The One for All League

[luckymann]

Something of a shock when the Twins take Jeff Burroughs first overall ahead of Gary Carter, who goes next to Houston.

Ramon Martinez (13th; Cardinals) is back for a second go-around.




The LL is Robert Rivera, who appeared ever so briefly on a couple teams in the 1941 Rookie-level West Texas-New Mexico League.

[luckymann]

The BNN bunch sees further dominance by the Yankees, predicting they'll win 111 games.

Serendipity strikes again as Davey Johnson signs with the Mets.

Another player benefiting from some dodgy DB work is 15th-ranked pitcher Benjamin Bardes, whose stats for the 1966 Miami Marlins of the AAA Florida League have been treated as MLB. Benjamin is certainly making the most of his good fortune, going 35-26 with an ERA+ of 112 - you guessed it, for the Miami Marlins.

[luckymann]

BNN is wack. The Yankees only win 110 games.

The Twins and Angels finish tied at 92-70 to hold down the AL WCs, with (presumably) Minnesota’s 5-2 head-to-head record giving them home-field advantage for a game they go on to win 2-1 before being knocked out by the Yanks. Sadly for the boys in Pinstripes, their big regular season win tally once again fails to translate into an OFA Championship as the Dodgers beat them handily in the World Series for the club’s first title.





Awards

MVP

• AL: Ralph Kiner (Angels) [3]
• NL: Jose Cruz (Cardinals) [1]

CYA

• AL: Jim Maloney (White Sox) [1]
• NL: Fausto Carmona (Padres) [1]

RoY

• AL: Jeff Burroughs (Twins) unanimous
• NL: Orlando McFarlane (Brewers)

Reliever

• AL: Albert Stephens (Mariners) [2]
• NL: Gary Wayne (Cubs) [1]

Feats of Note

• 6-hit Game: Pythian Russ, Jeff Burroughs
• Cycle: Dave Harris, Anthony Pint, Dionys Cesar, Bill White, Nolan Gorman, Scott Rolen
• No-Hitter: Daniel Cabrera
• 50+ HR: Juan Gonzalez (50)

Milestones

• 600 HR: Edwin Encarnacion
• 500 HR: Dave Kingman, Mookie Betts, Ralph Kiner
• 3000 H: Torii Hunter, Yoan Moncada, Pepper Martin
• 250 W: Jose Fernandez
• 3500 K: Jose Fernandez
• 300 SV: Albert Stephens, Hubert Glenn
• 600 SB: Max Carey
• 500 SB: Carl Crawford

Top 20s by WAR





Randy J suffers an injury in the final weeks of the season that will see him miss all of the 1922 campaign, as does NeLer Jose Leblanc.

Given he only played one season IRL, and that for the 1939 Worthington Cardinals of the D-level Western League, you'd have to think Richard Conwell would be fairly satisfied with his 1921 OFA campaign as he finishes third in the AL with a 324 BA. He's putting together a fine career and we'll keep tabs on how that goes the rest of the way.

Another who indubitably surprises on the upside is 17-game winner Lino Donoso. Lino, who - according to his personality descriptor, struggles even with simple concepts - played for the 1947 NY Cubans in the Negro National League, and then nothing in any of the usual sources until 1955, when he pops up in the Pirates' system, starring for the PCL Hollywood Stars before getting a call-up to the bigs at age 32. That sojourn doesn't last long, and he vanishes for good in 1956. The ratings gods in OOTP have been relatively favourable to Lino, so I doubt this is the last we've heard of him.

That in-game comment about Lino prompts me to say a few things I have been thinking for some time now. I'm not having a dig at OOTP or the devs here by any means, but still I can't help but see this element of the game as fairly problematic, not to mention on occasion borderline libellous.

I use player personalities on the few saves in which I play out the games (currently only the AtHoL) to add another dimension to roster management and make it more challenging, and have obviously left them on here because the OFA is meant to be just a bit of fun, but for the most part switch them off because I find them too random and baseless in fact. I mean, did somebody sit Lino down and make him do an IQ test, the result of which formed the basis of this description of his intelligence (or, in this case, lack thereof)? Not that a professional athlete would have the time or inclination to gameplay, but if they (or perhaps their friends) did - how would they feel about being portrayed in this fashion?

The other aspect of this I find troubling was actually raised a while back with some fairly compelling corroborative evidence provided and, if I remember correctly, supposedly actioned upon by the devs - that being the vaguely racist overtones that can tend to pervade these descriptions, whereby minorities seem to be the victims of some long-held stereotypes.

I believe this part of the game is - at least when dealing with historical players - in dire need of some tweaking to make it more baseball-relevant. Not an analysis of players' (utterly fictional) personality traits, but of their "game-smarts". Even then, how does one gauge this with the required amount of accuracy and implement it into OOTP without a complete overhaul? Or, conversely, if it is utterly made up as seems to be the case, why does it have a place in this wonderful simulation at all, other than in fictional saves? For mine, it is a binary proposition - do it properly, or don't do it at all.

Just some food for thought.

