Gathering Crowds League--1983 forward

[Augetout]

I have attempted this sort of thing before, and if I'm being honest, which I have a nasty habit of being, I have failed to 'finish' the project(s).

This time, however, should be different. Time and circumstances are such that I have the requisite levels of free time, so here goes:

The league began with a fantasy draft, using actual players geared towards career play but having the ratings reset each year based on actual stats. Fictional players cannot make it to the majors, but players who did not make it to the majors, whether due to injury(s) or whatever, can.

My beloved Padres are the 'human' team.

The DH is American League only, and interleague play, being blasphemous, is not allowed.

Financial settings are by default, although I did adjust San Diego to an 'average' market rather than the 'poor' market the game originally assigned. Scouting is at 100% accurate, so the AI teams do not get 'screwed' by poor scouting.

Will I take advantage of my 'arrival' knowledge and/or knowledge on how players' careers will turn out? Yes, but I believe that advantage is mitigated by two things: The poor financial situation of the Padres, and setting the trade to 'difficult' which, thus far, has resulted in having to 'trade down' in order to get any deals done. This in turn requires a lot of attention being paid to the amateur draft(s), and needing to pay close attention to the minors (which are required to have full rosters i.e. no 'ghost' players).

I have made myself 'bulletproof' as I see no reason to allow an ai owner the opportunity to fail to recognize my 'brilliance' and fire me, lol.

I am playing the game 'straight' i.e., not editing players' ratings, and having to hire the best coaches my budget will allow for, which is not much.

3 simmed seasons preceded the 1986 season which will be played game by game (by the Padres) if not pitch by pitch.

I will begin posting the day by day results beginning with the May 1st games, for no other reason than I did not finally decide to attempt this 'reporting' project until last night.

Regards and Go Padres!

[Augetout]

The AI, I fear, could use some tweaking. Example: The Houston Astros, in my Gathering Crowds League, signed free agent closer Bruce Sutter to a 3 year deal worth just north of $3 million/year, (much to the chagrin of the SF Giants, who previously enjoyed Sutter's services), and promptly made him a middle reliever, favoring, for the closer role, rookie Lefthander James Scudero, a guy who was a minor league journeyman in the real world, and by this season (1986) had not played in 2 years, sigh.

Also, the Mets' GM is an a hole.


That last one might be a bit on the subjective side.

[Augetout]

The fantasy draft occurred before the onset of the 1983 season. While I would love to claim that I had a 'grand strategy' borne of dozens of test-drafts, the reality is that is not the case.

Randomly granted the 5th draft pick in the serpentine draft, my Padres took Tony Gwynn with our first pick. Having 'Mr. Padre' play for a different team just did not seem to make any sense.

The rest of the teams, with (admittedly) an occasional 'oops' on my part, drafted automatically.

I won't bore readers with an entire list of who was drafted when, but I will say that in an effort to build the Padres 'my way' there is no doubt that I reached for a few players. My 2nd round pick, (Ozzie Smith), being a prime example. There were better Shortstops (all things considered) available, and certainly less expensive shortstops, but a GM wants what a GM wants, I guess.

Certainly, the core of my Padres was built via the draft. In addition to Gwynn and Ozzie Smith, Willie McGee, Tom Candiotti, Terry Pendleton, Orel Hershiser, Jimmy Key, Tom Henke (all picked far too early if we're being honest), are all, (3 full seasons later) still on the team, along with numerous minor league players who have yet to make it to 'the bigs.'

While the Padres were destined to stink for the first season, the organization as a whole was well-stocked with talent, which when combined with the ridiculous difficulties in attempting trades with the AI (not necessarily a bad thing I suppose) has allowed for a team which snuck into the playoffs (only to be swept in the 1985 NLCS) to be favored in 1986.

[Augetout]

As one might expect given the 'arrival knowledge' possessed by my GM (well, me), and given the financial situation of the Padres (not good), building a successful franchise is a combination of using said arrival knowledge, and drafting rather than making 'big splash' free agent signings---along with a dose of (I hope) wise trades that even my assistant GM doesn't seem to grasp.

