The New Federal League (1981 Strike Alternate History)

[PFellah]

In the summer of 1981, Major League Baseball suffered through a mid-season players' strike, until a federal judge issued a back-to-work order* to finish the season, with negotiations to resume during the winter. The 1981 season later played to completion in a split-season format, both parties said the right things about getting back to the table and hammering out a deal, but then, in the following off-season, the wheels came off.

[*=Ed: needed a weak storytelling rationale to have complete 1981 stats in the books instead of partial.]

First, the negotiations broke down between MLB and the players' union. Perhaps that was to be expected given the history of acrimony between the parties. But what came next was definitely not expected. A group of businessmen announced they would start a new baseball league for the 1982 season -- the New Federal League. Further, they were able to offer a controversial take on player contracts -- ultimately upheld in court -- that allowed current MLB players to play in the new league on a contingent basis -- i.e. if MLB resumed play, the new league would be out of luck. Essentially, the new league was betting everything on one roll of the dice -- could they get up and running and capture the American baseball fan's attention before MLB got their feet back under them?

The new league announced an initial roster of 20 teams, focusing on markets with no existing team (Washington, Denver, Miami), or major league cities with publicly-owned stadiums. This left some holes in their reach in cities with privately owned facilities, as Los Angeles and New York were only represented by a single team, and cities such as Chicago, St. Louis, and Boston were not represented at all. Anonymous sources within the league dropped some tantalizing hints about long-term expansion and stadium-building plans to recapture these lost markets if the league got off the ground.

An expansion draft was scheduled for early in 1982, with games set to begin in April.

....

This will be my first crack at an OOTP dynasty (I've written some Madden football dynasties on other boards, but I'm new to OOTP). I've been impressed with the storytelling aspects of the game and some of the great franchise writers going strong on these boards, so I wanted to jump in and try my hand at it. I'm sure I'm going to screw some things up as I go, but "perfect is the enemy of good" -- I could spend months tweaking settings, or I could start playing and live with the carnage. If it totally goes off the rails, I'll just take what worked, trim out what didn't and start 2.0.

I went with the 1981 players' strike as a jump-off point because it was the formative era for me as a baseball fan. I certainly went to games as a kid even before that, but the early 80s was when I started getting deeper into the game, and baseball-related gaming, such as Statis-Pro Baseball and the first computer sims like MicroLeague. That said, I also wanted a fictional component as well, so I decided to do a redraft league instead of a totally fictional entity. That said, a few of the team names (Oklahoma Pioneers, Texas Mustangs, just to pick two) come from a fictional league a friend and I played in MicroLeague Baseball back in... 5th or 6th grade, maybe?

I mostly accepted the default rules. (EDIT - 5/4) I originally thought about using the DH in both leagues to let older veterans hang on for a few years, but decided against it after thinking it over. So no DH after all. I think I tweaked the settings to generate a few more international free agents, but other than that, not much to report on that front.

I do intend to do some expansion, but I do want to build some story around it rather than just throwing teams in there willy-nilly. I'll pick a team to control (leaning toward Pittsburgh, since it's my hometown) and let the dynasty center around that team, but will cover league events from time to time as well.

One thing I will try to avoid is the omniscience of knowing who players are in advance. If, say, my scouts tell me Greg Maddux is a one-star prospect, I'll try not to take him just because he's Greg Maddux, but if his supporting numbers make him the best player available, I'll grab him. I'll do what I can to make authentic decisions in that regard. I do have system-driven aging turned on, so prospects may take different paths in this version of the world.

Any comments, suggestions, and tips on making this a better read are always welcome. Note that text in red is either for emphasis, or for breaking the fourth wall during a write-up and talking about under-the-hood game mechanics during an otherwise "in-character" post.

[Painmantle]

I love this premise for a dynasty ! I'm particularly fond of dynasties with a good solid Historical foundation for it's basis that go off the beaten path. This one qualifies. Nicely done, I'll be keeping up with this!


Oh Yeah I almost forgot...I hate the DH!

[PFellah]

Pittsburgh Greyhounds Name Baxter New GM



PITTSBURGH. PA (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Greyhounds of the New Federal League named 42-year-old Ian Baxter to be the general manager of their new franchise heading into the league's inaugural draft this month. Although a relative unknown in organized baseball circles, team owner Alfredo Aguirre pegged the former sports journalist as his man to pilot the fledgeling franchise, starting with the inaugural player draft coming up later this month.

[Ed: "Ian" = my son. "Baxter" = my dog. Now you know.]

"I'm happy to have this opportunity," said Baxter. "It's exciting to get in on the ground floor of something like this and to hopefully bring a new era of winning baseball to my home town."

"It's true we have big challenges ahead of us and the clock is already running. Not only do we have to do all the normal things a baseball team does to win games, but we have to build an organization on the fly as we're doing it. But it's comforting to know there's 19 other teams and 19 other GMs who have those same challenges."

Baxter offered a few hints about his team-building strategy while still playing his cards close to his vest. "Alfredo and I have discussed the direction we want to take. We're going to build this team for the long haul. We don't know if this league will be in business one day, one year, or the rest of our careers, but we have to build the organization we would want to go forward with as if it's here to stay. We probably won't invest in a lot of splashy names that aren't going to be here in a year or two. That said, from the perspective of getting this new venture off the ground, you do want to strike while the iron is hot. We have to engage new fans and get them to come out the park, and you're probably not going to make that happen if you put a second-rate product on the field. So it won't be a bunch of unproven future talent either."

When asked about the future of the league and a potential turf war with MLB's Pirates, Baxter seemed unfazed. "That's nothing I can control in my position. If or when the majors, our teams will have some decisions to make at the ownership level. Until that happens, I have to deal with the job in front of me, and that's to build a team that will hopefully win some ballgames."

[elfsutton]

Sounds like a great concept. Should prove fun to read and follow along. Good luck.

[PFellah]

AR: Good evening folks, Andy Russell along with Dale Spencer, bringing you a very special edition of "The Fast Track", your source for insider coverage of the Pittsburgh Greyhounds. Folks, I don't want to waste one minute of time getting to our special guest, so Dale, tell the viewers what we've got for them tonight!"

DS: Well, Andy, this week, the owner of the Greyhounds inked his general manager. The name Ian Baxter* is not exactly a household name in baseball, but team owner Alfredo Aguirre is hoping it will be in the coming years. He's a bit of a baseball outsider, a former college sports journalist, and we could tell you more, but why do that when we can ask him... he's in our studio tonight. Ian Baxter, welcome to The Fast Track.

