Turn Two

[NYY #23]

Sometimes it takes a couple of false starts to work out the kinks, but after a couple of false starts I took a little bit of time to figure out how best to proceed. After doing my blended history dynasty and second chance dynasty and doing some testing I've taken some of the things that I liked from each and have been pleased with the results so far.

One of my goals is to give players a second chance at success, for careers cut short by injury, illness, or even death. This idea really came about on August 2nd, after reading about the anniversary of Thurman Munson's plane crash, and that led to reading about other players who had their careers cut short for one reason or another.

I initially tried working my way forward from the beginning (until my numbers got out of whack). I was going to start again following the same format, but in reality you are bringing in a big group of players and you only care about a few. And it does take a while to get to some of the interesting examples.

I decided on a completely fictional universe, as I had more fun that I thought I would playing with fictional players. I wanted to keep it small though, so there will be 8 teams in each league, all fictional. I'm going to resist the urge to change the number of teams to keep things small enough to manage, at least for a few decades.

I decided on importing two real players into the league each year. I've got a list of players who I've already identified as deserving of a second chance, at least in my opinion. I won't rule out importing someone just to see how their career turns like Babe Ruth at some point though.

I've decided to use modern settings to avoid the problem of having different numbers for different eras. I did turn up stealing to often, but for the most part settings are out of the box and will remain static.

Another thing that I did was to sim from 1871-1900 to give the league some history. I'll talk about the teams and some of that history next before we begin to move forward.

[deandean1998]

May I nominate someone to be given a second chance? I would give Mickey McDermott a second chance. He was a very wild but he drunk his promising career away. Also, he is the center of a Norman Rockwell painting. It is called The Rookie. http://afrocityblog.files.wordpress....kie1.jpg?w=571

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by deandean1998

May I nominate someone to be given a second chance? I would give Mickey McDermott a second chance. He was a very wild but he drunk his promising career away. Also, he is the center of a Norman Rockwell painting. It is called The Rookie. http://afrocityblog.files.wordpress....kie1.jpg?w=571

Definitely, I'll take any suggestions and I'd be happy to add McDermott. I grew up in Massachusetts, and visited the Norman Rockwell museum a couple of times. I've seen the painting, although I admit I didn't know about the subject, so that is a cool story. I've got the 1901 draft class already ready to go, but I'll plan on adding McDermott in 1902. Thanks for the suggestion!

[NYY #23]

There is no real backstory to the league, I just set-up two leagues and filled it with teams that I've used in the past. Sometimes for no other reason than I liked the uniform or the logo. I figure I can throw out historical accuracy when players are importing into years before they were born anyway.

American League
Baltimore Black Sox
Boston Americans
Brooklyn Brawlers
Cincinnati Cavalry
Cleveland Blues
New York Knights
Orlando Wizards
Providence Whalers

National League
Charlotte River Otters
Chicago Pirates
Detroit Wolverines
Indianapolis Indians
New York Empires
Philadelphia Freedom
Pittsburgh Rebels
Washington Capitals

[Bol]

I'd like to see Tony Conigliaro given another shot.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by Bol

I'd like to see Tony Conigliaro given another shot.

I'll definitely add Tony Conigliaro. I'll put him down for the class of 1903.

[NYY #23]

I'll plan on keeping an updated list of the draft classes here, and edit going forward.

Draft Class
1901 - Thurman Munson and Josh Gibson
1902 - Mickey McDermott and Dwight Gooden
1903 - Tony Conigliaro and Ray Chapman
1904 - Skipped until 1905
1905 - Mark Fidrych, Herb Score, Shoeless Joe Jackson and Chick Gandil
1906 - Eddie Cicotte and Claude Williams

[NYY #23]

Team: Detroit Wolverines
League: National
1900 Record: 99-63
All-time Record: 2503-2357
All-time Winning Percentage: .515
All-time Rank:3
Playoff Appearances:6
World Series Championships: 5

Fresh of their record 5th World Series Championship, the Detroit Wolverines have been one of the most successful franchises in the league. The Wolverines were the league's first dynasty, one of only two teams to win three straight World Series. Within a span of five years from 1874-1878 the Wolverines captured four Championships.



