Ode to Vanilla Gorilla

[David Watts]

Not sure if any of you (Actionjackson, surely does) remember the great Vanilla Gorilla, as it's been quite a few years since he roamed the historical forums, detailing his random debut league feats and failures. Back when Vanilla Gorilla ruled, I was not sure random debut was something I would enjoy, but as he got deeper into his reports, I knew I had to give it a try.

Now Vanilla was a simmer. He didn't sweat a lot of the minutia. I think if I remember right, he would GM one team and report on the rest. What was really cool about his leagues was, his focus on the Hall of Fame. In Fact, Vanilla started doing the Black Ink, Gray Ink, Hall of Fame Monitor etc. stuff before OOTP added it to the game. Reading about his leagues was such a blast.

I'm going to try to do a random debut league and run it in somewhat of a Vanilla Gorilla style. I'm going to do a lot more simming and a lot less playiing out of games. I will however try to watch all post season games. The main focus of this league will be the Hall of Fame and the players that get inducted. Season achievements will be highlighted, with a focus on stuff like no hitters and milestones. So, hopefully I can do Vanilla proud and maybe just maybe, his ears will begin burning and he will magically reappear

[Orcin]

I remember him. He was an outstanding contributor. I hope you enjoy this new league.

[David Watts]

The setup--- One Subleague, 132 game schedule. 12 games against in division teams, 6 games against each out of division team.

East
Columbus Clippers
Indianapolis Indians
Louisville Bats
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Buffalo Bisons
Toledo Mud Hens

Central
Memphis Redbirds
Nashville Sounds
New Orleans Baby Cakes
Gwinnett Stripers
Birmingham Barons
Charlotte Knights

West
Albuquerque Isotopes
San Antonio Missions
Wichita Wind Surge
Omaha Storm Chasers
Las Vegas Aviators
Salt Lake Bees

3 year recalc
No DH
Since the season is only 132 games, fatigue is set to normal and I'm using "always start the highest rested."
Injuries are set to normal at this time.

League starts in 1973. Instead of basing every year on 73 I am going to let this league progress historically through at least 1986. May even let it go to 92. From that point on I will use a random number generator to select the years modifiers from within a range of years. For example, if I do play through 92, I would probably use the RNG to pick a season between 1982-1992 for my modifiers.

I am using players from 1901-2005

[David Watts]

The post season: 3 division winners + 2 wildcards.

2 wildcards meet in a best of three series to start the post season. All games played in the park of the team that finishes with the better record.

All remaining playoff series will be best of 7.

[David Watts]

Standing after the final Sunday of the season

[David Watts]

So it's going to take 133 games to settle things in the Central. Nashville and Birmingham share 71-61 records.

Nashville scored 542 runs(16th) this season. The Sounds home runs with Cito Gaston, Phil Nevin and Carl Yastrzemski each belting 16. They hit .262(12th) as a team. Yaz led the team with a .314 average. Ryne Sandberg was their next best finishing the season hitting .282.

Defensively the Sounds allowed only 524 runs, 2nd only to the Indianapolis Indian's 501. The starters rolled to a nice 3.47 ERA(2nd) while the bullpen struggled, coming in at 4.02. Their defensive efficiency was .728 with a +51.3 (3rd) zone rating, making 87(3rd) errors.

32 year old Doug Drabek was the Sound's ace going 16-7 2.78. Jack Mcdowell went 12-13, 3.63 and Gene Conley finished 12-9, 3.22. Andy Karl was the Sound's closer saving 25 games, blowing 5 for .833

Now if you're a Detroit Tiger fan you almost can't help rooting for the Birmingham Barons. Norm Cash, Bill Freehan, Jeff Weaver, Juan Gonzalez and Bubba Trammell all play for the Barons. Oh don't forget Phil Garner as well. Almost like this is an online league with an owner hellbent on stocking up with player that have Tiger ties.

Offensively the Baron scored 602(6th). Birmingham hit 105(11th) home runs. They hit .269(4th) as a team. Augie Galan led the Barons with a .326 average, followed by Bill Bradley at .315 and Jose Oquendo .292. Norm Cash blasted 18 home runs, followed by Bill Freehan and Juan Gonzalez with 17 each. Gozalez led the team with 90 RBI followed by Bill Freehan with 85.

Defensively the Barons gave up 537(5th) runs. The teams starters sported a 3.54 ERA, while the bullpen came in at 3.42. The team defensive efficiency was .710(5th) with a zone rating of +3.7(9th). They made 97(6th) errors.

The top pitcher on the staff was Jeff Weaver 14-10, 2.99. Other 10+ winners on the staff were Eddie Lopat 14-12 and Frank Pastore 12-6. Roger Clemens finished the season 8-6. Clemens(32) went down with a hamstring injury early in the season missing 6 full weeks. Clemens finshed the season by winning 3 of his last 5 starts with really strong no decision mixed in. The Barons have one of the best closers in the game in Huston Street. Street finished the season with 35 saves and 2.48 ERA. He had 5 total blown saves, .872. .