*Ed. - Ian is my son, Baxter is my dog. Now you know.

IB: Thanks, fellas. I was always a big fan of your morning show.

AR: See, Dale... we DO have fans. I told you. Anyway, Ian... I think the first thing people would want to know is, what's it like being cast in the role of David taking on MLB's Goliath?

IB: You know, it's not really something I have to dwell on on a daily basis. At the ownership level, Mr. Aguirre and the other owners have to keep tabs on the situation and monitor what's going on with the MLB work stoppage, but I'm fairly insulated from that. Where I sit, my job is to put together a team that can win some games. The big picture... it's more, "what happens will happen".

DS: In terms of that team-building, you're coming up on the Player Dispersal Draft in a month or so. You've basically got the entirety of major league baseball to pick from, and 19 other teams clawing for the same players... where do you start with that?

IB: Good question, Dale. Well, Mr. Aguirre and I have had meetings to map out a rough strategy. It's going to be tough to walk that line where... we do want to capture fan interest and get people out to the park to support the team, but at the same time, we want to build an organization for the long-term. I don't think you'll see us throw a bunch of money at players just because they're names, but nor are we just going to grab a bunch of prospect talent. It's important to get off to a strong start too.

AR: What does that translate to in terms of players and assembling a roster? Are you focusing on hitting, pitching, defense, speed... what sorts of things do you look for?

IB: Well, we have a short list of guys we hope are available at #18 who we'd hope to build a team around, and those guys represent the whole diamond. More generally, I've always felt like it starts with strong starting pitching. That's not to demean the role of defense or solid hitting, but so much good comes from having solid guys who can take the ball every five days and give you a comfort level that you'll get six or seven good innnings, maybe even more if you're lucky. Now, if there's a hitter who's a great value sitting there when we pick, maybe we take him, but if it's a toss-up, tie goes to the pitcher.

DS: OK, let me ask this a different way... since it's a serpentine draft, you'll pick at 18 and again at 22. Give me... let's say... one pitcher and one hitter that, if you walked out of the first two rounds with those guys, that'd be the kind of start to your draft you'd be happy with.

IB: Well, I'm not sure he'd be available, but for a batter, I'd love a guy like Dale Murphy who can do it all... hit, run, field... he's a special talent. On the pitching side, gosh, that Fernando kid looks like he can do it all with a baseball,doesn't he**? So maybe him, or maybe someone with a little more of a track record, like a Mario Soto or Steve Rogers. But like I said, I don't think I have the luxury of getting too attached to specific names where we're picking.

**Ed. - The whole "omniscience" thing doesn't apply to current players, only rookies. By 1981, people knew Fernando was really freakin' good.

AR: With the name "Greyhounds", is team speed going to be a focus?

IB: Well, we do think speed helps win baseball games, but we're not going to target it just because we've got a name to live up to. Besides, that's only part of the reason for the name. It was also meant to provide a tie to the Homestead Grays of the old Negro Leagues, to be something of a homage to their legacy. Kind of a look back while looking at the future.

DS: So speaking of that future, what sort of conversations have you and Mr. Aguirre had about expectations for the team?

IB: Well, I don't think he would've given me this chance if there wasn't something of a meeting of the minds. He's a little cautious about throwing too much money into this while so much is up in the air (Ed: Economizer). But on the other hand, he told me the first day that he's in this for the long haul, and willing to do what it takes to do that right. We're not just going to be the travelling circus, here one day, gone the next. That it takes time to build a winning organization and prime that organizational pump with the next generation of prospects. (Ed: Lenient).

AR: OK, so that's the guy who signs the checks. What can the fans coming out to the park expect from this team?

IB: We're going to give you a show, we're going to play hard and execute at a high level, and we'll try to give the people of Pittsburgh another team they can be proud of.

AR: And on that note, we'll say good night. Ian, thanks for being on the program, and good luck in the draft. You'll come back after the draft is over and give the fans a little more inside scoop on that?

IB: Absolutely. Any time, guys.

AR: Well there you have it. Ian Baxter's first interview as General Manager of the Pittsburgh Greyhounds. We'll see you again soon, at which point, we hope to bring you analysis and player interviews from the complete Greyhound roster that our guest will be putting together. For Dale Spencer, this is Andy Russell, and you've been watching "The Fast Track".

[PFellah]

Originally Posted by elfsutton

Sounds like a great concept. Should prove fun to read and follow along. Good luck.

Well, I'm theoretically underway, but the forum has bounced the last few posts I attempted to make. Thinks I'm a spammer or something. Yet this one went through... maybe I had some bad formatting or something.

[PFellah]

AR: Good evening folks, and welcome to The Fast Track, your source for all the news from the world of the Pittsburgh Greyhounds. I'm Andy Russell, and with me as always, Dale Spencer. It's an exciting night here on The Fast Track... Dale, what do we have for the fans tonight?

DS: Well, Andy, the big question, of course, is who will be calling the shots for the Greyhounds this year, and today we got our answer, as Ian Baxter* was introduced as the general manager by team owner Alfredo Aguirre. Baxter's a bit of a baseball outsider, a Pittsburgh native, and... what ought to matter to you viewers most... is joining us in our studio tonight. Mr. Baxter, welcome to the program!

*Ed.= Ian is my son, Baxter is my dog. Now you know...

IB: Thanks, guys. It's great to be here. And let me just say I've always been a big fan of your show. You've always had some of the best sports talk around.

AR: There you go, Dale. I told you we actually had some fans out there somewhere. Somebody make a copy of that tape, OK. Anyway, Ian... I guess the most obvious starting point is the player dispersal draft coming up next month. You've got, basically, the entirety of major league baseball to choose from. How do you wrap your brain around all that, and what sort of gameplan do you have at this point?

IB: It's a challenge, but very much a "kid in a candy store" opportunity to have all these great players to pick from. Right now, I think we want to strive for balance. On one hand, you want to build an organization to last, so you don't necessarily want to just go Christmas shopping and throw a bunch of money at names -- you want to really build a team. On the other hand you do have to be mindful of the fact that we're this new unknown commodity and those names might be what encourages fans to give this new team a chance.

DS: Fair enough. But when it comes down to putting a team together, what are you going to be emphasizing? Pitching, defense? Give us your thoughts on that.

