MLB Replay....A new History

[prisonerno6]

"If I was reading a single player dynasty, and the guy writing it pulled of this deal, id stop reading, too unrealistic!!! How the hell did the cpu do this one? Lets just assume Detroit gm Lorenzo Robles is an idiot."

That comment made me laugh out loud! Thanks!

[George_Bell]

A nice pitching match up opens up the 87 series. Kenny Rogers won 20 games for Detroit, and looked every bit a dominant pitcher in the early going, retiring 12 of the first 13 batters he faced. Sid Fernandez is more then capable of matching that performance and he did, holding the Tigers scoreless through 4. Tim Wallach opened the scoring with a solo shot in the fifth, and Alvin Davis hits a 2 run shot in the sixth. Kenny Rogers didn’t need all 3 runs, as he pitches a complete game shutout. Amazingly, the Pirates are shutout for the 3^rd straight World Series game, and have scored just once in their last 5 World Series games. Tigers win the opener 3-0.

Detroit gets to Roger Clemens early. Alvin Davis, Larry Hernden and Dave Valle all have RBI’s as Detroit jumps out to a 3-0 lead after four. Roger Clemens then leaves the game with a oblique strain. His return to the series is questionable. That’s not the big story though. The big story is almost unbelievable. The Pirates are shut out AGAIN! That’s 4 in a row, and 5 of 6 now. I wouldn’t believe it if I wasn’t looking at it right now. Tigers win 6-0. Jose Rijo with the complete game shutout.

Hosting their first WS game in many many years, the Tigers score three times in the 1^st. Wild pitches account for 2 runs and the Pirates appear to be falling apart. With 2 outs in the third, Pittsburgh finally wakes up. Don Mattingly starts a string of 5 straight hits, including 3 doubles, which scores 4 runs. That ends a 41 inning scoreless drought, and the Pirates lead 4-3! The fifth inning sees the Pirates put together 4 straight hits, which scores 2 more runs, which is the eventual margin of victory. Pittsburgh wins 6-4. Their offense came in two very quick spurts. They should have some confidence now!

Sid Fernandez, starting on short rest, decided early that one run would be enough for his Pirates. He is dominant, allowing 4 hits over 6 innings, with 8 k’s. Pittsburgh’s Mickey Tettleton opened the scoring with a RBI double in the 2^nd, and that run would be enough. The Pirates add a few more, proving they can infact score runs. Pittsburgh wins it 5-0 and tie the series.

The Pirates offense has found itself. They score first on a Dave Henderson sac fly, but the pitching let them down today. Fred McGriff ties the game with his own sac fly, and Tim Wallach went deep on the next pitch to give Detroit the 2-1 lead after four. The Pirates grabbed the lead right back in the fifth, scoring twice, keyed by Oddibe McDowell. Detroit does the same, scoring twice in their half of the fifth. Ron Gant with a run and RBI. Ron Gant scores the eventual winning run in the 7^th, and the Tigers win 5-4 to take a 3-2 series lead.

Roger Clemens returns for game 6. He delivers the performance his team needed. Clemens goes 8 innings, allowing 1 run on 6 hits. Rance Mulliniks 6^th inning home run is the difference as Pittsburgh edges Detroit 2-1. Game 7 coming up.

GAME 7


Atlee Hammaker and Sid Fernandez have both had excellent post seasons. This should be a low scoring affair.

Tim Wallach leads off the second inning with a home run to put Detroit up early. Fernandez then gives up a leadoff double to Larry Herndon in the third, and left the game with an injury. The extent is not known at the time. Perfect spot for Mike Moore to come in. Moore led the Pirates in ERA as a starter, but was shifted to the closer role for the playoffs. Reliever Kirk McCaskill is brought in instead, and he allows Herndon to score. 2-0 Tigers.

Detroit strikes again in the sixth, Omaz Vizquel scores on a Dusty Baker sac fly, and its 3-0 Tigers now. Atlee Hammaker is cruising along. He’s allowed 2 hits through six.

