This will probably won't end well. To spice things up, I decided to take a job as a manager. Turned off commissioner mode and checked to see what jobs were available. Only 3 were available, but the one that made the most sense was that of the Lansing Lugnuts. The Lugnuts are struggling big time. They're in last place in the Northern Division roughly 4 or 5 games behind the Dayton Dragons. Now my runs as manager usually don't last long, as I usually grow bored or discouraged and simply go back to watching games. Going to really try and stick with this for at least the rest of the season.
The Lugnuts have the makings of what could turn into a good team. The Nuts were able to nab Francisco Lindor in last years amateur draft. Lindor is already contributing, leading off against right handers and batting 3rd against lefties. A very young and just starting to shine David Ortiz is the teams DH/1B. Ortiz has 16 home runs and may be on his way knocking in 100+ in 1961. Another player I'm hoping to have in my lineup for some time is Jeff Kent. Problem is, I haven't been brave enough to check his contract status. It's mid July, so I may find out the hard way what that status is, even If I don't check. Hoping he's signed for at least 3 or more years.
We have bunch of aging players starting for us as well. Dom DiMaggio is the teams starting RF. Dom has 2300 career hits, but isn't doing to well so far in 1961. In fact, it seems that he's grown a permanent snowflake next to his name on the lineup card. Since taking over, I've actually been platooning DiMaggio with Josh Lowe. DiMaggio makes up the weak side of the platoon, so that might not be helping his snowflake condition. Plus, Josh Lowe has been absolutely on fire during the the 12 games I've been in control. Another aging veteran starting for the Lugnuts is Sid Gordon. Gordon continues to drive in runs and hit for decent power. Jay Buhner is starting for the Nuts in LF. Thing is, it's July. I can honestly see any one of these guys being traded if their contracts are close to being up. Will have to wait and see.
The rest of the lineup is pretty much guys I have to check to see if they actually played Major League Baseball. I think that pretty much tells you what you need to know.
The one guy we could really use is Juan Gonzalez. Problem is, Juan is on the IL. Gonzalez missed all but the first few weeks of 1960. He hasn't been available at all so far in 61. Juan's only a few home runs shy of reaching 400. I will check when I get home to see when his expected return is. When he does return, I wonder if he will reemerge as one of the leagues top sluggers, or fade into retirement?
The Pitching is a mess. We do have last years reliever of the year Jake McGee. In the 12 games I've managed I've managed to raise Jakes ERA around 50 or so points. There have been whispers that he may leave the team to join his Dad Travis on the Busted Flush. Three of the Nuts starting rotations are from the early days of baseball, Pete Donohue, Cy Seymour and Jack Scott. We also have a cat with the last name Jessup in the rotation, whom I'm guessing might be Gentry Jessup a Negro League player. Will check when I get home. My wife has been on me for years in regards to improving my ability to identify folks by their full names. The other starter in the rotation is Reynaldo Lopez.
The bullpen is the aforementioned Jake McGee, Kyle Barraclough, Mike Garcia, Jack Billingham and another guy that I think may be a made up player. Will check later if he actually has a baseball reference page. Even then what's to stop OOTP from creating a fake BR page.....I'm kidding. The Tiger fan in me is jazzed to have Jack Billingham, but so far he's been rather inconsistent for me. Garcia is old and looks like he may only be worthy of mopup innings at this point.
I haven't checked reserve roster as of yet. The GM did trade a player in my short life as manager. Will Smith the relief pitcher was traded for some little known catcher. The catcher became our backup catcher, replacing an even littler known player.
Over under on me making it till August will be posted in Vegas later today. Making it till the end of August will post tomorrow. Make sure you get your bets in.