IB: Well I'm a firm believer that it all starts with your starting pitching. This game gets so much easier if you've got guys who can take the ball and give you six or seven strong innings, and it gets so much harder if your guys can't carry that load. That said, I don't think we're going to limit ourselves -- I think you have to have an open mind and take the best player available when your slot comes up.

DS: Fair enough. But how about giving us a dream list, even if it's just, say, one batter and one pitcher. Two guys who, if you came out of the first two rounds with those guys, you'd be in a good mood.

IB: Well, for the batter, one of my favorite players is Dale Murphy, who was playing for the Braves before the work stoppage. He's just a player who can pretty much do it all on a baseball diamond. On the pitching side, it's hard not to like Fernando -- that kid seems like he's primed to do some amazing things. That said, we might look at a guy with a little more of a proven track record like, say, a Mario Soto.

AR: With the team name being the Greyhounds, are you going to be drafting for speed?

IB: Well, yes and no. We're definitely believers that speed plays a role in winning baseball and will want that reflected in our roster, but not particularly because of the name. And the name itself has multiple meanings -- it was also meant as a tribute to the Homestead Grays of the Negro Leagues. Greyhounds was a way of honoring that tradition here in Pittsburgh while also looking toward a future.

DS: What are your impressions of your new boss, Alfredo Aguirre?

IB: I think we can work well together. I think there's a meeting of minds on a lot of our goals. One thing I like is he's in this for the long haul and willing to be patient and give this thing time to grow (Ed: "Lenient"). I have noticed he takes a strong interest in the financial side of things (Ed: "Economizer") but I didn't get the sense it drove everything. I think he'd still be willing to make the investments needed to make this team a success.

AR: Is a long term focus practical? Couldn't major league baseball come back tomorrow and throw all those plans out the window?

IB: I look at it that the long-term view is the only way to look at it. They could be out a day, a week, a decade. That's not really my responsibility -- Mr. Aguirre and the other owners will have to monitor that situation and decide what to do if that happens. At my level, I have to prepare our team to win today, win tomorrow, win next season. So my mission is to build an organization to last as long as it needs to, and as far as the big picture... whatever happens happens.

DS: Before we go, any message for the fans?

IB: Only that I'd ask them to give us a chance. Pittsburgh is a great sports town. We like guys with character and heart, and we've got a recent history of champions. Our aspiration is to carve out a part of that legacy for ourselves and reflect those same Pittsburgh values. We hope you'll be part of it.

AR: And on that note, we'll have to wrap up. Thanks for joining us, and I hope you can come back after the expansion draft when we have a roster to look at.

IB: Anytime, guys. Thanks for having me.

[PFellah]

Pittsburgh Greyhounds -- Player Dispersal Draft

Obviously I won't cover all 150 rounds. I'll probably look at the first 10-20, or the limits of the starting lineup and then a few other random highlights from the lower rounds.

Greyhounds pick #9 and #12. The first eight picked ahead of Pittsburgh's first pick were (in order): 1) Wade Boggs, 2) Rickey Henderson, 3) George Brett, 4) Andre Dawson, 5) Pedro Guerrero, 6) Tim Raines, 7) Fernando Valenzuela, 8) Paul Molitor.

FIRST TEN ROUNDS

1. 1-9 CF Dale Murphy -- Other than a little bit of a low average hitter, just a do-it-all kind of guy.
2. 2-12 C Lance Parrish -- a lot of the young five-star pitchers went off the board, leaving older ones I'd be willing to wait another round on. Meanwhile, there were only a few really good catchers, so I went with Lance Parrish. Strong up the middle so far.
3. 3-9 SP Steve Rogers -- I'm a pitching-first kind of guy, so I already felt guilty about waiting until Rd. 3 to get a pitcher, so I grabbed Rogers over Nolan Ryan because Rogers has four pitches to Ryan's three.
4. 4-12 LF Willie Wilson -- One of the best contact hitters on the board. I typically like my corner OFs with more power, but I'll live with it. If I mentally flip-flop the fact that I have a 30-HR CF in an era where that was rarer, it's a wash.
5. 5-9 SP John Tudor -- time to get a second pitcher.
6. 6-12 SS U.L. Washington -- this is the first pick where I felt a disconnect between what I know about real baseball and what OOTP scouting was telling me. My brain was saying "U.L. Washington? Really?" but he had a pretty nicely-rounded skills package. And the toothpick affectation has to be worth something, doesn't it?
7. 7-9 RF Gorman Thomas -- was starting to feel like I lacked power, so I grabbed Thomas as a masher.
8. 8-12 3B Don Money -- starting to fill out my starting lineup. I was hoping for Carney Lansford in this spot, but he got picked. I didn't mean to go back-to-back Brewers, but other than his age, he probably was the best 3B left at this point.
9. 9-9 CL Rich Gossage -- no one was really going after bullpen arms, so I decided to zig when everyone else zagged and grab the Goose to anchor my pen.
10. 10-12 SP Pascual Perez -- this is the point at which it dawned on me that I still only had two starters, and most of the four and five-star guys were gone.

OTHER PICKS OF NOTE

• Rd 11 - 1B Andre Thornton. Starting 1B
• Rd 12 - SP Mike Moore. Young live arm, and also a local kid (Carnegie, PA)
• Rd 13 - 2B Jim Gantner. Finish out the starting lineup, except DH
• Rd 16 - LF Brian Downing. Early candidate to DH.
• Rd 17 - 2B Bob Laporte. My first true prospect pick and also my first computer-generated player.
• Rd 18 - OF Jeffrey Leonard. 4th OF, part-time DH. We'll find uses.
• Rd 19 - SP Jerry Ujdur. Early favorite for the 5th starter job.
• Rd 29 - SP Tommy John. Recommended by the scouts. I wasn't sold at first because of his age (38), but his expectations are only for a bullpen role, and he could be a decent swing guy or emergency starter.
• Rd 30 - A young OF prospect by the name of Don Mattingly. (Not just a name pick, he had one of the highest contact ratings on the board.)
• Rd 92 - 1B Randy Bass. BASU! (I suppose this one was a little bit of a name recognition pick, though I was fishing for power sources at the time.)
• Rd 100 - MR Miguel Cervantes. Basically took him just for the literary reference.

Initial feelings? I like my offense, but I do wish I would've gotten at least one more decent candidate for the rotation. Perez and Moore are both pretty young to be throwing 200+ innings, and as of right now my fifth stater is between Jerry Ujdur, Dan Schatzeder (more of a swing man) and Scott McGregor. I actually like my bullpen a lot -- Gossage is my closer, but I also have Bill Caudill, Willie Hernandez, and Steve Bedrosian in setup roles.