Atlee gets into some trouble in the seventh though. Back to back 2 out walks loads the bases for Oddibe McDowell, a former WS MVP. McDowell draws a third straight walk to get the Pirates on the board, but Dion James grounds out, and they still trail 3-1. A wasted opportunity.

Don Mattingly leads off the eighth with a single, and is thrown out trying to score after a Mickey Tettleton double. Huge play leaves the Pirates scoreless in the frame.

Detroit effectively ends the game with 5 runs in the 8^th. Omaz Vizquel is all over this game, with his third hit and 2 RBI’s. The Pirates get 2 in the final innings, but its meaningless. Tigers win 8-3 and take the 1987 World Series!! The GM I called an idiot is a champion!

[George_Bell]

[rjl518]

another great year for the Pirates...another world series loss!!

[rjl518]

here's a question for you George...how many of your world series in this dynasty have gone the distance? ie...all 7 games played?

[wwines]

Nice win for the Tigers...very similar season to the real life 87 Tigers who traded a young promising pitcher by the name of John Smoltz that season in a run at the World Series. Unfortunately that season ended in a loss to the Twins in the Championship Series.

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by rjl518

here's a question for you George...how many of your world series in this dynasty have gone the distance? ie...all 7 games played?

I do not have that noted, and i dont see on OOTP where that would be displayed without a click fest. At some point, maybe next offseason, ill check and post something.

[George_Bell]

[George_Bell]

1987-88 Offseason News and Notes

The injury that took Sid Fernandez out of game 7 of the World Series is pretty serious. Shoulder surgery. He’ll need 7-8 months to recover. Probably back in the lineup around the all-star game.

The first pick in the draft is the amazing looking catcher, Javy Lopez. His potential is amazing. I don't believe he'll reach it though being so young and raw, but he's the slam dunk first pick. Mariano Rivera is taken 25th by the Dodgers.

Two of baseball's dominant players of the 60's and 70's go in together, and each were easy inductions. McCovey remains one of the greatest home run hitters in history, and Catfish, at the top of his game, could lead a team to a championship, which he did twice, for the Yankees.

Here's the top 20 base stealers in baseball history. With Ricky Henderson in his prime, i was wondering where he sat in regards to the leaders. Turns out, he's not even in the top 20 yet.



Lonnie Smith has a legitimate shot at the all-time lead. 700 in 11 years is pretty amazing!

Here are the offseason trades

here are the major free agent signings

The Tigers were very busy, stacking up for a run at being the first repeat World Series winner of the 1980's. Reggie Jackson returns to Pittsburgh, and they do happen to have a hole in RF. I'll keep an eye on it.

There were no logo or significant uniform changes this year, so onto the 1988 season.

[HerbertMcHoover]

Love the moves by the Tigers. Easy favorites to win the World Series this year.

[jdono927]

It doesn't feel right seeing Mariano Rivera not on the Yankees

[George_Bell]

1988 MLB Preview

Top Player

Top Pitcher

Top Prospect

[reds1]

I never thought I'd say this, but Barry Bonds deserves to be on a better team.

[HerbertMcHoover]

Oh crap, I totally forgot about him, but how did Munson do?

Are other notable Yankees like Winfield doing well and in this universe, Puckett?

Thanks as always!

[rjl518]

with a pitching staff that includes Dr. K and Maddux...my Mets have to catch the Pirates this time

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by HerbertMcHoover

Oh crap, I totally forgot about him, but how did Munson do?

Munson has a solid, but not spectacular career. He made one all-star team, won 3 gold gloves, and retired after the 1983 season at 36 years of age. Still he helped the Yankees win the 1975 World Series, and was also part of the Cubs title in 81. Here are is career stats.

Originally Posted by HerbertMcHoover

Are other notable Yankees like Winfield doing well and in this universe, Puckett?