[luckymann]

NeLer Zack Foreman finishes his career - which began in the OFA's inaugural season - with 310 saves, currently 7th all-time.

[luckymann]

Troy Tulowitzki goes 1st overall to the 'Stros ahead of two gun CFs in Reggie Smith and Brian Jordan. Booker McDaniel, whose star shone brightly but briefly in the integration-era NeL, is taken 10th by the BoSox.




The Lucky Last for 1921 is Robert Yarshus, for whose solitary season for a couple clubs in the 1934 Western League only sparse statistical records have apparently survived.

[luckymann]

A couple of players I am unfamiliar with haven't been missed by the eagle-eyed BNN pundits.

NeLer Hulon Stamps (who imports as Hulan) played for seasons in the 1920s almost exclusively for the Memphis Red Sox without exactly covering himself in glory. The Ratings Gods have given him a shot at redemption here in the OFA and expectations are high among those in the know for him to make the most of his second chance.

Ditto Henry Fine, about whose single season for a few teams in the 1922 Triple-I League little is known, statistically speaking. Still, BNN has him pegged for a marked improvement in 1922 on his 40-48 record to this point.

We shall, as always, keep both under watchful guard.

[luckymann]

The Dodgers rally from 3-2 down to get home in 7 and go back-to-back.





Awards

MVP

• AL: Lyle Overbay (Royals) [1]
• NL: Freddie Freeman (Braves) [2]

CYA

• AL: Jim Maloney (White Sox) [2]
• NL: Teddy Higuera (Padres) [1]

RoY

• AL: Luke Scott (Orioles)
• NL: Matt Lawton (Mets) unanimous

Reliever

• AL: Vibert Clarke (Royals) [3]
• NL: Hubert Glenn (Dodgers) [3]

Feats of Note

• 6-hit Game: Jim Dyck
• Cycle: Carl Crawford, Babe Herman, Don Hoak, Len Koenecke, Willie Upshaw
• Bill Terry has back-to-back 5-hit games

Milestones

• 500 HR: Daryl Strawberry
• 3500 H: Bill Terry, Enos Slaughter
• 3000 H: Bing Miller

New Season Records

• Mickey Rogers 147 BB
• Hubert Glenn 50 SV (tie)

Top 20s by WAR





All in all, a fairly low-key season with little to report.

Christian Yelich actually tops the league with 46 HR, but appears on neither leaderboard after being traded in mid-season from the Brew Crew to the Bronx Bombers. He also sets a new GSc record of 176 for his new club, along with 11 RBI in a game against Tampa Bay.

The world seems right again with Freddie Freeman winning the NL MVP while wearing a Braves uniform.

[luckymann]

An injury knocks Ray Brown out of the game at age 40, with his 209 wins and 77 pWAR putting him in the HoF mix a few years hence.




No such considerations for Henry Fine, still he does OK given his humble IRL origins.

[luckymann]

A slight surprise when the Phils take Travis "Pronk" Hafner first overall ahead of such historical luminaries as Nap Lajoie (Guardians; 2nd) and Cy Young, who follows his IRL path by going to the BoSox 4th overall.




The Lucky Last is Carlos German, who was oh so briefly a member of the Giants organisation at the turn of the millennium.

[luckymann]

On his third try, Tom Doughty becomes the OFA Hall of Fame's very first inductee.

[luckymann]

A few big deals in the offseason, with Stan Musial (Angels), Miguel Cabrera (Pirates), and NeLer Ben Taylor all signing multi-year contracts with new clubs. Justin Morneau, meanwhile, re-ups with the Cubs for 8 years.

Nap Lajoie has failed to sign with the Guardians after the Draft - apparently he was insisting they change their name - and has gone back to school.

Tom Walker had a fair MLB career in the early-mid 70s, but has benefitted here from the old wrong stats brigade, with his stint at A-Level Miami in the Florida League given MLB reckoning.

[luckymann]

A bunch of tight races, with the AL East, AL West and NL East each decided by just 2 games. The Braves and Cubs finish tied for the NL WC2 slot, with Atlanta winning the tiebreak 6-2 to advance but then losing the WC game to Arizona.

The Brewers only narrowly get past the Phils in the DCS but then win eight straight to nail down the club’s second title and first since 1902.





Awards

MVP

• AL: Juan Gonzalez (Rays) [1]
• NL: Bill White (Diamondbacks) [1]

CYA

• AL: Randy Johnson (Mariners) [1]
• NL: Mike Mussina (Braves) [1]

RoY

• AL: John Muskus (Orioles)
• NL: Travis Hafner (Phillies)

Reliever

• AL: Vibert Clarke (Royals) [4] unanimous
• NL: Jonathan Papelbon (Reds) [1]

Feats of Note

• 4-HR Game: Jermaine Dye
• 6-hit Game: Walt Williams, Manuel Bobadilla
• Cycle: Earl Browne
• No-Hitter: Harry Coe, Moose Haas

Milestones

• 3000 H: Alexis Rios, Keith Hernandez
• 4000 K: Jose Fernandez
• 500 SB: Gary Pettis
• 400 SV: Albert Stephens

Top 20s by WAR





Big (listed at 310 lb!!) Japhet Amador looks a right character. IRL he has been bouncing around the minors since 2007 without ever making the leap and is currently playing his age-35 season in Mexico. Here in the OFA, a totally different story, as his first three seasons with the Friars have netted him just shy of 100 dingers and nearly 10 pWAR. Let's hope he can have the same longevity here and put together some big numbers.

