9-7 win to the visitors puts the home side on the precipice and the Sox fairly kick them over the edge with a 10-4 win to complete a ruthless sweep.

Veteran Sox SS Jose Uribe is named MVP.





National League
Pittsburgh Pirates (97-65) v Houston Astros (93-69)

Well that strong second half has gone some way to reviving my faith in this group, which showed that on their day they can beat anyone.

Key three words in that statement: on their day.

Our opponents are undeniably a club on the rise. With young guns Justice, Biggio and Bagwell terrorising pitchers and an underrated rotation that makes you work hard for your runs, they look set for a sustained run and will be super tough to handle here.

A poor start sees us drop the opener 10-8 despite Carlos Baerga running amok as Jose De Leon’s playoff woes continue and we’re lucky to escape another poorly-pitched game the next day with an 8-7 win in 13 on a walkoff solo shot by Darnell Coles as Baerga has another 4-hit game and Bonds knocks in 3.

The lads hold their nerve with a late score for a comeback 4-2 win in Houston but yet another dodgy pitching performance in Game 4 lets them level it up again with an easy 9-2 win.

The inconsistency I touched upon in the intro is brought to bear as Avery limits us to just 2 hits and they take a 3-1 series lead with a win by that scoreline as we head home deep in the hole.

It is a hole from which we never emerge as they finish us off with a 5-3 win in 10 to stretch our dry run another season at least.

On the topic of inversions, it seems we have somehow morphed from the historical Yankees to the historical Brooklyn Dodgers at some point along this timeline.

David Justice wins the MVP.

[luckymann]

Boston Red Sox v Houston Astros
Best-of-seven, Red Sox with the home-field advantage.


Experience v exuberance here—can the wily old Boston terriers overcome Houston’s yappy young pups?

Obviously I’d rather be more involved in the series but as a neutral I am really looking forward to this one.

Astros in six for me. As much as I hate to admit it, I see a dynasty beckoning.

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Boston

Roger Clemens (14-14, 3.17) v Dave Stewart (13-10, 3.10)

A real statement win at Fenway by the upstarts, who get to Rocket early and keep on him, with rookie Jeff Bagwell going 4-for-5 with a double, a homer and 4 RBI in a star-making turn to support a solid outing by warhorse Dave Stewart.




Game 2 in Boston
Sid Fernandez (17-9, 4.10) v Steve Avery (15-10, 3.14)
Astros lead series 1-0

The Sox return serve, exploding with 7 runs off Steve Avery in the first two innings but then seem to take their foot off the gas as the Astros keep coming before running out of outs still needing a run to tie, with the final score 7-6




Game 3 in Houston
Scott Sanderson (15-9, 3.07) v Bruce Hurst (15-10, 3.38)
Series tied 1-1

Things stay lively as runs are scored in bunches early and the game is knotted 5-5 all the way from the 5th to the top 10th when the Sox post a 3-spot and close it out. Catcher Terry Steinbach powers the visitors' bats with 5 ribbies.




Game 4 in Houston
Jose DeJesus (8-6, 3.85) v David Wells (9-7, 4.23)
Red Sox lead series 2-1

The cooler heads and more experienced hands prevail again here in a game that the Astros look on the verge of wresting control of all the way through without ever managing to do so.

Steinbach goes yard again and must be the MVP favourite if the results continue along the same vein and, with two of the three remaining games back in Boston, that now seems highly likely.




Game 5 in Houston
Dave Stewart (1-0, 2.08) v Roger Clemens (1-1, 5.27)
Red Sox lead series 3-1

Not too many times the Red Sox fail to take their chances and they are clinical here with Rocket atoning for his Game 1 mishap with 7 strong innings and the bats grinding Stewart down for a 5-1 final to give them their 15th World Championship.

A disappointing performance from the Astros but they’ll have learned plenty from the experience.

No surprise at all that Terry Steinbach takes out MVP honours.