My 1978 Yankees Drama

robc · 04-11-2021, 08:31 PM

I entered Sept. up 6-8 games in first place. I started my last game of the season 1 game behind the Brewers. We won our game and the Brewers lost theirs, leading to a 1-game playoff in 1978. Deja vu, except with the Brewers instead of the Red Sox.

Here's what happened in my one game playoff. I wrote this as I went, so I didn't know what the outcome was while writing. Playing in Milwaukee.
Guidry vs. Caldwell.

First inning: Both team retire in order in the first.

Top second: Yankees load the bases with 2 outs. Bucky Dent comes to bat. I’m thinking can he be the hero? Nope easy out.

Bottom 2nd: Guidry walks 1, strikeouts 2.

Top 3rd: Randolph walks and steals second off a catcher we traded, Dennis Worth, who is hitting .331 for his new team. Randolph moves to 3rd on a GB, one out. Dave Winfield, who was on the trading block and I picked him up hits a sac fly to bring him in. Yanks up 1-0.

Bottom 3rd: Worth (who I traded away) leads off with a 1B and gives his former teammates the finger. After a K, Paul Molitor hits a HR and Brewers take the lead 2-1. brewers threaten more, but end the inning up 2-1.

Top 4th: Cecil Cooper (who I obtained as part of the multi player trade) returns the favor and leads off with a 1B against his former team. He has too much class and doesn’t give the bird. Munson moves Cooper to 2B on a hit and run. One out. Mickie Rivers moves Cooper to 3B on a ground out, but Roy White fails to bring him in. Brewers 2-1.

Bottom 4th: Guidry gets out of the inning with a walk. Brewers 2-1.

Top 5th: 1-2-3 inning. Brewers lead 2-1.

Bottom 5th: 1-2-3 inning. Brewers lead 2-1.

Top 6th: Cooper hits a 2B with 2 out. Munson drives him in with a 1B, close play at the plate. Cooper tested Larry Histle's arm, which was rated good. Inning ends on a Rivers ground out. Tied 2-2.

Bottom 6th: Guidry gives up a single. Goose gets up in the pen. In a one game playoff there is no ‘wait until later’. Guidry gets out of the inning. Tied 2-2.

Top 7th: 1-2-3 inning. Tied 2-2

Bottom 7th: Worth leads off with another damn single. Guidry up to 109 pitches. All righties coming up but I decide to stick with him since he’s my ace. I hope it doesn’t come back to haunt me. Ground out, runner to 2B. I’m torn. Molitor up. a righty, but he is hitting much better vs righties. Goose is ready. Stick with Guidry and Molitor legs out an infield single. First and third, one out. I bring in Goose. Speed on first and at bat with Yount. I can’t count on a DP to end the inning so I bring the infield in and hope Goose gets a K. Molitor steals 2B. Yount goes down on strikes, 2 out. Lezcano lines on to CF and Mickie makes a diving catch (for real). Still tied 2-2 and my heart can’t take it.

Top 8th: Brewers bring in their closer, Edwardo Rogriguez. Brian Dayett reaches 2B on a Yount error at SS. Maybe that’s why he moves to CF later in his career. Winfield singles and brings in Dayett with a play at the plate. Winfield is given the steal sign, but holds up, which is good because there was a pitchout. Steals 2B on the next pitch. Rivers hits a single and there is another play at the plate. Winfield is safe. Yankees are up 4-2.

Bottom 8th: After a leadoff walk, Goose retires the next 3. Yanks up 4-2.

Top 9th: Randolph singles and with one out steals 2B. Batter ends up walking so no real gain. Winfield hits a ground ball, fielder’s choice, first and third with 2 out. Nettles grounds out. Yanks up 4-2.

Bottom 9th: Goose tiring, but still has a little left. Gets Worth to ground out. K’s the next batter and he’s on his last legs. K’s Paul Molitor to win the one game playoff!!! That was an exciting game for me.

pgjocki · 04-11-2021, 09:54 PM

Very chill

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pgjocki · 04-11-2021, 09:56 PM

Interesting, I swear I typed cool and my phone autocorrected

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Dave Stieb II · 04-11-2021, 10:19 PM

Damned Yankees!
Justice would have been better served if they lost the playoff game after blowing a sizable lead down the stretch.
I'm yoking with you of course.
Thanks for sharing.
I was engrossed reading the inning by inning summary and didn't even jump ahead to check the final outcome.
Of course, I was cheering for the Brewers every step of the way.

robc · 04-12-2021, 02:37 PM

My drama didn't end there...

After sweeping the AL Championship series and going up 2-0 in the World Series, I promptly dropped the next 3 games. Gotta win the next one to win it all.

I was up 5-3 going into the bottom of the 9th. Ken Clay walks the first two batters. I bring in Sparky Lyle as Goose already pitched earlier in the game. Sac bunt gets the tying run to 2B, one out. Greg Luzinski flies out for out 2. Mike Schmidt walks. Either of those last two could have ended the game with a homer. George Vuckovich flies out for out 3 and the Yanks are the 1978 champs, with some drama.

Baby Ruth · 04-13-2021, 01:12 PM

Did you expect any less? The Yankees are the greatest sports team of all time.

Hasta la vista pelota · 04-13-2021, 03:01 PM

When I opened this thread, I fully expected to read how the Yankees were up something like 10-2 in the bottom of the ninth and the opposition scored nine runs, followed by a string of complaints about how OOTP "cheats."