Nashville took the season series winning 8 of 12 against the Barons.

[David Watts]

So much for home field advantage. Jeff Weaver and the Birmingham Barons blew the Nashville Sounds out winning game 133, 9-2. Bill Bradley and Juan Gonzalez went deep for Birmingham. Bradley drove in 3 runs, while Gonzalez and Phil Garner drove in 2. Gene Conley entered the game 2-1 vs. Birmingham with a stellar 1.71 ERA, but only lasted 3.2 innings allowing 5 runs. Conley allowed 6 hits and walked 3. Meanwhile, Jeff Weaver pitched a complete game 8 hitter walking only 1 while striking out 7.

[David Watts]

The Wildcard Round is set with San Antonio 71-61 facing off against the 71-62 Nashville Sounds. I awarded the Sounds homefield advantage in this series due to their 4-2 regular season record against the Missions.

The pitching matchups for the series are as followed
San Antonio vs Nashville
Kevin Gross 11-8 3.65 vs Lou Kretlow 6-2 2.88
Danny Galehouse 11-12 2.90 vs Doug Drabek 16-7 2.78
George McQuillan 5-4 3.89 vs Jack McDowell 12-13 3.63

San Antonio's top hitter on the season was Woody English hitting .290, followed by Jim Bottomley at .282 and Dave Engle at .277. Ping Bodie led the Missions with 20 bombs. Rick Monday and Mel Ott each belted 18. Bodie also led the team with 86 RBI.

[David Watts]

Well remind me to check the series matchup after the off days leading up to the first game.

Pitching matchup for game one is actually Denny Galehouse for the Missions vs Doug Drabek for the Sounds.

Just like in game 133, the Sounds fell behind early due to a 1st inning 2 run home run. Ping Bodie took Doug Drabek yard. Mel Ott took Drabek deep in the 3rd inning lifting the Missions to a 3-0 lead. The Sounds would get close scoring once in the bottom of the 3rd and once in the 5th. The Missions would go up 4-2 on a Ping Bodie's 2nd homer of the game in the 6th inning. Each team would score a run in the 9th, final score San Antonio 5, Nashville 3. Denny Galehouse picked up the win going 5.2 innings, scattering 7 hits, 2 runs. Galehouse walked no one and struck out 2. The sad news is he left the game with an arm injury and it turns out it's a bad one. Galehouse will miss 13 months with a torn UCL.

[David Watts]

Game two Keving Gross for the Missions vs Jack McDowell for the Sounds

I think I remember saying a post or two back so much for homefield advantage. Well I'll say it again. San Antonio swept the home team Sounds winning game 2, 7-1. The Missions scored 1 in the 1st and another in the 3rd to take a 2-1 lead. Ping Bodie drove in both of those runs giving him 5 runs batted in for the series. The big blow came in the 7th when Jim Bottomley took took losing pitcher Jack McDowell yard making the score 6-1. Kevin Gross went 7.1 innings, allowing 1 run, 5 hits, with 3 walks. Gross whiffed 3 batters. As expected, Ping Bodie took home series MVP honors. Bodie hit .625 with 2 bombs and 5 runs batted in.

[David Watts]

We're off to the next round

San Antonio Missions (71-61) vs Salt Lake Bees(75-57)
Indianapolis Indians(71-61) vs Birmingham Barons(72-61)

The San Antonio/Salt Lake series is an interesting one because the two teams battled all season long for top honors in the International League West. Salt Lake took the season series 9-3. San Antonio looked to be in the drivers seat going into August, but the Bees never gave up and by the end of the month the division was theirs.

The Bees scored 649(3rd) runs, hitting a league best 146 home runs. The entire Bee's infield hit above .300, with SS Vern Stephens leading the way with .333 clip. 3B Jeff Cirillo hit .322 and 2B Ken Oberkfell hit .312. Meanwhile Wally Pipp hit .301 manning 1B for the Bees. Pipp hit a league leading 29 home runs while driving in 112. Vern Stephens hit 25 home runs and RF Bill Keister hit 22.

On the mound the pitching leaders werre Steve Avery(14-8 3.46), Dwight Gooden(11-14 3.81) and Mark Gubicza(14-8 2.80). In a OOTP oddity Randy Johnson(27) went 3-4 4.37 for the Bees. Johnson started the season on the reserve roster. He wouldn't make his first start till 6/14. I'm guessing even though he is 27 in the game, OOTP is recalcing his stats to his 1st or 2nd year in the major leagues. All I know is it's going to be fun in the upcoming years to see him and Dwight Gooden in the same rotation.

Sparky Lyle is the Bee's closer, saving 29 games. Lyle had his share troubles on the mound blowing 7 games .806. Lyle won 8 games while losing 4 The Bees had the second best bullpen ERA in the league, 3.05.

