Building a (Bay) Bridge - An A's Do-Over

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by luckymann

Well we all know how quickly the club got good after hitting the Bay Area, and so as you'd expect the place is in pretty solid shape with a nice bunch of young guys ready now and a few more still a couple years or so away. One young gun I never knew was part of our franchise IRL is Darrell Evans and, unlike our real-life counterparts, we won't be leaving him unprotected come Expansion time.

You'll slowly become acquainted with the group as we wend our way through the seasons, so I'll leave that for now and turn instead to some changes we want to make. We've got a bit of flash cash to spare that I am keen to put to good use from the off before Charlie O. pulls one of his swifties.

Firstly, I want to acquire OF Rico Carty, one of the few notable FAs available as this timeline begins. Big bat, virtually no glove is Rico's jam and it's clear this will be our OF mantra for a while with guys like Reggie and Rick Monday as part of it. (With the exception of SS Bert Campaneris and 3B Sal Bando, it speaks for our IF as well, albeit to a lesser degree.)

Rico, who had a couple short tours of duty at the Col during the 70s, is looking for roughly $275k AAV and a 6-year deal, which is broadly in line with what we're happy to pay. After the usual to-and-fro, he signs for $1.5m.

Next, I look to move overpaid and now obsolescent OF Jim Gosger elsewhere for some relief pitching, something of which we are in dire need. We waive / DFA him first because our expectations of getting anything in return for him are so low.

As expected, he gets through unmolested and we eventually have to work hard and get a tad creative before finally swinging this deal, using our first trade ticket for 1968.

Bob (OAK 1970-72) has been around for a few years and should be a reliable enough type to tide us over for the next few years as we build the club we want. For now, he'll be our RH Setup guy.

We still need an upgrade at 2B, some IF depth and another RH reliever or two, but Oakland - like Rome - wasn't built in a day. Spring Training is about to get underway, so I'll be back full a comprehensive sit rep on Opening Day.

Oh man, Jim Gosger makes it into someone's game report and the poor guy is getting waived. When I was a youngster my best friends dad sponsored a men's fast pitch softball team( my friend would go on to be a really good pitcher himself) and tons of our weekends were spent going to tournaments all around Michigan. Jim Gosger played for a team from the Port Huron area. I always love it when he pops up in one of my random debut leagues.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by JackOnAMacYT

Im excited for this save in a very interesting way. You see, in 1978, there was a minor league team called the Jersey City A’s. My dad is also from Jersey City, so I'm excited to see how they do once we get there.

Welcome aboard!

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Oh man, Jim Gosger makes it into someone's game report and the poor guy is getting waived. When I was a youngster my best friends dad sponsored a men's fast pitch softball team( my friend would go on to be a really good pitcher himself) and tons of our weekends were spent going to tournaments all around Michigan. Jim Gosger played for a team from the Port Huron area. I always love it when he pops up in one of my random debut leagues.

Sorry DW, he was for whatever reason on a stupid high salary. You know we can't abide that at Oakland...

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

Does Phil Niekro have an alter-ego playing in the minors as part of the Cardinals organisation? Or is this the elder brother of renowned DJ Frankie?




EDIT: Mystery solved; it's THIS guy.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

[Andrej72]

Good luck! I had the idea to manage the Oakland As as well. I guess that they do not have much money in the bank in game in 1968, right?

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Andrej72

Good luck! I had the idea to manage the Oakland As as well. I guess that they do not have much money in the bank in game in 1968, right?

Thanks mate. See THIS POST for financial info.

[Andrej72]

Well, at least the the key players are still under contract for a few more years. However the small market size will make extensions difficult, if a key player wants big salary increase.

[Andrej72]

BTW do you use coaching? I presume yes, only coach cohesion is off.

What is your rule of thumb for setting development and scouting budgets in this save?

[Andrej72]

How is this Miguel Davila performing in your save? It is said to be the #101 prospect, but IRL he never reached the majors, so no stats are available, but due to the development engine it could turn out differently in your game.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Andrej72

How is this Miguel Davila performing in your save? It is said to be the #101 prospect, but IRL he never reached the majors, so no stats are available, but due to the development engine it could turn out differently in your game.

We shall have to see from afar. See the recent update and my comments on the Tovar trade.

[Andrej72]

Tovar has a quite big salary. Will you be able to sign extension? Or you will let Donaldson go at the end of the season, since Tovar is the first choice for 2B anyway?

Apart for being the first choice at 2B, what position is Tovar playing as U1 or U2?

Well, Tovar and Donaldson can platoon at 2B. :-)

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Andrej72

Tovar has a quite big salary. Will you be able to sign extension? Or you will let Donaldson go at the end of the season, since Tovar is the first choice for 2B anyway?

Apart for being the first choice at 2B, what position is Tovar playing as U1 or U2?

Yep, just enough room for now. He signed for 2 years at $220k AAV. Donaldson is on the minimum. Cesar just playing 2B unless we need him to fill in other spots from time to time.

This is after the Tovar re-up, with all re-signed for '69 other than those on scale:

[Andrej72]

What are your plans with Segui, Robinson and Herschberger? Their contracts are running out. Robinson and Herschberger are backup outfielders and $60k+ salary of Herschberger is pretty high for a backup player. Eventually you could trade him for a cheaper backup. Think of which, do you searchh in game for those guys who spent at least one season in Oakland IRL, or you do it on the internet? :-)

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Andrej72

What are your plans with Segui, Robinson and Herschberger? Their contracts are running out. Robinson and Herschberger are backup outfielders and $60k+ salary of Herschberger is pretty high for a backup player. Eventually you could trade him for a cheaper backup. Think of which, do you searchh in game for those guys who spent at least one season in Oakland IRL, or you do it on the internet? :-)

All will walk, along with Jim Dickson.

I check in-game and shortlist them as I find them.

[Andrej72]

In fact there is Joe Keough as well in the minors who can play all outfield positions.

"I check in-game and shortlist them as I find them."

Do you use any kind of filter to find them?

Funny thing, I checked on Baseball Reference website the batting order of the A's in 1968, and R. Jackson usually batted 2nd which is wierd as, at least in game, he is the most powerful hitter of the team. According to sabermetric "rules" he should be at 3rd or 4th spot.