This year's team was led by their pitching, and their ace, Terry 'Butterball' Moore. Moore is just 23 years old, and led the league in wins (19) and ERA (2.30) this year. Moore won the Pitcher of the Year Award, and based on his performance will be one to watch in the coming years.

[NYY #23]

Team: Philadelphia Freedom
League: National
1900 Record: 88-74
All-time Record: 2434-2426
All-time Winning Percentage: .501
All-time Rank:8
Playoff Appearances:2
World Series Championships: 2

The Freedom finished second to the Wolverines last year, a distant eleven games behind. Unlike Detroit they may be a team on the decline, as their already weak pitching is led by 38 year old Hector Medine, who was 16-9 with a 3.61 ERA. Philadelphia has high hopes that 24 year old Jeff Cole will be able to help solidify their rotation, but Cole has just 5 1/3 innings under his belt out of the bullpen.



Philadelphia does have the highest scoring offense in the National League, and is led by 25 year old right fielder Robby Parker, who won the Outstanding Hitter Award last year. Parker hit .320 with 30 home runs with 134 RBI, adding 81 stolen bases. Parker is better than average defensively in right field, and will be fun to watch in the coming years.

[NYY #23]

Team: Charlotte River Otters
League: National
1900 Record: 76-86
All-time Record: 2374-2486
All-time Winning Percentage: .488
All-time Rank:14
Playoff Appearances:1
World Series Championships: 0

Charlotte has never won a Championship, and made only one playoff appearance in their history, when they have been known as one of the worst team in the league. Charlotte is in the midst of a 10 year streak where they have lost more games than they won.



Jesus Castillo is one of the leaders on Charlotte. At 29 years old he's spent time at all four infield positions, and has played them equally well. While Castillo slugged 39 home runs this year, 27 of those home runs came with the bases empty. Last year Castillo hit .158 with runners in scoring position (24-152) vs. .309 with the bases empty (86-278). They'll need to get better production from Castillo to improve their last place offense.

[NYY #23]

Team: Chicago Pirates
League: National
1900 Record: 82-80
All-time Record: 2447-2413
All-time Winning Percentage: .503
All-time Rank:7
Playoff Appearances:5
World Series Championships: 3

Chicago finished third last season, 17 games behind Detroit. The Pirates won a World Series as recently as two years ago, but the Pirates are an aging team.



41 year old Enrique Carrillo came to Chicago as a free agent from Philadelphia three years ago, and helped lead the Pirates to a World Series Championship with a 20-10 record and 3.27 ERA. While last year Carrillo was 16-10 with a 3.10 ERA, the Pirates know they are gambling with Father Time with their ace.

[NYY #23]

Team: Indianapolis Indians
League: National
1900 Record: 81-81
All-time Record: 2464-2396
All-time Winning Percentage: .507
All-time Rank:5
Playoff Appearances:4
World Series Championships: 1

The Indians fell from 95-67 two years ago to 81-81 last year as problems with their offense and pitching staff surfaced.



The Indians do have some help on the way, with one of the top prospects in baseball, pitcher Armando Renteria. The 22 year old righty is expected to join the rotation next season.

[NYY #23]

Team: New York Empires
League: National
1900 Record: 80-82
All-time Record: 2380-2480
All-time Winning Percentage: .490
All-time Rank:12
Playoff Appearances:4
World Series Championships: 2

The New York Empires won the first World Series back in 1871, then again in 1882, but haven't won since. The Empires went to back to back World Series in 1896 and 1897, but failed to win.

While the Empires had one of the top offenses in the league last season, they'll have to find a way to replace free agent Nick Johnson, who led the team in batting average (.309), home runs (39), and RBI (123) last year.