Given all of that, the first season my Padres were 69-93, 35 games behind.

In season 2 (also simmed), San Diego went 94-68 (quite the turnaround), losing the NL West crown on the last day of the season (to the hated Dodgers, sadly).

In Season 3, (also simmed), my Padres went 98-64 and won the NL West before being swept out of the playoffs by the Phillies.

All has been done in a fiscally responsible way, via the draft, some sensible free agent signings (Ray Knight at a low salary of $232,000/yr to serve as a back up and right handed pinch hitter being a prime example). Greg Maddux is in my minor leagues (has anyone noticed that the AI has a tendency to bring players/rookies into the Majors a year or 2 early?), and when 'arrival knowledge' calls for it, I have made sure to trade for draft picks in the right places in order to further the forward/building process.

I have played the 'trade game' straight and on difficult, which has made the challenge far more satisfying, if annoying at times---I advise moving to the 'difficult' trade setting.

Season 4 is being played manually, (batter by batter not pitch by pitch), and the Padres, with the 17th highest payroll, are predicted to win over 100 games.

Hard choices in the offseason before season 4 needed to be made, and as a result my west coast version of the 'white rats' had to sacrifice Vince Coleman at the very beginning of his prime, to make room for a guy who fell into my lap in the 1985 draft---Barry Bonds.

Which brings me back to a point I made in an earlier post, i.e., that the Mets GM is an a hole. It's relatively early (June 5th) in the 1986 season, and the Mets are 14-36---a fairly good bet that they'll own the #1 draft pick for the upcoming 1987 draft. Now, Bonds kind of fell into my lap, but Ken Griffey Jr. is, like Greg Maddux, a 'must have' for my Padres, I have decided. As such, and as I have a decent minor league system stocked with future MLB talent, I set about attempting to entice the Mets GM into trading his #1 pick.

It took 3 weeks of what can only be described as intense negotiations. I had to make other trades both as a back up plan and to, I presume, get the players and/or draft picks the Mets coveted. In the end (just about 20 minutes ago, in fact) the Mets GM finally relented, and barring a resurgence by the Mets and/or Expos (I have their #1 pick as well, and their season is only a few games better than the Mets), I should own the #1 pick or at least have the ability to trade for it in the upcoming offseason.

I am rambling a bit---forgive me, trading for the pick that will likely result in Griffey Jr. being in a Padres uniform has me in a rambling mood I suppose.

My pitching staff---young, still relatively cheap, and while the names are easily recognizable, not fully in their prime quite yet:

1. Orel Hershiser (3 stars)
2. Teddy Higuera (3.5 stars)
3. Tom Candiotti (3 stars)
4. Jimmy Key (3 stars)
5. Eric Show (2 stars)---I traded Charlie Leibrandt and his 5.5+ ERA away.

The bullpen:

Long Reliever/Emergency starter: Dave Dravecky (2.5 stars)
Middle Reliever/Lefty specialist: Ken Dayley (3.5 stars)
Middle Reliever: Todd Worrell (2.5 stars)
Closer: Tom Henke (4 stars but still an adventure every time he comes into a game)
Closer: Dave Righetti (4 stars)---Came in a trade, and I have yet to find a suitable trade to dump his way too high salary, but in the meantime he is pitching well.

At Catcher, my one relatively pricey free agent signing: Tony Pena
His backup is journeyman Bill Schroeder.

At 1b, I have Paul Molitor---in his 'in between' years production-wise---I hope to get him his ring and then trade him to make way for his 1st round pick backup, Mark Grace, who is a 'brought up too early' rookie in '86.

At 2b, I have Ryne Sandberg---again, he is in a sort of 'in between' time between his early awesomeness and his later return to awesome.

At SS, Ozzie Smith---I drafted him way too early in the fantasy draft, as he should have always been a Padres player, all apologies to St. Louis fans.

At 3B, Terry Pendleton, I drafted Pendleton way too early in the fantasy draft as well, and look forward to it perhaps paying off at some point. His defense, cost effectiveness and switch hitting abilities have kept him in the lineup.