So this was a pleasant surprise! lol

04-11-2021, 08:31 PM	#1
robc Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,095	My 1978 Yankees Drama I entered Sept. up 6-8 games in first place. I started my last game of the season 1 game behind the Brewers. We won our game and the Brewers lost theirs, leading to a 1-game playoff in 1978. Deja vu, except with the Brewers instead of the Red Sox. Here's what happened in my one game playoff. I wrote this as I went, so I didn't know what the outcome was while writing. Playing in Milwaukee. Guidry vs. Caldwell. First inning: Both team retire in order in the first. Top second: Yankees load the bases with 2 outs. Bucky Dent comes to bat. I’m thinking can he be the hero? Nope easy out. Bottom 2nd: Guidry walks 1, strikeouts 2. Top 3rd: Randolph walks and steals second off a catcher we traded, Dennis Worth, who is hitting .331 for his new team. Randolph moves to 3rd on a GB, one out. Dave Winfield, who was on the trading block and I picked him up hits a sac fly to bring him in. Yanks up 1-0. Bottom 3rd: Worth (who I traded away) leads off with a 1B and gives his former teammates the finger. After a K, Paul Molitor hits a HR and Brewers take the lead 2-1. brewers threaten more, but end the inning up 2-1. Top 4th: Cecil Cooper (who I obtained as part of the multi player trade) returns the favor and leads off with a 1B against his former team. He has too much class and doesn’t give the bird. Munson moves Cooper to 2B on a hit and run. One out. Mickie Rivers moves Cooper to 3B on a ground out, but Roy White fails to bring him in. Brewers 2-1. Bottom 4th: Guidry gets out of the inning with a walk. Brewers 2-1. Top 5th: 1-2-3 inning. Brewers lead 2-1. Bottom 5th: 1-2-3 inning. Brewers lead 2-1. Top 6th: Cooper hits a 2B with 2 out. Munson drives him in with a 1B, close play at the plate. Cooper tested Larry Histle's arm, which was rated good. Inning ends on a Rivers ground out. Tied 2-2. Bottom 6th: Guidry gives up a single. Goose gets up in the pen. In a one game playoff there is no ‘wait until later’. Guidry gets out of the inning. Tied 2-2. Top 7th: 1-2-3 inning. Tied 2-2 Bottom 7th: Worth leads off with another damn single. Guidry up to 109 pitches. All righties coming up but I decide to stick with him since he’s my ace. I hope it doesn’t come back to haunt me. Ground out, runner to 2B. I’m torn. Molitor up. a righty, but he is hitting much better vs righties. Goose is ready. Stick with Guidry and Molitor legs out an infield single. First and third, one out. I bring in Goose. Speed on first and at bat with Yount. I can’t count on a DP to end the inning so I bring the infield in and hope Goose gets a K. Molitor steals 2B. Yount goes down on strikes, 2 out. Lezcano lines on to CF and Mickie makes a diving catch (for real). Still tied 2-2 and my heart can’t take it. Top 8th: Brewers bring in their closer, Edwardo Rogriguez. Brian Dayett reaches 2B on a Yount error at SS. Maybe that’s why he moves to CF later in his career. Winfield singles and brings in Dayett with a play at the plate. Winfield is given the steal sign, but holds up, which is good because there was a pitchout. Steals 2B on the next pitch. Rivers hits a single and there is another play at the plate. Winfield is safe. Yankees are up 4-2. Bottom 8th: After a leadoff walk, Goose retires the next 3. Yanks up 4-2. Top 9th: Randolph singles and with one out steals 2B. Batter ends up walking so no real gain. Winfield hits a ground ball, fielder’s choice, first and third with 2 out. Nettles grounds out. Yanks up 4-2. Bottom 9th: Goose tiring, but still has a little left. Gets Worth to ground out. K’s the next batter and he’s on his last legs. K’s Paul Molitor to win the one game playoff!!! That was an exciting game for me.

04-11-2021, 09:54 PM	#2
pgjocki All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Maryland - just outside DC Posts: 1,585	Very chill Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk __________________ - - - World Series championships: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011

04-11-2021, 09:56 PM	#3
pgjocki All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Maryland - just outside DC Posts: 1,585	Interesting, I swear I typed cool and my phone autocorrected Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk __________________ - - - World Series championships: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011

04-11-2021, 10:19 PM	#4
Dave Stieb II All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 664	Damned Yankees! Justice would have been better served if they lost the playoff game after blowing a sizable lead down the stretch. I'm yoking with you of course. Thanks for sharing. I was engrossed reading the inning by inning summary and didn't even jump ahead to check the final outcome. Of course, I was cheering for the Brewers every step of the way.

04-12-2021, 02:37 PM	#5
robc Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,095	My drama didn't end there... After sweeping the AL Championship series and going up 2-0 in the World Series, I promptly dropped the next 3 games. Gotta win the next one to win it all. I was up 5-3 going into the bottom of the 9th. Ken Clay walks the first two batters. I bring in Sparky Lyle as Goose already pitched earlier in the game. Sac bunt gets the tying run to 2B, one out. Greg Luzinski flies out for out 2. Mike Schmidt walks. Either of those last two could have ended the game with a homer. George Vuckovich flies out for out 3 and the Yanks are the 1978 champs, with some drama.

04-13-2021, 01:12 PM	#6
Baby Ruth All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Reading Posts: 632 Infractions: 0/2 (3)	Did you expect any less? The Yankees are the greatest sports team of all time.

04-13-2021, 03:01 PM	#7
Hasta la vista pelota Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 137	When I opened this thread, I fully expected to read how the Yankees were up something like 10-2 in the bottom of the ninth and the opposition scored nine runs, followed by a string of complaints about how OOTP "cheats." So this was a pleasant surprise! lol