Could There Be An America's Team? Let's try

[Brad K]

Historical 1961 Pirates 75-79
Historical 1961 Pirates Pyth 79-75

Game 1961 Pirates 80-74
Game 1961 Pirates Pyth 80-74

[Brad K]

September 24 1964
Split the series. Ahead by two. Giants picked up a game and are now 3 back.

October 2 1964
Talk about a nail biter. Two games to go, both against the Braves at Milwaukee, and a one game lead over the Braves. The Giants are 1 1/2 out and they have three games left so they could end up in a tie for first with either the Pirates or Braves.

Braves eliminated by Pirate 8-6 win. A scary game for the Bucs who took a 7 run lead into the 9th but won by only 2. All the Braves 9th inning runs scored after two were out. Harmon Killebrew hit a solo home run off SP Camilo Pascual after fouling off six pitches.

Two singles and a walk loaded the bases and pinch hitter Ed Kirkpatrick launched a massive grand slam to right field.

With the lead down to two the Bucs brought in RP Fred Newman and installed their defensive players in the lineup, Roberto Pena at 3B and Jim Piersall in LF. Ron Hunt bounced the first pitch down the first base line where Donn Clendenon gloved it and trotted to the bag for the unassisted final out. SF can still tie and force a playoff.

Standings at beginning of day Oct 2.

[Brad K]

Pelican

Read your request wrong. Here's what you wanted.

[Brad K]

October 3 1964
No game but Pirates clinch as SF loses 6-5 at home to Chicago.


October 5 1964

The World Series starts October 7 with the Yankees visiting Pittsburgh. Their SP is Joe Nuxhall 19-7 2.45 ERA 3.5 stars. Pirates SP is Bob Veale 20-5 2.09 ERA 4.0 stars. Koufax has been number one in the rotation all year and has better ratings but I over ruled Murtaugh on the idea Koufax might be over rated and Veale under rated.

On the season the Yankees are 7 wins better according to The Python which I doubt can be dismissed as them facing weaker competition. Interestingly former Pirate who never made MLB in real life Gilbert Watts is the Yankees starting 2B.

The Yankees have 3 LH SPs and the Pirates did better in the regular season against LHP although 32-19 is a small sample size.

Overall the edge goes to the Yankees.

[Brad K]

October 13 1964

Yankees win the World Series 4 games to 1.

Fan Loyalty is up one to "EXTREME"

Fan interest 97 modifier +28

We're third in attendance 72k behind SF and 51k behind the Yankees.

I'm not going to offer an extension to 1B Dick Stuart. He's still a decent player but Clendenon is better and two years younger. I would have tried to trade Stuart mid season had we not been contenders and needed every available edge.


October 18 1964

All of my arbitration elibile players agreed to contracts.

C 1B 2B 3B SS Orlando McFarland age 26 2.0 stars $26k/1 year
LF RF Lee Thomas age 28 2.5 stars $70k/1 year
2B 3B SS Jose Pagan age 29 1.5 stars $74k/2 years $37k AAV
1B Donn Clendenon age 29 3.5 stars $466k/4 years $116.5k AAV last year 1968 is team option at $140k

MLB Free Agents

SS 2B 3B Dick Schofield age 29 2.0 stars $219k/3 years $73k AAV
1B Dick Stuart age 31 3.0 stars no offer made. He wants $120k x 3 and he's worth it as a starter but I'm not paying that for a backup 1B and PH. Had the team not been in contention and needing every advantage no matter how small I would have traded him at the deadline.

After two WS appearances, both losses, GM Joe Brown is rated "Legendary". The game has gone crazy.

I have minor league personnel hirings set to Assistant GM control. However I've been visiting the screen and extending those with an average or better rating. I prefer to promote rather than hire from outside when MLB coaches leave or get too pricy.

[Brad K]

October 26 1964

Awards

Gold Glove 2B Bill Mazeroski his 5th consecutive and 6th overall
Manager of the Year Danny Murtaugh his second
Cy Young Award SP Bob Veale


November 5 1964

The highest ranked FA is RP Stu Miller at 3.5 stars. No one else is that high. Eight players are 3.0 stars, RPs Moe Drabowsky, Ryne Duren, Don Larsen, Barry Latman, and Hoyt Wilhelm. The other 3.0 star players re 3B Frank Malzone, 1B Dick Stuart, and 2B Tony Taylor.

RP Stu Miller is 36yo and wants 4 years AAV $152k starting at $180k and declining to 130k. Don't know about that. However the only RP I have over 3.0 is Joe Gibbon who OOTP wants to be a starter.

Wow. Just checked AAA. Mike Cuellar is listed as a 2.5 star SP but when I change him to a RP he's 3.5 stars. I guess I won't think about Stu Miller any more.

I'd like more offense from the middle IFs. Its about the only place I can add it. Yes, I'd break up the famous double play duo if it improved the team.

The owner has given me $1.5m for FAs.

