OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The Dead Zone: The Philadelphia Phillies (1984-

The_Myth · 12-23-2019, 05:12 PM

Oct. 7, 1985

The final team statistics from the 1985 season, with National League rankings (out of 12):

AVG - .258 / 1st
OBP - .325 / 2nd
SLG - .400 / 1st
OPS - .725 / 1st
R - 743 / 1st
H - 1,411 / 3rd
2B - 245 / T-3rd
3B - 59 / 1st
HR - 137 / 5th
BB - 539 / 6th
SO - 938 / 5th
SB - 244 / 1st
CS - 101 / 3rd

We were an offensive force, leading the National League in extra-base hits and stolen bases. That’s exactly the team I wanted to build, and we got there within two years.

ERA - 3.19 / 3rd
BAA - .245 / 5th
SLGA - .360 / 5th
RA - 599 / 4th
HRA - 108 / 4th
BB - 2nd
K - 6th

We had a solid pitching staff, just not the best (that’s the Dodgers, without question). Our bullpen brought us down a tick, for sure.

Defensively, we made some strides this season, but we remain toward the back of the pack. Essentially, our bench isn’t highly rated defensively, and UL Washington (an otherwise good defender) just made too many errors (36). Three of my defenders made 20 or more errors (Washington, Juan Samuel, Paul Molitor). For now, I can live with that, but on the mound, I should start prioritizing high-stuff, high-strikeout arms.

We finished 98-64, just remarkable, and our pythag has us at 97-65. Meanwhile, Montreal finished 95-67, but their pythag has them at 101-61. It really came down to those head-to-head matchups (we went 11-7 against them). Of course, the team we had the most trouble against: the Dodgers (3-9).

And just to look back at the players I acquired at the deadline:

Tony Armas - CF - 115 PA, .245/.296/.462, 5 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 22 K, 7 BB, -0.1 WAR
Terry Puhl - RF - 209 PA, .309/.330/.426, 12 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 11 K, 7 BB, 1.0 WAR
Kent Tekulve - RP - 33 IP, 3.55 ERA, 11 K, 12 BB, 0.6 WAR

A number of positive contributions. Puhl was a big help as Glenn Wilson failed to take the next step, while Armas came up huge late. Tekulve was an up-and-down experience but seems to be fine in the seventh/eighth innings.

Tonight we fly out to Los Angeles. I’m spending the flight with that new Tears for Fears album in my ears. It’s the working hour, indeed.

Oct. 8, 1985

We’re in L.A., and we’ve locked in the playoff roster (apparently I had no options beyond the 25 men who were rostered on Aug. 30). It is:

C - Darren Daulton, Tommy Thompson
1B - Mike Schmidt
2B - Juan Samuel, Bill Lyons
3B - Paul Molitor
SS - UL Washington, Dave Concepcion
LF - Von Hayes, Billy Sample
CF - Tony Armas, Dave Stegman
RF - Terry Puhl, Glenn Wilson
SP - Charles Hudson, Scott Sanderson, John Denny, Steve Carlton
RP - Larry Andersen, Kent Tekulve, Bill Campbell, Donnie Moore, Paul Assenmacher, Tug McGraw, Joe Johnson

Puhl will start against righties, and Wilson will go against lefties. Otherwise, it’s starters all the way. We’ll see about Carlton (on the shelf for another week) when we get to his spot in the rotation. It’s possible we go three-man for the NLCS. And Dick Howser has named Hudson his game one starter against the Dodgers’ Orel Hershiser. Sanderson will go Game 2 in Los Angeles, while Denny will start Game 3 in Philly.

That lines it up so that it’s either Hudson or Denny who starts a possible Game 7, which is what I want.

Meanwhile, a good chunk of my front office team is busy scouting and analyzing the 1985-86 draft class (draft to be held Nov. 1, 1985). We’re slated to have the 25th overall pick in the first round, plus a supplemental pick (thinking the 35th-40th pick), since Pittsburgh signed Rick Reuschel. The pool is out, and here are some of the top players early on:

SS - Gary Sheffield - HS - 37/75
C - Todd Zeile - 38/61
RF - Bernie Williams - HS - 21/58
C - Chris Hoiles - 34/56
RF - Moises Alou - HS - 20/55
1B - Mark Grace - 39/55
3B - Matt D. Williams - HS - 27/55
RF - Sammy Sosa - HS - 20/54
LF - Pete Incaviglia - 51/51
SP - Greg Swindell - 37/51

Incaviglia is an outstanding college player, just crushing home runs for Oklahoma State. Sheffield is a high school stud who happens to be the nephew of Dwight Gooden. Good genes in that family. I imagine Oakland will get Sheffield and pair him up with Jose Canseco.

Then there’s super-stud Bo Jackson, down the list just a bit, and maybe we can grab him. He was drafted in 1983 by the Yankees but refused to sign. He’s been playing college baseball since - as well as college football - for Auburn. And, well, he’s having a hell of a senior campaign for Auburn football right now; in his most recent game against Ole Miss (a 41-0 win), Jackson rushed for 240 yards on 38 attempts, scoring two touchdowns. He’s pretty remarkable.

Good news from Clearwater: Despite blowing a 3-0 series lead, the Phillies win the Florida State League title four games to three! Congratulations to an all-time minor league squad.