Obviously I'll delve deeper as I get into spring training, but those are the highlights.

[PFellah]

Team Capsules - Northeast Division



MONTREAL MALLARDS
Owner: Joseph Wolfe (Patience: Lenient, Fiscal: Generous)
Manager: Jim Fanning
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Ottawa Indians, AA Syracuse Express
Five-Star Players: RF Leon Durham, CL Steve Howe, SS Dickie Thon
Four-Star Players: 3B Ken Oberkfell, C Tony Pena, SP Don Sutton
Top 100 Rookies: CL Vernon Bennett (6), CFR Victor Edwards (9), CF Cisco Garcia (17), 3B Pedro Galdames (37), MR Hubert Davis (86), 2B Tony Phillips (88). System: 2nd

NEW YORK TITANS
Owner: Dave Pruitt (Patience: Understanding, Fiscal: Charitable)
Manager: George Bamberger
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Brooklyn Robins, AA Providence Pirates
Five-Star Players: 2B Tony Bernazard, LF Rickey Henderson, 1B Eddie Murray, CL Lee Smith
Four-Star Players: C Rick Dempsey, SS Mike Fischlin, MR Gene Garber, SP Charlie Lea, SP Bob Welch, SP Mike Witt
Top 100 Rookies: SP Jeff Lyons (3), SP Bob Summers (18), CL Eric Terry (23), SP Oil Can Boyd (52), SP Mike Harris (64). System: 4th

PHILADELPHIA PATRIOTS
Owner: Phil Stewart (Patience: Tolerant, Fiscal: Economizer)[/B]
Manager: Pat Corrales
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Norfolk Mariners, AA Scranton Squirrels
Five-Star Players: RF Dwight Evans, 1B Keith Hernandez, C Terry Kennedy, LF Sixto Lezcano
Four-Star Players: SP Ron Guidry, SP Jerry Koosman, SS Rance Mulliniks
Top 100 Rookies: LF Tim Lawson (68), CL Carlos Diaz (78). System: 20th

SOUTH BEACH BARRACUDAS
Owner: Pepe Martinez (Patience: Demanding, Fiscal: Penny-Pinching)
Manager: Greguorio Guizado
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Orlando Pelicans, AA Annapolis Americans
Five-Star Players: SP John Candelaria, 3B Doug DeCinces, SP LaMarr Hoyt, MR Gary Lavelle, C John Stearns, 2B Bump Wills
Four-Star Players: SP Fergie Jenkins, LF Lee Lacy, MR Rick Mahler, MR Bert Roberge, SS Jimmy Sexton
Top 100 Rookies: SP Maximo Ramirez (10), SP William Johnson (34), CL Rick Steirer (75), C Ivan Herrera (79), MR Bud Anderson (99). System: 12th

WASHINGTON EAGLES
Owner: Jorge Hernandez (Patience: Demanding, Fiscal: Economizer)
Manager: Tom Coffman
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Baltimore Buccaneers, AA Richmond Generals
Five-Star Players: RF Pedro Guerrero
Four-Star Players: SP Britt Burns, MR Frank DiPino, 3B Wayne Gross, CF Dwayne Murphy, LF Tom Paciorek, SP Scott Sanderson, SS Roy Smalley
Top 100 Rookies: MR Zach Harden (5), MR Jose Lopez (11), MR Carlos Gomez (24), CL Jerry Dunbar (33), MR Mark Barnes (82). System: 3rd

[PFellah]

Team Capsules - Rust Belt Division



CINCINNATI KNIGHTS
Owner: Alberto Chavez (Patience: Lenient, Fiscal: Economizer)
Manager: Jose Feliciano
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Louisville Roosters, AA Lexington Bluebirds
Five-Star Players: SS Robin Yount
Four-Star Players: SP Len Barker, 1B Rod Carew, RF Jack Clark, C Jody Davis, 3B Bill Madlock, SS Bill Russell, MR Mike Stanton
Top 100 Rookies: RF Gerard Bancroft (12), RF Roberto Lopez (13), CL Tom Henke (40), SP Harry Morrison (45), MR Rafael Vazquez (65), CL Marc Savage (92), SP Roberto Cervantes (97). System: 6th

CLEVELAND COBRAS
Owner: Paul Gattis (Patience: Unmerciful, Fiscal: Economizer)
Manager: Olivio Morelli
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Columbus Comets, AA Toledo Thunderbirds
Five-Star Players: RF Reggie Jackson, CL Tom Niedenfuer, SP Mario Soto
Four-Star Players: 3B Bob Horner, 1B Kent Hrbek, CF Ruppert Jones, SP Bill Laskey, C Tim Laudner, MR Tim Lollar, SS Rafael Ramirez, C Ted Simmons
Top 100 Rookies: CL Dean Shaw (15), C Dani Lara (16), SP Bill Laskey (31), 2B Antonio Hernandez (35), SP Gabriel Garcia (48), SS Jose Hernandez (72), Donald Stewart (87), SP Storm Davis (93), SP Claudio Duran (94). System: 5th

DETROIT DRAGONS
Owner: Ryan Alexander (Patience: Lenient, Fiscal: Economizer)
Manager: Sparky Anderson
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Indianapolis Racers, AA Dayton Aviators
Five-Star Players: 1B Wade Boggs, C Carlton Fisk, CL Greg Minton
Four-Star Players: SS Vance Law, SP Dave Stieb
Top 100 Rookies: C Justin Medina (14), 1B Wade Boggs (24), 3B Paul Farris (53), RF Tony Gwynn (71) 3B Duane Wright (81), RF Jesse Holcomb (95). System: 11th

PITTSBURGH GREYHOUNDS
Owner: Alfredo Aguirre (Patience: Lenient, Fiscal: Economizer)
Manager: Chuck Tanner
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Wheeling River Rats, AA Erie Sea Dogs
Five-Star Players: MR Bill Caudill, LF Brian Downing, CL Rich Gossage, MR Willie Hernandez, 3B Don Money, CF Dale Murphy, C Lance Parrish, SP Steve Rogers, RF Gorman Thomas, 1B Andre Thornton, SS U.L. Washington, LF Willie Wilson
Four-Star Players: CL Dave Beard, 2B Julio Cruz, 2B Jim Gantner, SP John Tudor
Top 100 Rookies: 2B Bob Laporte, SP Freddy Roberts (28), CF Vicente Flores (41), RF Mark Welch (46). System: 8th