In Leftfield, a year too early rookie Barry Bonds. How does one NOT take Barry Bonds if/when he is sitting there, available in the draft?

In Centerfield: Willie McGee.

In Rightfield, also drafted far too early in the fantasy draft, Mr. Padre Tony Gwynn.

Curtis Wilkerson is the backup Shortstop and backup 2nd baseman. I also had Doug Flynn for the first 1.5 months of the season, but in the first 40 games he had all of 2 at bats, so I am gambling a bit.

Ray Knight is the backup at 3rd base, although his primary role is as the primary right-handed pinch hitter---thus far he has been outstanding.

Terry Francona, acquired via trade, is a backup at 1B and in LF/RF, but obstensibly his is a left-handed pinch hitter.

Omar Moreno, signed for $200k to a minor league deal and then promoted, is an backup outfielder, and pinch runner.

The '85 version of the Padres (who had Don Mattingly) were more vulnerable to left handed pitchers due to a then season-long slumping 2B Julio Franco and season-long slumping Terry Pendleton. The addition of Sandberg and Molitor (via trades) before the '86 season seems to have cured that issue, although once 1B Mark Grace takes the starting job, and Griffey Jr. arrives in the bigs (yes, I'm counting that chicken well before the eggs have hatched), that problem will arise again.

Later today, I'll do my first game recap, which will come from a June 4th extra-inning dogfight with the aforementioned Mets.

S!

[Augetout]

I should point out that the 'main' challenge for this dynasty is not to build a champion---been there done that. It is to build the aforementioned 'dynasty' within the confines of a crappy Padres budget.

Regards.

[Augetout]

Instead of gloating about the extra inning victory over the NL doormat Mets, which may or may not have helped seal the trade that (should) net me Ken Griffey Jr. in the '87 draft, let me fast forward to Sunday, June 15, 1986.

Last night, the Padres slipped past the hated L.A. Dodgers 3-2 in 10 innings at Jack Murphy stadium-----for their 23rd consecutive victory.

Teddy Higuera (Fernando-light as some of us in Wisconsin used to call him in his short prime), squared off against the Dodgers' Nolan Ryan. The Dodgers as would be expected have a payroll (Nolan Ryan included) where their 5 top paid players are paid more than the entire Padres roster.

At any rate, Tony Pena singled Willie McGee in with the winning run in the bottom of the 10th, off of Dodgers Closer Bob Stanley.

'Today' Sunday morning, the weekly All Star Ballot update came 'in the mail' and the Padres, despite having won 23 games in a row, despite running away with the NL West, despite having a team batting average hovering around .280, despite having a team ERA in the mid-2 range, have ZERO top vote getters for the upcoming All Star Game.

Not to veer into reality for too long, but the real Padres have yet to win an extra inning game this season----they could use some of the 'spirit' of my OOTP Padres, who, like the Reds who beat the real Padres yesterday, keep punching, and keep trying to make something happen whether up by 1 or down by a bunch.

Getting back to the Gathering Crowds League Padres, and with full acceptance that 'winning cures most if not all clubhouse problems' it should be noted that this team full of not quite at their prime players, many of whom will not be affordable by the Padres once said prime years arrive, all 'get along' with each other, accept their roles, and do what needs to be done in order for the team to win the next game.

Barring a total collapse, which could happen but seems unlikely, the Padres should coast into the postseason with a legitimate chance at winning the whole shebang.

Molly will have his ring---then head off to a big payday elsewhere, making room for Mark Grace.

Righetti will get the ring that evaded him in his actual career, then be traded away to dump his $2.6 million salary (trading him during the season was at first impossible, then only possible if I ended up accepting a player with a similar salary, and finally, kind of a bad idea given that the Padres are under budget with the 18th ranked payroll, and en route to the playoffs).

Bonds will have the ring he never got as well.

Sandberg will get the ring he never got, as well.

Higuera will see the postseason!

Anyway, it's June 15th, 1986, and the Padres are a ridiculous 47-14 despite (likely) having zero All Star starters...

[Augetout]

I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that posting about a winning streak in the midst of said winning streak, was a horrible idea.