12-23-2019, 05:12 PM	#139
The_Myth Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: World Posts: 172	Oct. 7, 1985 The final team statistics from the 1985 season, with National League rankings (out of 12): AVG - .258 / 1st OBP - .325 / 2nd SLG - .400 / 1st OPS - .725 / 1st R - 743 / 1st H - 1,411 / 3rd 2B - 245 / T-3rd 3B - 59 / 1st HR - 137 / 5th BB - 539 / 6th SO - 938 / 5th SB - 244 / 1st CS - 101 / 3rd We were an offensive force, leading the National League in extra-base hits and stolen bases. That’s exactly the team I wanted to build, and we got there within two years. ERA - 3.19 / 3rd BAA - .245 / 5th SLGA - .360 / 5th RA - 599 / 4th HRA - 108 / 4th BB - 2nd K - 6th We had a solid pitching staff, just not the best (that’s the Dodgers, without question). Our bullpen brought us down a tick, for sure. Defensively, we made some strides this season, but we remain toward the back of the pack. Essentially, our bench isn’t highly rated defensively, and UL Washington (an otherwise good defender) just made too many errors (36). Three of my defenders made 20 or more errors (Washington, Juan Samuel, Paul Molitor). For now, I can live with that, but on the mound, I should start prioritizing high-stuff, high-strikeout arms. We finished 98-64, just remarkable, and our pythag has us at 97-65. Meanwhile, Montreal finished 95-67, but their pythag has them at 101-61. It really came down to those head-to-head matchups (we went 11-7 against them). Of course, the team we had the most trouble against: the Dodgers (3-9). And just to look back at the players I acquired at the deadline: Tony Armas - CF - 115 PA, .245/.296/.462, 5 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 22 K, 7 BB, -0.1 WAR Terry Puhl - RF - 209 PA, .309/.330/.426, 12 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 11 K, 7 BB, 1.0 WAR Kent Tekulve - RP - 33 IP, 3.55 ERA, 11 K, 12 BB, 0.6 WAR A number of positive contributions. Puhl was a big help as Glenn Wilson failed to take the next step, while Armas came up huge late. Tekulve was an up-and-down experience but seems to be fine in the seventh/eighth innings. Tonight we fly out to Los Angeles. I’m spending the flight with that new Tears for Fears album in my ears. It’s the working hour, indeed. Oct. 8, 1985 We’re in L.A., and we’ve locked in the playoff roster (apparently I had no options beyond the 25 men who were rostered on Aug. 30). It is: C - Darren Daulton, Tommy Thompson 1B - Mike Schmidt 2B - Juan Samuel, Bill Lyons 3B - Paul Molitor SS - UL Washington, Dave Concepcion LF - Von Hayes, Billy Sample CF - Tony Armas, Dave Stegman RF - Terry Puhl, Glenn Wilson SP - Charles Hudson, Scott Sanderson, John Denny, Steve Carlton RP - Larry Andersen, Kent Tekulve, Bill Campbell, Donnie Moore, Paul Assenmacher, Tug McGraw, Joe Johnson Puhl will start against righties, and Wilson will go against lefties. Otherwise, it’s starters all the way. We’ll see about Carlton (on the shelf for another week) when we get to his spot in the rotation. It’s possible we go three-man for the NLCS. And Dick Howser has named Hudson his game one starter against the Dodgers’ Orel Hershiser. Sanderson will go Game 2 in Los Angeles, while Denny will start Game 3 in Philly. That lines it up so that it’s either Hudson or Denny who starts a possible Game 7, which is what I want. Meanwhile, a good chunk of my front office team is busy scouting and analyzing the 1985-86 draft class (draft to be held Nov. 1, 1985). We’re slated to have the 25th overall pick in the first round, plus a supplemental pick (thinking the 35th-40th pick), since Pittsburgh signed Rick Reuschel. The pool is out, and here are some of the top players early on: SS - Gary Sheffield - HS - 37/75 C - Todd Zeile - 38/61 RF - Bernie Williams - HS - 21/58 C - Chris Hoiles - 34/56 RF - Moises Alou - HS - 20/55 1B - Mark Grace - 39/55 3B - Matt D. Williams - HS - 27/55 RF - Sammy Sosa - HS - 20/54 LF - Pete Incaviglia - 51/51 SP - Greg Swindell - 37/51 Incaviglia is an outstanding college player, just crushing home runs for Oklahoma State. Sheffield is a high school stud who happens to be the nephew of Dwight Gooden. Good genes in that family. I imagine Oakland will get Sheffield and pair him up with Jose Canseco. Then there’s super-stud Bo Jackson, down the list just a bit, and maybe we can grab him. He was drafted in 1983 by the Yankees but refused to sign. He’s been playing college baseball since - as well as college football - for Auburn. And, well, he’s having a hell of a senior campaign for Auburn football right now; in his most recent game against Ole Miss (a 41-0 win), Jackson rushed for 240 yards on 38 attempts, scoring two touchdowns. He’s pretty remarkable. Good news from Clearwater: Despite blowing a 3-0 series lead, the Phillies win the Florida State League title four games to three! Congratulations to an all-time minor league squad.