The Empires are hoping that Brian Waddingham can return to form. After going 18-6 with a 3.06 ERA in 1897 as a 24 year old, his ERA has increased in each of the past three years (3.63, 3.72, 4.48). Waddingham has already signed a 5 year extension that will begin to take effect after the 1901 season.

[deandean1998]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

Definitely, I'll take any suggestions and I'd be happy to add McDermott. I grew up in Massachusetts, and visited the Norman Rockwell museum a couple of times. I've seen the painting, although I admit I didn't know about the subject, so that is a cool story. I've got the 1901 draft class already ready to go, but I'll plan on adding McDermott in 1902. Thanks for the suggestion!

Oh, so #23 must mean Luis Tiant! I get it! Yea, I read McDermott's book, so I am a fan.

[dynaboyj]

What do you use to calculate the teams' all-time rank? Winning percentage?

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by dynaboyj

What do you use to calculate the teams' all-time rank? Winning percentage?

I just used winning percentage.

[NYY #23]

Team: Pittsburgh Rebels
League: National
1900 Record: 71-91
All-time Record: 2492-2368
All-time Winning Percentage: .513
All-time Rank:4
Playoff Appearances:5
World Series Championships: 1

The Rebels have finished in last place two straight years, but have used their recent struggles to build a strong core of young players. The Rebels called up 19 year old Manuel Rivera in September, and he hit .455 in his brief stay, and the Rebels believe he has superstar potential.



22 year old Jorge Cuesta was a former top pick, and earned a spot in the rotation last season, going 18-13 with a 4.25 ERA to lead the team.

[NYY #23]

Team: Washington Capitals
League: National
1900 Record: 71-91
All-time Record: 2346-2514
All-time Winning Percentage: .483
All-time Rank:15
Playoff Appearances:3
World Series Championships: 1

The Capitals don't have much going for them lately, finishing tied with the Rebels for last place, 28 games behind the Wolverines, and poor pitching and offense.



Perhaps the only positives for the Capitals are a strong defense, and shortstop Jose 'Crab' Martinez. The 24 year old speedy, defensive wiz had a .377 on-base percentage last season and stole 41 bases and added 25 home runs. As Martinez continues to develop many believe he has the potential for a 40-40 season.

[NYY #23]

Team: Baltimore Black Sox
League: American
1900 Record: 96-66
All-time Record: 2396-2464
All-time Winning Percentage: .493
All-time Rank:10
Playoff Appearances:1
World Series Championships: 1

The Black Sox won the World Series in 1893, the only time they appeared in the postseason, but they finished just a game out this season, and appear on the cusp of heading back to the World Series.



Two years ago Baltimore went out and signed one of the best free agent pitchers in the league, Don 'No Comment' Calhoun, who was coming off a year in which he went 20-9 with a 2.76 ERA and 330 strikeouts with New York on the way to winning his third Pitcher of the Year Award.

Calhoun's first season in Baltimore wasn't pleasant though, and he didn't endure himself to Black Sox fans, going 4-5 with a 5.03 ERA in just 62 2/3 innings before missing the rest of the season. With 6 years left on his contract Calhoun broke his silence with the media and vowed to come back strong, which he did this season, going 25-11 with a 2.56 ERA and 313 strikeouts, earning the Pitching Triple Crown and Pitcher of the Year Award.

[NYY #23]

Team: Boston Americans
League: American
1900 Record: 75-87
All-time Record: 2394-2466
All-time Winning Percentage: .493
All-time Rank:11
Playoff Appearances:3
World Series Championships: 2

The Boston Americans finished 22 games behind Brooklyn last season, featuring the worst pitching in the league, and an offense that scored more runs than only two teams. Their best hitter, Guillermo Mendoza, who hit .288 with 14 home runs and 84 RBI, and left for the rival New York Knights.



Patrick Harvey is the team's 'ace' at 28 years old, but after going 20-12 with a 3.01 ERA in his first season in Boston, Harvey struggled with a 12-15 record and 4.37 ERA.