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tavo2311 · 06-07-2020, 10:58 AM

SCHEDULE : ROUND 1 - REGION 2
First two series of the tournament will be:
8) 2002 Oakland As vs. 9) 1969 New York Mets
1) 1975 Cincinnati Reds vs. 16) 2019 Washington Nationals

TEAM PROFILES:

2002 Oakland A’s:
8 Seed – Region 2
Record: 103-59
Result: Lost ALDS 3-2 to Minnesota Twins
Entry to Tournament: At large bid (Ranking)
Elo Rank: 57
Key Players:
Miguel Tejada (SS) .308, 34 hr, 131 rbi, 108 r
Eric Chavez (3B) .275, 34 hr, 109 rbi, 87 r, gold glove
Barry Zito (SP) 23-5, 2.75 era, 1.13 whip
Mark Mulder (SP) 19-7, 3.47 era, 1.14 whip
Tim Hudson (SP) 15-9, 2.98 era, 1.25 whip
Billy Koch (RP) 11-4, 44 sv, 93.2 IP
Notes:
Ah, the team of Moneyball fame. Scott Hatteberg will get his chance to show off on a big stage. This season was the best of those Moneyball teams, with 103 wins, an MVP and a Cy Young, and no Yankees in their way! But they still couldn’t get to that elusive title. Maybe seemingly over-seeded for a team that lost in the first round, I feel that overlooking them is a mistake.
The staff wasn’t just about the big 3. Unheralded Cory Lidle was only 8-10 but had a 3.89 era and 1.19 whip in 192 IP. And Billy Koch threw a dominant relief season with 11 wins and 44 saves in almost 100 innings of work.
Tejada was AL MVP and Zito AL Cy Young.

further reading: https://diamond-digest.com/2019/01/1...in-oakland-as/

1969 New York Mets:
9 Seed – Region 2
Record: 100-62
Result: Won World Series 4-1 over Baltimore Orioles
Entry to Tournament: At large bid (Wildcard - storyline)
Elo Rank: 345
Key Players:
Cleon Jones (OF) .340, 12 hr, 75 rbi, 92 r, 151 OPS+
Tommie Agee (OF) .271 26 hr, 76 rbi, 97 r
Tom Seaver (SP) 25-7, 2.21 era, 1.03 whip, 165 ERA+
Jerry Koosman (SP) 17-9, 2.28 era, 1.05 whip, 160 ERA+
Notes:
This team is ranked extremely low by objective metrics, but show up on many lists of best teams ever, invariably because of the great Miracle Mets story. Only 7 years after losing 120 games in their first year in the league, the Mets won the title, and over a juggernaut Orioles team nonetheless. They may very well be over-seeded here as a 9, and against a very strong 8 as well. They will definitely have their chance for another miracle.
Offense, even by 60’s standards, was quite poor. Ranked near the bottom of the league in every category and only one all-star (Jones).
The pitching staff will be the strength, led by a young Tom Seaver, who won his 1st of 3 career Cy Young awards. Koosman was in his prime, and a 22-year-old Nolan Ryan bounced between the rotation and the pen. Could he be a real weapon in a short series?

further reading: http://www.thisgreatgame.com/1969-baseball-history.html

1975 Cincinnati Reds:
1 Seed – Region 2
Record: 108-54
Result: Won World Series 4-3 over Boston Red Sox
Entry to Tournament: Automatic bid (Best Reds team ever)
Elo Rank: 28
Key Players:
Joe Morgan (2B) .327, 17 hr, 94 rbi, 107 r, 67 sb, 169 OPS+, 11.0 WAR
Johnny Bench (C) .283, 23 hr, 110 rbi, 83 r
Don Gullett (SP) 15-4, 2.42 era, 1.14 whip, 8 CGs in 22 GS
Notes:
The first of back to back title winning teams, this was a toss-up between the 1975 and 1976 teams. 1976 ranked better in some metrics, but 1975 appears (or appears higher) on almost any subjective “greatest ever” list.
Pitching staff was interesting. 6 starters had 19 starts of more, but only 2 had more than 26. Team ranked 3rd in runs against, 2nd in walks, but 12th (last) in strikeouts.
Joe Morgan won the first of two straight NL MVPs with an amazing 11.0 WAR season.

further reading: https://sabr.org/research/1975-reds-...g-ahead-season
https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/20...ineup-the-best

2019 Washington Nationals:
16 Seed – Region 2
Record: 93-69
Result: Won World Series 4-3 over Houston Astros
Entry to Tournament: Automatic bid (Best Nationals team ever)
Elo Rank: n/a (ELO list was done through 2015 season)
Key Players:
Anthony Rendon (3B) .319, 34 hr, 126 rbi, 117 r, 153 OPS+
Juan Soto (OF) .282, 34 hr, 110 rbi, 110 r, 138 OPS+
Stephen Strasburg (SP) 18-6, 3.32 era, 1.03 whip, 10.8 k/9
Max Scherzer (SP) 11-7, 2.92 era, 1.02 whip, 12.7 k/9
Notes:
This squad may not deserve to be in the greatest ever conversation, but because I am doing teams and not franchises we needed a Nationals representative. Also, considering baseball has not returned yet, this tournament will be the first chance for these guys to defend their title on the field.
Rendon’s numbers are impressive even by modern day standards, and in most years are MVP worthy.
The pitching staff as a whole leaves a lot to be desired, only ranking near the top middle of the NL in many categories, but the top 3 SP will be scary in a short series setting.

further reading: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...-giant-slayers