John Muskus was quite the opposite IRL to Japhet, appearing oh so briefly for the 1952 Salina Blue Jays in the Western Association and then gone. He has made a more lasting impression in the OFA, winning the AL RoY with an excellent first campaign that saw him belt 27 HR and amass 4.7 bWAR.

[luckymann]

Not HoF worthy, but still a nice 24 pWAR career for Jabbo Andrews.




Even better for Orv Mohler, who hangs 'em up with 349 career HR and nearly 47 bWAR and is an outside chance for a call.

[luckymann]

Larry Lajoie goes first his second time around, this time to the Giants, ahead of 19th-century OF Sam Dungan and Madison Bumgarner. Reggie Jackson goes 5th, to the Friars.




The brilliantly-named Ralph Crumbie is the LL. Ralph played - or at least allegedly so, given BBRef has no stats whatsoever in his entry - for the Pittsburgh Crawfords in the 1946 USBL. OOTP has most generously given him a 1-for-3 line to make a career of. Good luck with that!

[apaul]

Hi Luckyman,
I am fairly new to the game. Is there a way to create a league of each team's best seasons. I tried this with the a Fictional League, but now I have to set up all of the logos, caps, uniforms, etc. That's a lot of time to spend just to get started. Is there an easier way?

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by apaul

Hi Luckyman,
I am fairly new to the game. Is there a way to create a league of each team's best seasons. I tried this with the a Fictional League, but now I have to set up all of the logos, caps, uniforms, etc. That's a lot of time to spend just to get started. Is there an easier way?

Not that I am aware of mate. One suggestion I'll make is to go to the Mods board / Quickstarts section - someone may have already done something like this and put it up to share.

G

[luckymann]

BNN is expecting a big season from Mendy Lopez, whom Royals fans would no doubt remember. Entering his age-38 season, Mendy has had a much more productive career in the OFA than IRL, with a career 256/333/438 line, 239 HR and 26.5 bWAR. Let's see if they get another one spot on.

[luckymann]

The M’s win 107 games… and have to settle for the first AL Wild Card as the Halos win 110. Colorado and Washington finish tied for the NL WC2, with the Pirates and Phillies both a game back. The Nats score late to get home in the tiebreaker and ride it all the way to the Series, where Seattle sweeps them to lock down title number four.





Awards

MVP

• AL: Trea Turner (Angels) [1]
• NL: David Justice (Brewers) [1] unanimous

CYA

• AL: Don Drysdale (Royals) [1]
• NL: Jeremy Bonderman (Dodgers) [1] unanimous

RoY

• AL: John Cobb (Blue Jays)
• NL: Reggie Jackson (Padres)

Reliever

• AL: Vibert Clarke (Royals) [5] unanimous
• NL: James Cohen (Padres) [1] unanimous

Feats of Note

• 6-hit Game: Nap Lajoie, Stanley Pac, Jeff Burroughs
• Cycle: Reggie Jackson, Nap Lajoie
• No-Hitter: Randy Johnson (he also threw one at AAA while on a rehab stint), Wheezer Dell, Provine Bradley
• 50+ HR: David Justice (54)
• 150+ RBI: David Justice (151)
• 25+ W: Leon Cadore (25)

Milestones

• 600 HR: Ralph Kiner
• 500 HR: Freddie Freeman, Torii Hunter
• 4000 H: Bill Terry (first to this mark)
• 300 W: Jose Fernandez (first to this mark)
• 250 W: Satchel Paige
• 2500 K: Randy Johnson
• 300 SV: John Brown

Top 20s by WAR





John Cobb was a bug on the windshield of baseball history, playing for a couple teams in the deepest MiLB reaches in 1962. In the OFA, he earns himself a RoY Award thanks to a 36 HR / 3.6 bWAR debut season.

Woodrow Wray played for the Union City Greyhounds (a future MiLB club in my AtHoL save, actually) in the 1935 KITTY League, going a decent 11-5 / 3.31. He's hit a bit of a purple patch in his thirties here, winning 15 last year and topping that with an 18-6 / 6 pWAR 1924 campaign.

[luckymann]

Edgar finishes his career 4th all-time in Saves.




Brandon closes it out bang on 700 HR and only that final little stint at Pittsburgh spoils his one-club career.




555 HR / 57 bWAR for Mr Muncy.




114 bWAR gives Mike the clubhouse lead. Amazingly consistent, despite leading the league in so few categories on a seasonal basis.

[luckymann]

Edgar Wesley becomes the first NeLer since the mighty Pete Hill in the OFA's Inaugural Draft to go first overall, taken by Tampa Bay.




The Lucky Last is Sergio Perez, who graded out after just the single season for the Giants rookie Arizona League club in 1993.