[Brad K]

Milton Hite has done quite well for a guy who real life never made the majors. He's not much of a hitter but he gets on base and fields well.

I've never played historical minors before but I recall a past save where a RP with a two year MLB career in real life played about a dozen years and was an All Star. Can't remember who it was. And I've seen Ken Hubbs have a long career. All fair to me. Makes up for the real life long career guys OOTP takes out with career ending injuries at age 25.

[Brad K]

March 8 1965

Summary of off season since last report.

Didn't spend any big money on FAs due to lack of players to spend big money on! Released about 60 players from the lowest farm club.

Minor league deals

Got heavy in CFs at AAA so traded CF James Heilman age 22 2.0/2.0 for 3B Thomas Schroeder age 23 2.0/2.0.

Traded 1B Lee Walls age 32 1.0/1.0 and CF Rodolpho Welch age 26 2.0/2.0 for RP Ricardo Delgado age 25 2.0/2.5.

Signed SS Ron Plaza age 30 1.5 and SS Roy McMillan age 35 2.0 to minor league contracts.

Roy McMIllan

[Brad K]

April 9 1965

Too many RP

Traded RP Bob Lee age 27 2.5 stars no options left for 3B 1B corner OF weak 2B Danny Cater age 25 2.5 stars 3 options although will be on 25 man

RP Ron Kline has an option but refused demotion. Traded RP Ron Kline age 33 2.5 stars for RP Orlando Pena age 31 2.5 stars has one option. Both players were real life Pirates.

Some players have ratings declines. C Smokey Burgess* 2.5 stars, 3B Bob Bailey 3.0 stars, CF Curt Flood 2.5 stars, LF (no longer CF) Jim Piersall+ 1.5 stars, RP Bob Friend 2.5 as SP switched to RP where he's 3.0, RP Joe Gibbon 3.0 stars, SP Mike Cuellar 2.5 as SP 3.0 as RP. SS Gene Alley is up to 3.0

* = last year of contract
+ = next year is team option

I've been playing Clemente in CF in spring training every year and he now has a 14 rating there, same as Curt Flood.

Jose Pagan is on waivers/DFA. Danny Cater took his spot on the 25 man. Let's see if I can keep Pagan. Real life he drove in the winning run in game 7 of the 1971 World Series.

The owner thinks we should finish first. BNN predictions have us in second a game behind SF. I'm surprised as this team looks weaker than last year's to me.

[Brad K]

May 1 1965

Started the season 0-4 but recovered to have a 10-6 April.

Jose Pagan cleared waivers and is now at AAA Columbus OH.

Supposed bullpen ace RP Bob Miller has figured strongly in our record. He's 2-3 with one save and a 7.45 ERA. I think the 8th inning and close setting causes Murtaugh to favor him over Joe Gibbon set 7 and close. Miller has 9.2 IP while Gibbon has 2.1 IP.

I had them set differently because Gibbon's stamina is better. I've now set them both for 7 and close.

[Brad K]

May 19 1965

I found SS 2B 3B Joe Koppe age 34 2.0 stars on the FA list. I offered him a minor league contract with a $500 bonus and he accepted. At 2.0 he's better than any SS 2B I have in AAA.

SS Gene Alley is up to 13 contact, 15 defense, and 3.5 stars. He is hitting .279.

There's a crowd vying for second place, the Dodgers and us 4 1/2 out and the Braves and Phillies 5 1/2 out. I'd like to run away from that pack and Challenge the Giants.

[Brad K]

...

[Brad K]

June 6 1965

Gene Alley of all people hit for the cycle. He's hitting .307 with 3 HRs.

Swept a DH against the Mets 11-3 and 12-4 and are in 2nd 2 games out.



July 1 1965

Currently in 3rd place 4 1/2 back. It could have been much different. We arrived in SF June 20 to face the first place Giants only 1 1/2 out and started off the four game series by losing both games of a double header. After an off day we lost against to the Giants on Tuesday before winning on Wednesday.

Thursday we went to LA for a four game series and lost all four. We were strong in early June and so finished the month 17-13 but after a great start it could have been so much more.

The bullpen has collapsed again and we've dropped to third in runs scored. Time to pull it together.

Interesting comparison here, name, contact rating (20 scale), batting average
Donn Clendenon 16 .325
Curt Flood 15 .315
Roberto Clemente 19 .310
Willie Stargell 17 .301
Gene Alley 14 .294
Bob Bailey 13 .247
Smokey Burgess 10 .315
Bill Mazeroski 11 .325

A month to decide whether to shake things up a bit with a trade or two.

[Brad K]

July 12 1965

A lot of fans recognized Pirate players in the All Star voting but only RF Roberto Clemente, SP Bob Veale, and RP Bob Friend finished first in the voting for their positions. C Smokey Burgess, 2B Bill Mazeroski, and LF Willie Stargell finished second while 1B Donn Clendenon and SS Gene Alley finished third. The three first place finishers will be at the game along with Smokey Burgess.

