OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Harry Lyerly and the Denver Brewers of the WPK

BirdWatcher · 05-13-2019, 11:53 PM

If the MGL Pitcher of the Year Award for 1972 doesn't go to one of the Brewers two aces- Cheol-han Lee (who won the award in 1971) or Erik Sloan- then perhaps the mostly likely winner is Brooklyn's Manny Alvarado.
Historically Alvarado's biggest weakness is the long-ball, as he led the league in HR's allowed last season with 32 and also allowed 31 the prior season. His career record, including this year, is 72-66 with a 3.76 ERA. So, obviously, his league best 19 wins (with 8 losses) and his fine 2.49 ERA make this his finest season yet, by far really. The fact that he gave up only 19 HR's for a HR/9 of 0.7 certainly didn't hurt. At age 29, it will be interesting to see if Alvarado has turned the corner or if this year will prove to be simply a fluke in an otherwise mediocre career.

Of course consideration could also be given to Oklahoma City's 30-year old ace, Reece Vaughan. The accomplished Aruban righty went 18-11 with a 2.26 ERA while pitching for a team that finished 15 games under .500 (in 7th place). It was the lowest ERA in Vaughan's largely successful 8 year career and his 2nd best win total (he has won 19 games twice). Vaughan is a 3-time All-Star, has led the league in games started 5 times, and strikeouts once. He has pitched his entire career for the Diamond Kings but is a free agent at the end of next season.

And let's not rule out the most dominant relief pitcher in WPK history, who also happens to be the most hated- Charlotte's Jamel McNeil. McNeil just had another typical year for him, going 13-2 with 27 saves and an ERA of 1.09, hurling 141 innings, all in relief, striking out 178 batters and earning a WAR of 6.2 (as a relief pitcher!). While McNeil is almost a sure thing for another Reliever of the Year award (he has 4 thus far), he is likely to get a least some votes for Pitcher of the Year. Charlotte is the 32-year old's 4th team (he was briefly a Brewer in 1968) and it's somewhat surprising it isn't more than that as he wears out his welcome quickly, being universally loathed and considered a clubhouse cancer. Still, he's the best in the business at what he does, so there is always that. (He's also an 8-time All-Star, so I guess it's true that people just love to have a villain around to hate.)

05-13-2019, 11:53 PM	#187
BirdWatcher Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 4,262	1972 Statistical Leaders, MGL, Pitching If the MGL Pitcher of the Year Award for 1972 doesn't go to one of the Brewers two aces- Cheol-han Lee (who won the award in 1971) or Erik Sloan- then perhaps the mostly likely winner is Brooklyn's Manny Alvarado. Historically Alvarado's biggest weakness is the long-ball, as he led the league in HR's allowed last season with 32 and also allowed 31 the prior season. His career record, including this year, is 72-66 with a 3.76 ERA. So, obviously, his league best 19 wins (with 8 losses) and his fine 2.49 ERA make this his finest season yet, by far really. The fact that he gave up only 19 HR's for a HR/9 of 0.7 certainly didn't hurt. At age 29, it will be interesting to see if Alvarado has turned the corner or if this year will prove to be simply a fluke in an otherwise mediocre career. Of course consideration could also be given to Oklahoma City's 30-year old ace, Reece Vaughan. The accomplished Aruban righty went 18-11 with a 2.26 ERA while pitching for a team that finished 15 games under .500 (in 7th place). It was the lowest ERA in Vaughan's largely successful 8 year career and his 2nd best win total (he has won 19 games twice). Vaughan is a 3-time All-Star, has led the league in games started 5 times, and strikeouts once. He has pitched his entire career for the Diamond Kings but is a free agent at the end of next season. And let's not rule out the most dominant relief pitcher in WPK history, who also happens to be the most hated- Charlotte's Jamel McNeil. McNeil just had another typical year for him, going 13-2 with 27 saves and an ERA of 1.09, hurling 141 innings, all in relief, striking out 178 batters and earning a WAR of 6.2 (as a relief pitcher!). While McNeil is almost a sure thing for another Reliever of the Year award (he has 4 thus far), he is likely to get a least some votes for Pitcher of the Year. Charlotte is the 32-year old's 4th team (he was briefly a Brewer in 1968) and it's somewhat surprising it isn't more than that as he wears out his welcome quickly, being universally loathed and considered a clubhouse cancer. Still, he's the best in the business at what he does, so there is always that. (He's also an 8-time All-Star, so I guess it's true that people just love to have a villain around to hate.) Attached Images Last edited by BirdWatcher; 05-13-2019 at 11:55 PM.