[David Watts]

The only other playoff team we haven't discussed is the leader of the East, Indianapolis.

The Indians only allowed a league best 501 runs on the season. The Indians starters finished the season with a 3.35 ERA(1st) while the bullpen struggled at times, 3.92(9th) Randy Tomlin(24) had a out of the blue 19-2 2.45 season. Tomlin won 17 straight games and it wasn't till his 23 start that he suffered his first loss. The OOTP manager doesn't even believe Tomlins performance is for real, as he has him sitting number 4 in the post season rotation. Other pitchers in the Indians rotation are Bert Gallia(10-10 3.25), Brandon Webb(11-9 3.11) and Jeremy Bonderman(11-11 3.45) Lee Smith is the Indianapolis closer 23 saves 4.30. Smith blew 4 saves .852.

At the plate the Indians finished 14th overall with 502 runs scored Their team batting average was .253(16th) and they tied for 5th with 121 home runs. Orlando Cabrera hit .288 to lead the team, followed by Harold Reynolds and Austin Kearns at .286. Gabby Hartnett hit a team best 25 home runs followed by Beals Becker with 23 and Austin Kearns with 16.

[David Watts]

The 1973 draft class was announced and I can't say I'm blown away

Bob Bescher LF
Bake McBride CF
Paul Blair CF
Walt Weiss SS
Randy Wolf LHP
Hod Ford SS
Jody Gerut RF
Jason Michaels LF
Clyde McCollough C
Jimmy Coker C

I'm really hoping for a few OOTP surprises on draft day.

[David Watts]

A Tommy Bridges No-Hitter

[David Watts]

I stopped the above league because the postseason turned into a total mess. I started another one with an easier to control postseason, but just wasn't feeling it. So I returned to the setup I know I love and I think I'm ready to settle in and finally do some damage.

The setup is as follows
12 teams, one subleague, no divisions.
154 game balanced schedule
Playoffs have 2 rounds. Round one is a best of three series involving the leagues 2nd and 3rd place finishers. All games to be played in the 2nd place finisher's ballpark. The winner of this round will face the 1st place finisher in a best of seven series to crown the league's champion.
No DH
Reserve rosters instead of minors

League begins in 1947 and will import historical modifiers on a year to year basis.

I'm using free agency. This league will not import financials according to history. Instead, it will use the 1947 financials for the duration. I pay very little attention to this aspect of the game and find it's best for me to keep it as simple as possible.

To start out, I'm using "Always Start the Highest Rested" for starting pitchers, but will probably change this over time.

The League
Birmingham Barons
Buffalo Bisons
Charlotte Knights
Columbus Clippers
Durham Bulls
Indianapolis Indians
Louisville Bats
Memphis Redbirds
Nashville Sounds
New Orleans Baby Cakes
Norfolk Tides
Toledo Mud Hens

Trying something I've done once before with some success. I'm simming the first part of the season till I reach August 20th. I then grind the race for the pennant, watching however many games each day that involve contenders.

The player pool for this league is once again players from 1901-2005

[David Watts]

When you folks do random debuts, do you like to allow OOTP to create random stadium settings for each team or do you like to use the Neutral 1.000 defaults OOTP sets them to?

[Beirnej1]

I have always imported real stadiums and used each parks respective settings. I have always enjoyed the different parks having some factor.

Not sure if its the best way, but I find it interesting.

My current random the Abilene Roughnecks are playing in 1972 Arlington Stadium which seems to favor homeruns. It shows in the stats output so far but I think it is pretty cool.



Ray Baldes has certainly enjoyed the 1990 stats setting and the Arlington Park factors. Pretty cool, I had to google him to learn a little about him.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by Beirnej1

I have always imported real stadiums and used each parks respective settings. I have always enjoyed the different parks having some factor.

Not sure if its the best way, but I find it interesting.

My current random the Abilene Roughnecks are playing in 1972 Arlington Stadium which seems to favor homeruns. It shows in the stats output so far but I think it is pretty cool.

Attachment 720373

Ray Baldes has certainly enjoyed the 1990 stats setting and the Arlington Park factors. Pretty cool, I had to google him to learn a little about him.

Thanks. I'm leaning toward fictional settings, but i agree, having individual parks can add a lot to a league.

[David Watts]

Roughly 24 games left to play in the season. It's looks like the Columbus Clippers led by Doc White on the mound and Mike Schmidt and Albert Pujols at the plate have the regular season crown in hand. The Clippers have a 7 1/2 game cushion at this time. The New Orleans Baby Cakes and the Durham Bulls are tied for second place with the Memphis Redbirds only a 1/2 game back in third. The Nashville Sounds winners of 10 straight in late August are self destructing and just may have dug themselves too big a hole to climb out of, as they are now 5 games behind Memphis.

.

[VanillaGorilla]

Nice