The streak ended at 23, and a certain amount of 'karma' has set in, I suppose.

Ozzie Smith has a sore elbow and is DTD---for the next 3 weeks.

Eric Show is now getting rocked and even when not, he is barely making it through 5 innings (with pitcher stamina set to a historically accurate 'normal').

Jimmy Key, while he isn't pitching horribly, has given up a leadoff HR in each of his last 3 starts.

The bullpen, while still ranked relatively high, has blown leads in 5 of the last 6 games they have been involved in, and the Padres have lost 4 of the last 5 games----ALL in walkoffs.

Ray Knight, who was signed as a backup, suddenly decided that he needed to be in the starting lineup. That plus the need of another middle infielder during Ozzie's 3 weeks of elbow soreness, compelled me to trade him for Dale Sveum. I tried to acquire Toronto backup Jose Oquendo, but the Blue Jays GM must be related to the Mets GM, as he was unwilling to part with Oquendo unless I parted with 1/5 of my starting rotation, sigh.

Anyhoo, it's now July 3rd, 1986, and my 'catching up' time of playing as many games as possible each day can now be replaced by playing whatever is scheduled.

The Padres are 54-24, 9 games ahead of the Reds, who at 44-32 are 12 games over .500 and 6 games ahead of their Pythagorean record.and likely to fade as time goes by. The Dodgers are 41-37, some 13 games behind the Padres. The Giants are a game over .500, followed by the Braves and Astros, both 31-46.

The Padres, with the best record in baseball, will not have a starter in the All Star Game...

[Augetout]

In the real world, I am a new (2nd career--I'm 50+) High School/Middle School History/Social Studies teacher. As such I have the 'summer off'----or more accurately I should have the summer relatively off given that I should be enjoying my first semester of a Master's program.

My Mother-in-law, though, had other ideas, in that she has been suffering a series of medical issues (broken hip, blown out knee, covid) that called for her to live with her daughter and I while she recovered, only she has not recovered. Instead, she has had a series of small strokes which have rendered her incontinent and unable to care for herself. As such I have been acting the part of full-time nursemaid for the entire summer, having been part time during the school year.

It is this full-time nursemaid set of tasks that has allowed me some time to dive deeply into this game, and frankly what led me to the conclusion that I could (finally) document the progression of a fantasy-drafted yet historically accurate (players and performance-wise) franchise. It is not working, though. Whereas my first few attempts suffered from the daily grind of maybe having time to finish a game and maybe having time to compose an update, now I have time enough to get a lot of games in each day (well, most days), and do not want to break off to do 8-10 updates per day.

In any event, I think this project will be tabled until the school year starts at end of August, and I believe it would be more properly placed in the dynasty segment of the forums.

1986 ended (for the record) with my Padres winning the World Series (1st time I have managed that playing manually). They benefited from a deadline deal for Jim Rice, who played against lefties and presumably provided some veteran leadership for my rather young bunch of Friars.

The most 'nail-biting' portion of the 1986 season was watching the standings to see if my gambles (trades) to pull off the #1 draft pick for the 1987 draft were going to pan out as planned (they did).

Going into the 1987 season, the Padres 'lost' Rice to free agency (Pat Hentgen, the supplemental pick I acquired, will be a nice addition once he is MLB ready). I also, due to the 'need' of promoting Gred Maddux to the big league squad, was able to get rid of Jimmy Key----good pitcher, but in this league at least, a bit of a douchbag.

I also was compelled to make a decision between keeping Paul Molitor (as a defensively challenged 1st baseman but great right-handed hitter) or promoting former 1st round draft pick Mark Grace to the squad a year early. In truth my original plan was to trade Grace and keep Molitor, both for sentimental reasons and because my lineup is running a significant risk of becoming too lefty-loaded, but in order to extend Molitor's contract I was going to have to pay the ungodly sum (for my cash-strapped Padres) of somewhere in the neighborhood of $3.5 million/year, which did not seem wise.

