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Originally Posted by outofleftfield
I have really enjoyed reading about the Hawaii Islanders. It was defiantly a rollercoaster season and I had a good time coming along for the ride. A few questions about the save, this year there was quite the difference in stats between the NL and the AL has that happened before? How has the league averages changed from the start tell now and who has been your favorite player in the save? Hopefully you don't mind answering all those questions. Keep up the good work Bub13 and go Isles go!!!
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Hey, thanks. Glad you're enjoying the ride.
NL stats are depressed probably b/c of no DH. I've forced the NL into the DH now, so we'll see if the overall stats even out a bit.
I don't keep an almanac, so I can't speak to any stats other than broad numbers. When I started this dynasty in 2014, the AL recorded a league average of .254 and an ERA of 4.02; the NL numbers were .250 and 3.68. The numbers for this past season of 2056 were .260 and 4.36 in the AL, and .242 and 3.63 in the NL. That was the lowest AL ERA since 4.33 in 2049, and the lowest in the NL since 3.82 in 2050. A few years ago offensive stats were skyrocketing (the AL ERA, for example, just two seasons ago was over 5), so I tweaked the league totals down a bit. Time will tell if I overdid it or if we're just in a short-term down trend. I think we'll be fine, but I'll keep tabs on it.
Favorite players? Of course I'm biased to our own Islanders all-timer Adam Groff. But a few others would probably be... Stphen Strasburg (completely dominant in the early years of this save), and Ty Cobb (singles-hitting 2B with most hits since I started, 3468). Otherwise I like guys who have stories I can grab on to. Like Tim "Tiny" Collins, who made 670 relief appearances (and zero starts) between 2011-2020, then made 274 starts (with zero relief games) over the next ten years. Or guys who set records, even dubious ones, like Jordan Cruz, who led MLB in strikeouts eleven times. As a shortstop. Stuck around for 16 seasons, won two Gold Gloves, hit 225 HR, earned 28 WAR. But finished second all-time in whiffs and maintained his weird grip on a starting role for his entire career, despite those Ks and a career .200 average.