Puckett has developed into a star. He's probably the Yankees best player right now, and depending on how the current season finishes, which i will edit out of the below screen shot he could be a MVP candidate.

Dave Winfield, has only gone down hill. He's 36 years old, he's been playing in AAA for a few years now, infact, is last regular action at the MLB level came in 1984, when he hit .209 with the Yankees. He's currently backup up the OF spots for the Jays AAA team, Syracuse.

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by rjl518

with a pitching staff that includes Dr. K and Maddux...my Mets have to catch the Pirates this time

That duo is pretty sick, and the Pirates do indeed, need to be worried!

[George_Bell]

1988 Regular Season

Here are the top 10 prospects heading into the 1988 season.



The Pirates get off to an amazing start. 20-3 in April, with Don Mattingly hitting .422. I really believe Mattingly has a chance to do something special this year. He’s 27, his ratings are amazing. I disagree with the in game rankings, as I think Mattingly is by far the best player in the game. He strikes out so infrequently, that with his 22 contact ratings, hitting .400 is a possibility.


Mattingly

Ok, so I might have been wrong on Mattingly. He’s probably not going to hit .400 unless he goes insane. His averaged dipped to .348 after May, and then back upto .358 in June. Improving it 40 more points the rest of the way would require super human feats.

I may have been wrong about Reggie Jackson too. Hes gotten some playing time in Pittsburgh, but only hit 3 home runs with a .200 average. I guess he can’t be a 20 home run guy who walks enough to make up for his poor average. I’m wrong about a lot these days!



Here are the 1st half trades

Here are the 2nd half deals...



The Mets and Pirates are in a dogfight atop the NL East. The perennial powerhouse in Pittsburgh have faltered just a bit, and left the door open to the young Mets, who boast 2 of baseballs best young arms. Dwight Gooden and Greg Maddux are a combined 30-7 through July, and have to be responsible for this Mets surge. Pittsburgh is about to get a boost. Missing Roger Clemens over the summer do to injury, Sid Fernandez, who has missed the whole season, is due back any time, and the former best pitcher in baseball could be the difference in such a tight race.

We also have a home run race to follow. 25 year old Bo Jackson, who hit 73 homers over his first 2 MLB seasons has 42 in 100 games right now. The Expos are being rewarded for picking the strong man 22^nd overall a few years back. Jackson is also hitting for average this year, with a .289 mark. Two months and 23 home runs remain. Can he do it??

Bo knows home runs!

The Mets have taken a 2 game lead on Pittsburgh heading into September. Texas leads Seattle by 5. Detroit is baseballs best team, with a 18 game lead on the AL East. Imagine how good they would be with Randy Johnson, who is a full time Padre this season. The Giants look to have the NL West all but wrapped up, leading by 10. Bo Jackson hits only 5 home runs in August, so he won’t be challenging 65 this season.

The last weekend is upon us, and the only pennant race, as expected is in the NL East. Pittsburgh and NY are tied with 91-68 records. The Mets will host the last place Cardinals for 3, while Pittsburgh will be in Chicago. Here's what happened.





Bo Jackson has a great final month, and finishes the season with 60 home runs. He is the fifth person to hit 60. Lou Gehrig, Reggie Jackson, Jim Gentile and Babe Ruth did it before. Quite the year for Bo Jackson.

Don Mattingly doesn’t end up close to .400. I was just being excitable. He ends up with a .345 average, good for 2^nd in baseball.

Reggie Jackson, in what could be his final season, finishes with a 194/332/297 split. Four home runs, and 26 RBI’s in 202 at bats. His career home run total, is a nice number. 714!!

The Tigers end up winning 118 games. That ties the 64 Tigers, the 50 White Sox and the 85 Pirates for most wins in baseball history. The 64 Tigers and 50 White Sox have the better win percentage based on number of games played.

[HerbertMcHoover]

Wow, the Blue Jays fell off a cliff pretty quickly. How did Randy do in his first season with the Padres?

[rjl518]

M E T S...Mets Mets Mets!!!