The team is in third place 5 games out. Being second in runs scored and fourth in runs allowed this doesn't feel like a championship team. SPs are good, second in ERA but RPs have fallen back again, currently 8th. Zone rating and defensive efficiency are both last in the NL.

The Python has us one win better than our actual record but that's not cause for a lot of hope. We're just going to have to play better.

Attendance is down 3.9% on the season despite reduced ticket prices. The time to become America's Team is running short. I'd like to be filling Forbes to capacity before moving to much larger Three Rivers but our average is only 61%

[Brad K]

July 19 1965

Assistant GM Casey Sadler has suggested I look at the Tiger's SS 25 yo Dick McAuliffe as a possible acquisition. The Tigers have him signed through 1971. They're out of contention and won't take any single player on the roster in trade. They're in 6th place 10 1/2 out.

They won't talk about 25yo SP Mickey Lolich either. 33 yo SP Jim Bunning excercised his 10/5 rights. Hey, Jim, if you want to stay on a losing team.... !!!

Dick McAuliffe

[Brad K]

August 1 1965

I didn't consider any deadline trades. We're now in third 7 out. Bob Bailey has improved and the last month or so has been hiting up to his ratings. So I'll assume they're right and take off the force to bat sixth. Murtaugh wants him leadoff.

[Brad K]

September 1 1965

Could it be? We're in second 4 1/2 behind the Dodgers and 3 1/2 ahead of the Giants. The starters have moved to the league lead in ERA while the pen has jumped from 8th to 2nd. Defense has improved.

We finally broke through to a slight YTD attendence increase. We need to win to keep fan interest up because its likely to take a hit off season. Fan favorite C Smokey Burgess is in the last year of his contract and wants a four year extension at age 38 which is a no go for me.

Equally popular RP Bob Friend has a vesting contract for 160 IP which he could have achieved had he been able to start but he won't make that IP in the pen. He's done well there though. Maybe he'll consider a lower contract.

[Brad K]

October 5 1965

It's a disappointing season on the field as we finish in second five games behind the Dodgers. There are some nice individual accomplishments. Roberto Clemente won the batting championship hitting .333 and four Pirates had 200 hits or more: Roberto Clemente, Curt Flood, Donn Clendenon, and Willie Stargell.

On the mound, Sandy Koufax led in pitcher WAR with 7.9 while Bob Veale was a close second at 7.5. Veale was first in FIP at 2.48 while Koufax was second at 2.56.

However the quest to be America's Team is still alive. We had the highest attendance in the NL and the second highest in MLB, trailing the Yankees by a bit over 40k. Team revenue is fourth.

[Brad K]

October 15 1965

The Dodgers beat the Yankees four games to two to win the World Series. That ended the Yankees World Series winning streak at three. New York last won more than three in a row when they won five consecutive World Series 1949-1953 (historical).

SP Camilo Pascual executed his option year so we'll have him for 1966. In 65 he ws 13-6 with a 3.25 ERA as the fifth SP. He is rated 2.5 stars as a SP.

RP Bob Friend didn't meet his vesting requirement of 160 IP. He's rated 2.5 stars as a RP and certainly not worth the $280k he could have made in 1966. He's popular and I'll keep him if the price is right.

C Smokey Burgess contract expires. He still rates 3.0 stars but his defense is only 5. I don't see 3.0 stars with contact 10 and power 8. Its a situation of a popular player whose performance has declined to below what we can win a championship with but who puts fans in the stands.

The owner increased the budget by $200k and we have $2.1m for free agents. I hope there are some good ones to spend money on.

Camilo Pascual, Bob Friend, Smokey Burgess

[Brad K]

October 19 1965

Some players have signed.

3B Bob Bailey 23 yo 3.0 stars 4 x $120k
LF Willie Stargell 25 yo 4.5 stars $1.5m/6yr $250k AAV starts at $220k ends at $280k

Fans liked these signings. Both were arb eligible. Fan interest is now 96 with a +16 modifier.

Fans didn't notice the following deals.

C Orlando McFarland 27 yo 1.5 stars 1 x $36K
3B Danny Cater 25 yo 2.5 stars 1 x $25k

Still pending LF Lee Thomas 29 yo 2.0 stars 1 x $75k. I think he isn't worth it but he won arb last year for $70k.

Also pending is RP Orlando Pena. I don't recall where he started, someone moderately ridiculous and I offered, I don't know, maybe 1 x $70. He countered with 1 x $1.2m. Guess he showed me! He's making $72k and spent last season in AAA with a 4.04 ERA. He is 33 yo and 2.5 stars. I'm short on backup RPs so I offered arb of $75k.

Pending FAs Bob Friend and Smokey Burgess are unsignable at this point. I don't want to sign Jim Piersall.

C Jim Pagliaroni shows up as a potential FA. Age 27 3.5 stars currently making $142k


Danny Cater, Jim Piersall, Jim Pagliaroni