TORONTO RHINOS
Owner: Dave Bowers (Patience: Lenient, Fiscal: Economizer)
Manager: Bobby Cox
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Buffalo Blizzard, AA Hamilton Huskies
Five-Star Players: SP Larry Christenson, 2B Phil Garner, LF John Lowenstein
Four-Star Players: CL Tom Brennan, C Bo Diaz, 3B Darrell Evans, CF Jerry Mumphrey, SS Jerry Royster
Top 100 Rookies: CL Shane Moore (1), LF Jason Green (42), SP Mark Edwards (57), MR Paco Trevino (66), MR Andy McGaffigan (85). System: 9th

[PFellah]

Team Capsules - Southland Division



GEORGIA TIGERS
Owner: Jeffrey Lamp (Patience: Lenient, Fiscal: Charitable)
Manager: Joe Torre
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Birmingham Bulldogs, AA Nashville Bandits
Five-Star Players: SP Atlee Hammaker, 3B Toby Harrah, CF Paul Molitor, MR Ricky Wright
Four-Star Players: SS Dave Concepcion, SP Moose Haas, C Ron Hassey, CL Ben Hayes, MR Jesse Orosco, SP Shane Rawley, MR Ron Reed
Top 100 Rookies: 3B Will Davis (18), RF Eric Carter (26), MR Warren Rice (36), SP Ken Dayley (61), LF Jon Holmes (76), CL Andres Reyes (98), CL Marcos Miranda (100). System: 10th

KANSAS CITY CATTLE BARONS
Owner: Elliott Martin (Patience: Lenient, Fiscal: Charitable)
Manager: Dick Howser
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA St. Louis Lions, AA Charlotte Terrapins
Five-Star Players: CF Rudy Law, SP Nolan Ryan, CL Dave Schmidt
Four-Star Players: 1B Greg Luzinski, SP Frank Pastore, MR Jeff Reardon, 2B Ryne Sandberg
Top 100 Rookies: CF Fred Johnson (20), CL Mike Young (27), SS Jorge Olivas (30), MR Jose Garcia (50), ,SS Fernando Gonzalez (59), SP Jim Gott (67), 2B Rafael Garcia (84), 2B Ed Pardoe (2B). System: 7th

LOUISIANA VOODOO
Owner: Gerardo Alba (Patience: Tolerant, Fiscal: Economizer)
Manager: Michael Nolan
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Houston Renegades, AA Jacksonville Suns
Five-Star Players: 3B Buddy Bell, C Gary Carter, CF Andre Dawson, CL Rollie Fingers, 2B Joe Morgan, MR Dan Quisenberry, LF Gary Roenicke
Four-Star Players: SS Tom Brookens, SP Rudy May, C Jim Sundberg
Top 100 Rookies: MR Felix Ramirez (38). System: 19th

OKLAHOMA PIONEERS
Owner: Alberto Torres (Patience: Understanding, Fiscal: Economizer)
Manager: Clint Donahue
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Wichita Roughnecks, AA Little Rock Mudcats
Five-Star Players: LF Lonnie Smith, 2B Lou Whitaker
Four-Star Players: SP Joe Niekro, SP Dave Righetti, SS Garry Templeton
Top 100 Rookies: SP Randy Hampton (54), CL Doug Jones (60), SS Roy Hunter (90). System: 18th

TEXAS MUSTANGS
Owner: Luis Rodriguez (Patience: Lenient, Fiscal: Controlling)
Manager: Don Zimmer
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA San Antonio Toros, AA Austin Yellowjackets
Five-Star Players: 2B Bobby Grich, C Butch Wynegar
Four-Star Players: Joaquin Andujar, MR Ed Farmer, 2B Damaso Garcia, RF Kirk Gibson, 3B Carney Lansford, MR Randy Niemann, LF Tim Raines, MR Rod Scurry, SS Ozzie Smith, CL Kent Tekulve
Top 100 Rookies: CL Ezio Pantani (21), C Adam Lowe (62). System: 16th

[PFellah]

Team Capsules - Western Division



DENVER GRIZZLIES
Owner: Ricardo Toledo (Patience: Demanding, Fiscal: Economizer)
Manager: Luis Leon
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Salt Lake Scorpions, AA Albuquerque Aztecs
Five-Star Players: SP Bruce Berenyi, SP Steve Carlton, CL Luis DeLeon, RF Oscar Gamble, 1B Jason Thompson, SS Alan Trammell
Four-Star Players: SP Fred Breining, CF Ken Landreaux, MR Brad Lesley, C Darrell Porter, MR Manny Sarmiento
Top 100 Rookies: SP Jesus Gonzalez (29), CF Vernon Walker (51), SP Juan Deleon (55), MR Brent Gaff (80), MR Dusty Johnson (96). System: 13th

GOLDEN GATE GULLS
Owner: Ralph Gibson (Patience: Lenient, Fiscal: Charitable)
Manager: Frank Robinson
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA San Jose Spiders, AA Fresno Condors
Five-Star Players: 1B Cecil Cooper, 2B Frank White
Four-Star Players: SP Jim Beattie, 3B George Brett, RF Jeff Burroughs, CF Chet Lemon, SP Vern Ruhle, SS Lenn Sakata, MR Bryn Smith
Top 100 Rookies: SP Tynan Scott (39), SP Alfredo Campos (70), SP Will Hamilton (73), LF Carl McElroy (77), SS Pete Hammond (83). System: 15th

LOS ANGELES DIABLOS
Owner: Jorge Pacheco (Patience: Lenient, Fiscal: Economizer)
Manager: Tommy Lasorda
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Hollywood Stars, AA Reno Gamblers
Five-Star Players: CL Joe Beckwith, RF Tom Brunansky, MR Terry Leach, SS Cal Ripken
Four-Star Players: SP John Montefusco, C Keith Moreland, SP Rick Rhoden, SS Luis Salazar, 3B Tim Wallach
Top 100 Rookies: 2B Edgar Hernandez (2), LF Kieran White (7), CF Guilhem Freni (8), CF Victor Edwards (9), SP Antonio Morin (22), CL Alvin Scott (32), 3B Ed Justice (44), 2B Nick Fox (56), SP Dave Dravecky (74). System: 1st

