OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

JerryShoe · 09-06-2022, 10:03 AM

1965 Yankees

The Plan
Having written a book (that was not good enough for publication) about the 1964 season, I did enough research on the Yankees to have a few ideas. Mickey Mantle should be moved from CF, but that era Yankee Stadium LF was Death Valley and there would be no reason (at that time) to move Roger Maris from RF. Keep in mind that I am only using what I "know" in 1965, and that is a 30-year old Maris coming off a 127 OPS+ year. So the only place to move Mantle is 1B, 2 years ahead of schedule. For now, Tommy Tresh moves to CF where he played a lot in '63-'64, but part of the plan is looking for a good glove in CF and moving Tresh back to LF where Joe Pepitone (who I will look to move, since a lot of his value is as a good glove 1B) or phenom Roger Repoz will play for now.
Another part what I learned from the research is that Tony Kubek should not be counted on as the regular SS. But I do have a replacement (as with Repoz and Maris, what I "knew" then) in good field-no hit Phil Linz.
The rest of the infield is set with Bobby Richardson and Clete Boyer at second and third, and although Elston Howard had a .313 year in '64, he did catch 146 games and is now 36, so I will rest him a bit by platooning with Johnny Blanchard. Another player to keep an eye on is Whitey Ford, 36 and injured for most of the World Series but with his 170 ERA+ leads a strong young staff of Jim Bouton (39 wins in last 2 years), Al Downing (leading 217 K's) and rookie sensation Mel Stottlemyre. Pedro Ramos, Hal Renniff, Pete Mikkelson and Steve Hamilton from a reliable bullpen.

What Happened to the Plan
Looking to trade for a CF, the White Sox turned down offers for Ken Berry (although they later shopped him to me for a lesser return) but was able to secure Mickey Stanley from the Tigers. This cost me Linz, so I moved Tresh to SS (where he played before and since). This worked out for the TIgers since this meant installing Don Demeter as their full-time CF where he won the batting title as Detroit won the pennant.
Next to see if I could get any takers for Pepitone, the Athletics offered Bert Campaneris for Pepi and...Tresh!! So now I have SS, LF and CF solved. Tresh went on to win the MVP in KC so I did miss his leading WAR and Pepi's power (19 HRs). The Pirates wanted Bobby Richardson during season (not sure why, they had a better clone of his in Bill Mazoroski) and others for Manny Mota.

The Results
I did a little bit better than CBS and Johnny Keane, actually sharing a fifth-pace finish (and so technically in the first division) and a .500 record with the actual AL champ Twins, rather that 6th and 77-85. For those who may not know, in the pre-playoff era the top half of the standings were considered the first division and eligible for World Series shares.
Here is the team (not much "bomb" in the Bronx Bombers):
SS Campaneris leading 89 SB's (14 CS) and 16 3Bs, 92 RS (5th)
2B Richardson, Horace Clarke and Pedro Gonzalez
CF Stanley .272
1B Mantle leading .394 OB, 106 BBs (3rd), 19 HRs
RF Maris (when not injured) and Woodie Held (in-season trade)
C Blanchard and Howard platoon 20 combined HRs
3B Boyer 18 HRs
LF Repoz

RF-LF Hector Lopez, RF Mota and LF-CF rookie Roy White saw some playing time.

S1 Stottleymyre leading 12 CGs, 254 IP (3rd), 2.76 ERA
S2 Bouton 2.98 ERA
S3 Ford 35 GS (tie for 2nd), 4.6 WAR (5th)
S4 Downing 224 K's (5th), 8.8 K's/9 (3rd)
RP Mikkelson 2.22 ERA
RP Hamilton 3.01 ERA

On deck, the 1966 Yankees.

09-06-2022, 10:03 AM	#2
JerryShoe Minors (Double A) Join Date: Aug 2021 Posts: 122	1965 Yankees The Plan Having written a book (that was not good enough for publication) about the 1964 season, I did enough research on the Yankees to have a few ideas. Mickey Mantle should be moved from CF, but that era Yankee Stadium LF was Death Valley and there would be no reason (at that time) to move Roger Maris from RF. Keep in mind that I am only using what I "know" in 1965, and that is a 30-year old Maris coming off a 127 OPS+ year. So the only place to move Mantle is 1B, 2 years ahead of schedule. For now, Tommy Tresh moves to CF where he played a lot in '63-'64, but part of the plan is looking for a good glove in CF and moving Tresh back to LF where Joe Pepitone (who I will look to move, since a lot of his value is as a good glove 1B) or phenom Roger Repoz will play for now. Another part what I learned from the research is that Tony Kubek should not be counted on as the regular SS. But I do have a replacement (as with Repoz and Maris, what I "knew" then) in good field-no hit Phil Linz. The rest of the infield is set with Bobby Richardson and Clete Boyer at second and third, and although Elston Howard had a .313 year in '64, he did catch 146 games and is now 36, so I will rest him a bit by platooning with Johnny Blanchard. Another player to keep an eye on is Whitey Ford, 36 and injured for most of the World Series but with his 170 ERA+ leads a strong young staff of Jim Bouton (39 wins in last 2 years), Al Downing (leading 217 K's) and rookie sensation Mel Stottlemyre. Pedro Ramos, Hal Renniff, Pete Mikkelson and Steve Hamilton from a reliable bullpen. What Happened to the Plan Looking to trade for a CF, the White Sox turned down offers for Ken Berry (although they later shopped him to me for a lesser return) but was able to secure Mickey Stanley from the Tigers. This cost me Linz, so I moved Tresh to SS (where he played before and since). This worked out for the TIgers since this meant installing Don Demeter as their full-time CF where he won the batting title as Detroit won the pennant. Next to see if I could get any takers for Pepitone, the Athletics offered Bert Campaneris for Pepi and...Tresh!! So now I have SS, LF and CF solved. Tresh went on to win the MVP in KC so I did miss his leading WAR and Pepi's power (19 HRs). The Pirates wanted Bobby Richardson during season (not sure why, they had a better clone of his in Bill Mazoroski) and others for Manny Mota. The Results I did a little bit better than CBS and Johnny Keane, actually sharing a fifth-pace finish (and so technically in the first division) and a .500 record with the actual AL champ Twins, rather that 6th and 77-85. For those who may not know, in the pre-playoff era the top half of the standings were considered the first division and eligible for World Series shares. Here is the team (not much "bomb" in the Bronx Bombers): SS Campaneris leading 89 SB's (14 CS) and 16 3Bs, 92 RS (5th) 2B Richardson, Horace Clarke and Pedro Gonzalez CF Stanley .272 1B Mantle leading .394 OB, 106 BBs (3rd), 19 HRs RF Maris (when not injured) and Woodie Held (in-season trade) C Blanchard and Howard platoon 20 combined HRs 3B Boyer 18 HRs LF Repoz RF-LF Hector Lopez, RF Mota and LF-CF rookie Roy White saw some playing time. S1 Stottleymyre leading 12 CGs, 254 IP (3rd), 2.76 ERA S2 Bouton 2.98 ERA S3 Ford 35 GS (tie for 2nd), 4.6 WAR (5th) S4 Downing 224 K's (5th), 8.8 K's/9 (3rd) RP Mikkelson 2.22 ERA RP Hamilton 3.01 ERA On deck, the 1966 Yankees.