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webrian · 03-25-2019, 04:46 PM

This is usually the point in the season when I start to seriously wonder how in the world this team even won its division, much less the World Series.

But then I consider three truths:

1. The early schedule is pure hell. The 1985 Royals playing the AL Beasts (Toronto, New York, Detroit, Boston & even Baltimore) for most of the first 4-6 weeks is like a D-II college football team scheduling D-I teams the first 3 or 4 games to toughen up before hitting its conference schedule. The 1985 Royals had more grit than talent, and I think it came from being a veteran club that had played a tough early schedule. It's the reason the RL Royals were able to beat the Angels every time they had to during the home stretch in September, even on the road. It's also the reason they were able to rally from 3-1 deficits in the playoffs and World Series (ok, Denkinger helped a bit, but the Cardinals didn't have to implode in Game 7 ..). Problem is, I don't think the OOTP engines can account for this thing called grit.

2. The Royals of the George Brett era went as Brett went and he was famous for not "heating up" until around Memorial Day each year -- at least during his prime. In 1985 (and in my OOTP replays) that coincided perfectly with the schedule getting just a bit softer and the weather getting warmer. In one of the two sims I ran last year, my Royals finished April six games under .500 and were still two games underwater at the start of June. But then we won 12 out of 14 and were looking good -- until Challenge Mode's injury devils took Bret Saberhagen, Jim Sundberg and then George Brett all in the same week. Sundberg was lost for the season. Saberhagen and Brett each missed around two months, and we just weren't able to deal with that. Ended up at 78-84 after going into a big swoon in July and August.

3. The rest of the AL West has to deal with the AL Beasts too, and none of those teams are any better than the Royals. Some are considerably worse.

You're getting amazing production so far from Steve Balboni, Jorge Orta and Pat Sheridan. It's revealing that Sheridan currently leads your Royals in walks -- maybe that's why he often batted 2nd before they got Lonnie Smith. But you've got Orta smoking the ball from the No. 2 slot, which kinda shames me -- I always picked Hal McRae over Orta, regardless of matchups, and preferred to bring Orta in for key pinch-hitting situations. In the game, I'd get letters from Orta demanding to be traded, insisting he's an everyday player, blah blah blah. Maybe I should have listened.

Brilliant move shipping Iorg off to Seattle to get Al Cowens back. He just might be the spark the team needs, if not at the plate then in the dugout.

If you stay healthy, there's still every chance to rally back and take the division. But the injury devils are lurking. They're gonna get somebody. Just pray it's someone you can afford to lose, because the bench is thin and there's not a lot of good trade options without mortgaging the future.

Hang in there!

03-25-2019, 04:46 PM	#17
webrian Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 264	This is usually the point in the season when I start to seriously wonder how in the world this team even won its division, much less the World Series. But then I consider three truths: 1. The early schedule is pure hell. The 1985 Royals playing the AL Beasts (Toronto, New York, Detroit, Boston & even Baltimore) for most of the first 4-6 weeks is like a D-II college football team scheduling D-I teams the first 3 or 4 games to toughen up before hitting its conference schedule. The 1985 Royals had more grit than talent, and I think it came from being a veteran club that had played a tough early schedule. It's the reason the RL Royals were able to beat the Angels every time they had to during the home stretch in September, even on the road. It's also the reason they were able to rally from 3-1 deficits in the playoffs and World Series (ok, Denkinger helped a bit, but the Cardinals didn't have to implode in Game 7 ..). Problem is, I don't think the OOTP engines can account for this thing called grit. 2. The Royals of the George Brett era went as Brett went and he was famous for not "heating up" until around Memorial Day each year -- at least during his prime. In 1985 (and in my OOTP replays) that coincided perfectly with the schedule getting just a bit softer and the weather getting warmer. In one of the two sims I ran last year, my Royals finished April six games under .500 and were still two games underwater at the start of June. But then we won 12 out of 14 and were looking good -- until Challenge Mode's injury devils took Bret Saberhagen, Jim Sundberg and then George Brett all in the same week. Sundberg was lost for the season. Saberhagen and Brett each missed around two months, and we just weren't able to deal with that. Ended up at 78-84 after going into a big swoon in July and August. 3. The rest of the AL West has to deal with the AL Beasts too, and none of those teams are any better than the Royals. Some are considerably worse. You're getting amazing production so far from Steve Balboni, Jorge Orta and Pat Sheridan. It's revealing that Sheridan currently leads your Royals in walks -- maybe that's why he often batted 2nd before they got Lonnie Smith. But you've got Orta smoking the ball from the No. 2 slot, which kinda shames me -- I always picked Hal McRae over Orta, regardless of matchups, and preferred to bring Orta in for key pinch-hitting situations. In the game, I'd get letters from Orta demanding to be traded, insisting he's an everyday player, blah blah blah. Maybe I should have listened. Brilliant move shipping Iorg off to Seattle to get Al Cowens back. He just might be the spark the team needs, if not at the plate then in the dugout. If you stay healthy, there's still every chance to rally back and take the division. But the injury devils are lurking. They're gonna get somebody. Just pray it's someone you can afford to lose, because the bench is thin and there's not a lot of good trade options without mortgaging the future. Hang in there!