SAN DIEGO ADMIRALS
Owner: Esteban Miranda (Patience: Tolerant, Fiscal: Charitable)
Manager: Dick Williams
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Phoenix Firebirds, AA Tucson Rattlers
Five-Star Players: 2B Steve Sax, SP Fernando Valenzuela, LF Dave Winfield
Four-Star Players: SP Bill Gullickson, CL Ed VandeBerg, C John Wathan
Top 100 Rookies: SP Frank Viola (43), SS Julio Franco (47), CF Jim Lindsay (63), RF Fernando Torres (69), MR Mark Eichhorn (91). System: 14th

SEATTLE SHARKS
Owner: Jesus Gonzalez (Patience: Lenient, Fiscal: Charitable)
Manager: Rene Lachemann
Minor-League Affiliates: AAA Vancouver Clippers, AA Portland Lumberjacks
Five-Star Players: MR Bill Campbell, MR Chicpo Escarrega, CL Al Holland, MR Gary Lucas, CF Fred Lynn, LF Hal McRae, 1B Al Oliver, SP Jerry Reuss, 3B Mike Schmidt
Four-Star Players: MR Tom Burgmeier, SP Mike Krukow, 1B Ray Knight, SP Larry McWilliams, 2B Willy Randolph, C Ernie Whitt
Top 100 Rookies: CL Juan Moya (49), C Ed Ayers (58). System: 17th

[PFellah]

Originally Posted by Painmantle

I love this premise for a dynasty ! I'm particularly fond of dynasties with a good solid Historical foundation for it's basis that go off the beaten path. This one qualifies. Nicely done, I'll be keeping up with this!


Oh Yeah I almost forgot...I hate the DH!

I decided after sleeping on it to ditch the DH. I kinda liked the idea of giving older veterans a place to hang on for a few more years, but the flip side is having the pitchers hit makes you use your bench more, as opposed to just having a strong 1-9.

[PFellah]

Preseason 1982

OK, off to a logistically awkward start as I forgot to stop the sim before Opening Day to collect any numbers. I noticed Gorman Thomas had a solid spring with 7 HRs and 18 RBIs, and Steve Rogers won four games in the spring, but I couldn't tell you much more than that.

Preseason Predictions

Intriguing. The preseason predictions have the Greyhounds winning a best-in-baseball 98 games and winning the Rust Belt Division. Meanwhile, those same predictions look for a close race in the Northeast. Dale Murphy is predicted to be one of the best hitters, while Rogers and Tudor are predicted to offer a solid one-two punch in the rotation. Reggie Jackson homering 46 times... maybe. John Lowenstein going for 42 seems a little more dicey.



Off in the West, the simulations predict the Georgia Tigers and Denver Grizzlies will be the big winners. The Tigers in particular seem to have an easier time of it, with both Oklahoma and Texas trending for sub-70 win seasons.



INJURIES
Nothing season-defining on the injury front. A couple middle-relief types (Sandy Wihtol of Cleveland and Dave Rucker of Georgia) on the 60, and Dick Ruthven of the Toronto Rhinos missed most of the preseason and might come back rusty in a week or so. The rest of it is normal 1-2 week tweaks.

[PFellah]

Week 1 - April 5 to April 11

(Ed: Somehow my save didn't finish and the game reverted to 4/7 when I booted this morning, so I had to replay this week).

Monday (4/5) - no game scheduled

Tuesday (4/6) - no game scheduled

Wednesday (4/7) - vs. TOR. Dennis Lamp (0-0, 0.00) vs. Steve Rogers (0-0, 0.00)
The Greyhounds start out with an early three-spot and then bat around in a five-run 4th to win in a walk. 10 runs without hitting a homer is kind of impressive, I guess. Rogers pitches 8 strong innnings. Greyhounds 10, Rhinos 2.

Thursday (4/8) - vs. TOR. Jim Palmer (0-0, 0.00) vs. John Tudor (0-0, 0.00)
Second verse, mostly the same as the first. The Greyhounds jump on Jim Palmer in the middle innings, and then add a few against the bullpen. Tudor walked five in his season debut, but otherwise a good first start. Greyhounds 8, Rhinos 2. OOC: "Batting Around" Achievement

Friday (4/9) - vs CLE. Storm Davis (0-0, 0.00) vs. Mike Moore (0-0, 0.00)
The Greyhounds go quietly in the opener, as Storm Davis (6-2/3, 4 hits, 9 Ks) and the bullpen scatter five hits. Moore pitched well in the losing effort, taking a 1-0 game into the 8th before getting touched for a pair in the 8th. Cobras 3, Greyhounds 0.

Saturday (4/10) - vs CLE. Mario Soto (1-0, 1.13) vs. Pascual Perez (0-0, 0.00)
Nice pitcher's duel and a mirror image of Friday's game, as the Greyhounds pad a 1-0 lead in the 8th to make the final score look more lopsided than the game was. Perez scattered 8 hits and struck out 9 in 8 innings (though he did throw 137 pitches); Soto fanned 9 and only one of his three runs was earned -- but then again, he made the error that set kept the big inning rolling. Greyhounds 4, Cobras 0. OOC: "Three Strikes" Achievement

Sunday (4/11) - vs CLE. Bill Laskey (0-1, 3.52) vs. Jerry Ujdur (0-0, 0.00)
A good old-fashioned slug-fest to finish the series. The Greyhounds got out fast with a 4-run first, and never trailed, but three different times the Cobras climbed back to a tie. Gorman Thomas singled in Marshall Edwards in the bottom of the 8th to provide the lead the Greyhounds would finally hold. Willie Hernandez gets the relief win, Tim Lollar the loss, and Gossage nails down his first save. Greyhounds 8, Cobras 7.

Week Record: 4-1
Season Record: 4-1

[PFellah]

Week 1 - Around the League

HEADLINES

• Andre Dawson's season is over before it begins. The Louisiana Voodoo CF tore his labrum diving for a ball on Opening Day and will be out for 10 months. Terry Puhl looks to get first crack at replacing Dawson in the lineup.
• The Cincinnati Knights (190.0) lead the first published power rankings. Meanwhile, the Detroit Dragons are on an 0-7 losing streak to start the year.