So, I traded Molitor for Andy Van Slyke, then turned Van Slyke to the Blue Jays for prospect Edgar Martinez and backup middle infielder Curtis Wilkerson-----I had thrown Wilkerson into an earlier trade with the Blue Jays in the hopes of later prying beloved utility player Jose Oquendo away from the Jays, but as they were unwilling to part with Oquendo, I had to reacquire Wilkerson in my estimation.

Oh, the 1987 draft saw the World Series Champion Padres with the 1st and 2nd picks of the draft, which we used on a high school outfielder and a small college leftfielder (Griffey Jr., and Albert Bell).

Going into spring baseball, my rotation looked set, with Hershiser, Higuera, Candiotti, rookie Greg Maddux, and Dave Dravecky. Dravecky, however, blew his rotator cuff, and my excessive deals to ensure Griffey's acquisition had the cupboard somewhat bare in the area of MLB quality starters sitting in the minors.

No problem, I just violated the 'never trade in your own division' rule, and the 'do not trade (due to being the cash-strapped Padres) for overpriced veterans' rule, and acquired 40-year old Nolan Ryan for prospect Bill Landrum and a no-name non-prospect. The Dodgers were nice enough to retain 25% of Ryan's salary, which should make for some fun discussions when he is (in effect) paid by the Dodgers to pitch against the Dodgers.

So, the rotation is now: Hershiser, Higuera, Ryan, Candiotti, and rookie Maddux.

The bullpen has rookie (future closer) Doug Jones, who is a poster child for team patience---(he stunk up the minors for 3 seasons while griping the entire time that he wasn't in the majors), in middle relief, with lefty Ken Dayley. A too expensive-so expensive I cannot unload him as adding him into a trade kills the deal Dave Righetti, and groundball pitcher who still manages to give up way too many gopher balls Roger McDowell in setup roles, with Todd Worrell as a stopper and Henke as a closer.

It should be a good staff, barring any further injuries.

At Catcher, Tony Pena returns as the starter. His backup for '87 is cheap free agent signing, Bo Diaz, who should be replaced by Mackey Sasser in '88.

At 1st base, rookie Mark Grace---he's here a year early (as seems to be the custom for OOTP AI teams), and he is worse defensively than Molitor, but he should be good by the time '88 rolls around, and the lineup can afford some mediocrity here and there.

At 2nd base, the under-performing Ryne Sandberg---hit defensive ratings seem pretty low for a guy who wins 5ish consecutive GGs, but whatev'

At Shortstop, Ozzie Smith---in fairness his offensive ratings seem a bit high---he hit (not kidding) .405 with runners in scoring position for the 1986 season, and has been hovering around .300 for 3 straight seasons.

At 3rd base, the under-performing Terry Pendleton---the acquisition of Edgar Martinez means his time as a member of the Padres will likely end in the next 2-3 years.

In leftfield, Barry Bonds (he is still the not quite ready for prime time version).

In centerfield, (for a year or two more, only), Willie Mcgee. One of the 'joys' of the way I configured player development (basing it on that year's stats rather than the development engine or career numbers or prime years) means that one never knows which Willie McGee is going to show up for spring training---the batting title guy who is good for 50+ SBs, or the .250 hitter...

In rightfield, Tony Gwynn. 'nuff said, although he isn't the .350 version of himself quite yet...

Milt Thompson and newly-acquired Otis Nixon are backup outfielders.

Dale Sveum, Curtis Wilkerson, and Edgar Martinez are the backup infielders.

The preseason predictions have my Padres winning 100 games...

Looming on the horizon is a likely (88 or 89) lineup consisting of Lefties Mark Grace, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., and Tony Gwynn----hopefully by then righty Edgar Martinez is gtg, and now prospect Roberto Alomar's switch hitting replaces Sandberg's righty presence in the lineup...

Anyhoo, like I said earlier, I'll return to this project once the schoolyear resumes.

S!

[Augetout]

At the end of '87, I will unload Righetti's $3.3 million, Ryan's $2.4 million (that's the part I'm paying), and I will trade away Sandberg's $2.6 million, which should offset the rather large arbitration raises many of my players will be getting. Alomar should be ready to assume full time duties in '88.