06-07-2020, 10:58 AM	#8
tavo2311 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: New Jersey Posts: 157	SCHEDULE : ROUND 1 - REGION 2 First two series of the tournament will be: 8) 2002 Oakland As vs. 9) 1969 New York Mets 1) 1975 Cincinnati Reds vs. 16) 2019 Washington Nationals TEAM PROFILES: 2002 Oakland A’s: 8 Seed – Region 2 Record: 103-59 Result: Lost ALDS 3-2 to Minnesota Twins Entry to Tournament: At large bid (Ranking) Elo Rank: 57 Key Players: Miguel Tejada (SS) .308, 34 hr, 131 rbi, 108 r Eric Chavez (3B) .275, 34 hr, 109 rbi, 87 r, gold glove Barry Zito (SP) 23-5, 2.75 era, 1.13 whip Mark Mulder (SP) 19-7, 3.47 era, 1.14 whip Tim Hudson (SP) 15-9, 2.98 era, 1.25 whip Billy Koch (RP) 11-4, 44 sv, 93.2 IP Notes: Ah, the team of Moneyball fame. Scott Hatteberg will get his chance to show off on a big stage. This season was the best of those Moneyball teams, with 103 wins, an MVP and a Cy Young, and no Yankees in their way! But they still couldn’t get to that elusive title. Maybe seemingly over-seeded for a team that lost in the first round, I feel that overlooking them is a mistake. The staff wasn’t just about the big 3. Unheralded Cory Lidle was only 8-10 but had a 3.89 era and 1.19 whip in 192 IP. And Billy Koch threw a dominant relief season with 11 wins and 44 saves in almost 100 innings of work. Tejada was AL MVP and Zito AL Cy Young. further reading: https://diamond-digest.com/2019/01/1...in-oakland-as/ 1969 New York Mets: 9 Seed – Region 2 Record: 100-62 Result: Won World Series 4-1 over Baltimore Orioles Entry to Tournament: At large bid (Wildcard - storyline) Elo Rank: 345 Key Players: Cleon Jones (OF) .340, 12 hr, 75 rbi, 92 r, 151 OPS+ Tommie Agee (OF) .271 26 hr, 76 rbi, 97 r Tom Seaver (SP) 25-7, 2.21 era, 1.03 whip, 165 ERA+ Jerry Koosman (SP) 17-9, 2.28 era, 1.05 whip, 160 ERA+ Notes: This team is ranked extremely low by objective metrics, but show up on many lists of best teams ever, invariably because of the great Miracle Mets story. Only 7 years after losing 120 games in their first year in the league, the Mets won the title, and over a juggernaut Orioles team nonetheless. They may very well be over-seeded here as a 9, and against a very strong 8 as well. They will definitely have their chance for another miracle. Offense, even by 60’s standards, was quite poor. Ranked near the bottom of the league in every category and only one all-star (Jones). The pitching staff will be the strength, led by a young Tom Seaver, who won his 1st of 3 career Cy Young awards. Koosman was in his prime, and a 22-year-old Nolan Ryan bounced between the rotation and the pen. Could he be a real weapon in a short series? further reading: http://www.thisgreatgame.com/1969-baseball-history.html 1975 Cincinnati Reds: 1 Seed – Region 2 Record: 108-54 Result: Won World Series 4-3 over Boston Red Sox Entry to Tournament: Automatic bid (Best Reds team ever) Elo Rank: 28 Key Players: Joe Morgan (2B) .327, 17 hr, 94 rbi, 107 r, 67 sb, 169 OPS+, 11.0 WAR Johnny Bench (C) .283, 23 hr, 110 rbi, 83 r Don Gullett (SP) 15-4, 2.42 era, 1.14 whip, 8 CGs in 22 GS Notes: The first of back to back title winning teams, this was a toss-up between the 1975 and 1976 teams. 1976 ranked better in some metrics, but 1975 appears (or appears higher) on almost any subjective “greatest ever” list. Pitching staff was interesting. 6 starters had 19 starts of more, but only 2 had more than 26. Team ranked 3rd in runs against, 2nd in walks, but 12th (last) in strikeouts. Joe Morgan won the first of two straight NL MVPs with an amazing 11.0 WAR season. further reading: https://sabr.org/research/1975-reds-...g-ahead-season https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/20...ineup-the-best 2019 Washington Nationals: 16 Seed – Region 2 Record: 93-69 Result: Won World Series 4-3 over Houston Astros Entry to Tournament: Automatic bid (Best Nationals team ever) Elo Rank: n/a (ELO list was done through 2015 season) Key Players: Anthony Rendon (3B) .319, 34 hr, 126 rbi, 117 r, 153 OPS+ Juan Soto (OF) .282, 34 hr, 110 rbi, 110 r, 138 OPS+ Stephen Strasburg (SP) 18-6, 3.32 era, 1.03 whip, 10.8 k/9 Max Scherzer (SP) 11-7, 2.92 era, 1.02 whip, 12.7 k/9 Notes: This squad may not deserve to be in the greatest ever conversation, but because I am doing teams and not franchises we needed a Nationals representative. Also, considering baseball has not returned yet, this tournament will be the first chance for these guys to defend their title on the field. Rendon’s numbers are impressive even by modern day standards, and in most years are MVP worthy. The pitching staff as a whole leaves a lot to be desired, only ranking near the top middle of the NL in many categories, but the top 3 SP will be scary in a short series setting. further reading: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...-giant-slayers Last edited by tavo2311; 06-07-2020 at 11:15 AM.