STANDINGS


PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Eastern Association: LF Lee Lacy (SB) - .444 (12-27), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 runs
Western Association: 1B Al Oliver (SEA) - .500 (7-14), 3 HR, 5 RBI

MAJOR INJURIES

• 4/5 - CF Andre Dawson (LOU), torn labrum, 10 months
• 4/6 - 2B Phil Garner (TOR), fractured finger, 6-7 weeks
• 4/6 - CF Bobby Mitchell (CIN), strained triceps, 5 weeks
• 4/7 - SS Cal Ripken Jr. (LA), high ankle sprain, 3-4 weeks
• 4/9 - SS Jimmy Sexton (SB), fractured hand, 6 weeks
• 4/10 - CF Ruppert Jones (CLE), strained hamstring, 3 weeks

[PFellah]

Opening Day Roster (oops... out of order)

To go back and give you a quick look at who made the Opening Day 25...

Starting lineup is mostly easy, except for LF (Ed. fallout from chickening out about the DH).

• C Lance Parrish
• 1B Andre Thornton
• 2B Jim Gantner/Julio Cruz
• SS U.L. Washington
• 3B Don Money
• LF (see below)
• CF Dale Murphy
• RF Gorman Thomas

In LF, Willie Wilson and Brian Downing batle for the spot. It depends what you look for -- Downing is across-the-board solid (12-14 in all categories); Wilson is a much better contact hitter, but little power and not much of a batting eye. Personally, I prefer Wilson, but in a futile attempt to keep both guys happy, I'll make a platoon out of them and start Wilson against righties and Downing against lefties. Problem... well, not solved, but punted down the road a ways. (And punted a few days further by the fact that Downing has shoulder tendonitis.)

The bench is a motley cast of characters. Downing would normally also serve as the backup catcher, but with him out for a little bit (retroactive, but still), Buck Martinez gets the call. I'm carrying three infielders -- Julio Cruz, Todd Cruz, and Joe Pittman. I give J. Cruz starts at second against lefties to give Gantner a break. In the outfield, I'll have Jeffrey Leonard as my fourth OF and Marshall Edwards as my fifth. I'd almost rather have Leonard at AAA, but he's out of options. Either Edwards, Pittman, or Martinez will get sent down when Downing comes back.

The starting rotation is also fairly clear. Steve Rogers, John Tudor, Mike Moore, and Pascual Perez all have jobs waiting for them. The fifth starter is a little more up in the air, but Jerry Ujdur gets the first crack at it, with Scott McGregor waiting in the wings.

The bullpen is anchored by Rich Gossage, with Bill Caudill and Willie Hernandez handling the 7th and 8th as needed. Scott McGregor and Tommy John are my long guys, and the 11th spot goes to Vicente Romo -- for now. Romo gets the call because he can refuse assignment and become a free agent and also because some of the other guys who could take his slot (Steve Bedrosian, Dave Beard) could use a little marinade time in the minors. So Romo for now, but with the caveat that he's on a REALLY short leash.

[PFellah]

Week 2 - April 12 to April 18

Monday (4/12) - vs PHI. Ed Lynch (1-0, 0.00) vs. Steve Rogers (1-0, 2.08)
Philly scratches out an early 2-0 lead but the Greyhounds chip away and eventually retake the lead. Rogers pitches 7 and four different relievers combine to finish up. Greyhounds 4, Patriots 2.

TRADE:
Overnight, Philly sent LF Ben Oglivie and minor-league LF Tim Lawson to the Georgia Tigers for 3B Toby Harrah. 3B Larry Parrish appears to be the big playing-time loser in the move.

Tuesday (4/13) - vs PHI. Steve Renko (0-1, 4.50) vs. John Tudor (1-0, 2.84)
Philly takes a 4-3 lead into the 9th, setting the stage for a come-from-behind win against Philly's Rick Camp. Camp puts two on to start the frame before U.L. Washington singles in Dale Murphy to tie the game. Jeffrey Leonard is intentionally walked to re-load the bases (runners moved up to 2nd and 3rd during the play at the plate) but Willie Wilson lofts a fly deep enough to left for a walk-off sac fly. Greyhounds 5, Pariots 4.

Wednesday (4/14) - vs. PHI. Dennis Eckersley (0-1, 6.43) vs. Mike Moore (0-1, 3.38)
A long day for Philly as Eck gets chased in the 3rd inning. The Greyhounds hit three triples -- Willie Wilson and U.L. Washington, sure. But Don Money? Mike Moore throws a fairly non-descript 5-2/3.Greyhounds 10, Patriots 3. OOC: "Hit Machine" Achievement for Andre Thornton..

Thursday (4/15) - vs. PHI. Ron Guidry (1-1, 5.40) vs. Pascual Perez (1-0, 0.00)
Get out the brooms. The Greyhounds hit three homers in the 3rd (back-to-back for Money and Parrish, and a two-run shot by Murphy) to give Perez a cushion and he did the rest. Perez got into a little trouble in a three-run 6th, but went on to pitch 8 and get the win.Greyhounds 5, Patriots 3.

ROSTER MOVE/TRADE TALKS
Brian Downing is eligible to come off the DL. That's the good news. The bad news is I'm a bit stuck who to send down because a lot of the best choices (Pittman, Martinez, Leonard) are out of options. But as we're thinking about this, Cincinnati comes in with a trade offer of Rod Carew, straight up. I don't think I want Carew -- 1B strikes me as a power position -- but I've always been a bit leery of leaning too heavily on Mike Moore and Pascual Perez, so maybe this is a chance to upgrade my rotation. Of Cinci's starting pitchers, I kinda like John Denny -- his control's not great, but he has four pitches to work with. So we submit Downing for Denny and we'll see what happens. In the meantime, I'll let Downing sit on the DL for a day or two.

Friday (4/16) - at TOR. Jerry Ujdur (0-0, 12.46) vs. Larry Christenson (0-2, 4.91)
First road trip of the season, and that was not how we wanted to start. I don't know if it's an embedded message about this Downing-Denny trade, but the Rhinos jump all over Ujdur. The Greyhounds chip away a little bit in the middle innings, but never get all the way back.Rhinos 10, Greyhounds 5. OOC: The mocking "On A Roll" Achievement for ending a six-game win streak.

ROSTER MOVE/TRADE TALKS
I don't know if they watched Ujdur pitch and decided to lowball me, but Cinci went from "we'll think about it" to "NO WAY!" overnight. They'd be willing to do the deal if I threw in Bob Laporte or Don Mattingly -- you know... my two best hitting prospects.

In terms of a counter-offer, I looked at their roster and there's not a lot of great deals that work. I kind of like Bruce Hurst (2-star overall, 3.5-star potential) but that's an upgrade for the future, not for today. Even worse, I'd have to eat a salary (Doug Bird?) to make it work.

I put Downing's name on the block league-wide, and no great offers there either. Maybe Doyle Alexander? Charlie Hough? Otherwise, mostly just other people's problem contracts and old guys. So I guess I'll get Downing back in the lineup and re-evaluate down the road. Because of options considerations, Marshall Edwards is the unlucky guy headed back to AAA.

Saturday (4/17) - at TOR. Steve Rogers (2-0, 2.30) vs. Dennis Lamp (0-1, 11.42)
Rematch of our Opening Day with much different results. U.L. Washington (3-for-3, with a double and a triple) seemed to be the only guy who showed up to play for us, while the Rhinos knocked 17 hits in a laugher. Rhinos 9, Greyhounds 2.

Sunday (4/18) - at TOR. John Tudor (1-0, 3.77) vs. Larry Gura (0-1, 3.60)
The Greyhounds rough up Larry Gura early, but the bullpen almost gives it back late. Tudor gives up 1 run in 6 innings, while the offense stakes him six runs, but then the Rhinos chip away with runs in the 7th and 8th, before Gossage shuts the door in the 9th (minus a solo shot by Darrell Evans). Greyhounds 7, Rhinos 5.

Week Record: 5-2
Season Record: 9-3

[PFellah]

Week 2 - Around the League

HEADLINES

• Detroit finally gets its first win of the year... but just the one. Still 1-13 on the season.
• The trade machinery hums to life as several teams start swapping parts. See below for details.
• Washington becomes the first team to reach 10 games (10-4), but sits a half-game back of 9-2 New York.
• Cincinnati's John Matlack spins a 3-hit shutout of the Cleveland Cobras.
• Seattle's Fred Lynn makes it back-to-back WA Player of the Week Awards for the Sharks

STANDINGS


PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Eastern Association: C Ted Simmons (CLE) - .462 (12-26), 2 HR, 7 RBI
Western Association: CF Fred Lynn (SEA) - .387 (12-31), 2 HR, 3 RBI

TRADES

• GA trades 3B Toby Harrah to PHI for LF Ben Oglivie and minor-league LF Tim Lawson
• TEX trades 2B Manny Trillo and minor-league CL Juan Agosto to SB for 1B John Mayberry
• SB trades minor-league CF Bob Dernier to MTL for MR Dave LaRoche and minor-league CL Vernon Bennett
• CIN trades 1B Rod Carew to LOU for LF Gary Roenicke

MAJOR INJURIES

• 4/13 - LF Ron LeFlore (KC), fractured foot, 3 weeks
• 4/13 - LF Kirk Gibson (TEX), strained MCL, 5 weeks
• 4/14 - SP Dave LaPoint (SD), forearm strain, 3 weeks
• 4/14 - RF Claudell Washington (TOR), strained quad, 6 weeks
• 4/16 - 1B Greg Luzinski (KC), fractured hand, 6 weeks
• 4/16 - SP Scott Sanderson (WSH), strained hamstring, 4 weeks
• 4/16 - SP Len Barker (CIN), diagnosis TBD
• 4/17 - RF Tom Brunansky (LA), back spasms, 5 weeks
• 4/18 - CF Ken Griffey (LA), diagnosis TBD
• 4/18 - 3B Clint Hurdle (WSH), diagnosis TBD

[PFellah]

Week 3 - April 19 to April 25

Monday (4/19) - vs NY. Charlie Lea (2-0, 1.80) vs. Mike Moore (1-1, 2.63)
Neither starter got the job done, leading to a 5-5 score at the end of the 4th. But from that point on, the Titans locked things down, while the Greyhounds went on to surrender another five runs. Titans 10, Greyhounds 5.

Tuesday (4/20) - vs NY. Frank Tanana (1-0, 0.00) vs. Pascual Perez (2-0, 1.69)
Another solid outing by Pascual Perez, but the Goose was uncharacteristically shaky. Two homers by Andre Thornton and another by U.L. Washington staked Pittsburgh to a 5-2 lead entering the 9th. The Titans almost came all the way back, scoring two and loading the bases with one out. But the Gossage found his A-game and fanned Larry Whisenton and Tony Bernazard back-to-back for an uncomfortable save.Greyhounds 5, Titans 4.

Wednesday (4/21) - vs NY. Floyd Bannister (1-1, 3.00) vs. Jerry Ujdur (0-1, 14.63)
Udjur came into the game on somewhat thin ice -- 4 runs in 7 innings isn't great, but it may buy him another start or two to see if he's turning a corner. The game went to the 9th tied 6-6, until a throwing error on a double-steal let the go-ahead run score. (A sac fly later added an insurance run.) Caudill was saddled with the tough-luck loss.Titans 8, Greyhounds 6.

Thursday (4/22) - no game scheduled

Friday (4/23) - at CLE. Steve Rogers (2-1, 3.74) vs. Rich Dotson (3-0, 3.18)
Rogers rebounds in a big way from his first rough start of the year -- a 95-pitch, 3-hit, 9-K shutout. He even helped himself at the plate with a 1-fo-3 day with 2 runs and an RBI. The Hounds grinded out six runs, but they really only needed one. Greyhounds 6, Cobras 0.

Saturday (4/24) - at CLE. John Tudor (2-0, 3.10) vs. Storm Davis (2-0, 0.00)
Davis was pretty sharp the first time we faced him, and this time was more of the same. Six scoreless before turning it over to the bullpen. Tudor got victimized by one big inning -- a three-run 6th, highlighted by a 2-run pinch-hit double by Carl Yazstremski.Cobras 3, Greyhounds 0.


Sunday (4/25) - at CLE. Mike Moore (1-2, 3.79) vs. Mario Soto (2-2, 2.03)
Another great pitchers' duel to close out the series. Moore gave up a single run in the 3rd, but was otherwise solid; however, Soto was even better, throwing a two-hit shutout through 8. Unfortunately the Cobras went to the bullpen instead of letting Soto finish what he started and it cost them. First, Gorman Thomas singled home Willie Wilson to tie it up against Charlie Puleo in the 9th. Then in the 11th, Buck Martinez walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch by eventual loser Tim Lollar, and came around to score on a Don Money single. Jim Rice started the bottom of the 11th with a leadoff double, but got no further once the Goose buckled down. Greyhounds 2, Cobras 1 (11).

Week Record: 3-3
Season Record: 12-6, 2nd in division, 1 GB