The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

I was surprised to see Donn Clendenon with 23 SB, more surprised to see that's only one more than his historical career high. I thought I knew Pirates of this era better!

How many CS does he have?

I actually ticked him down a notch for his stealing strategy in '64 after he stole 30 but got caught 23 times last year. This year was better, 12 CS. Still that's barely adding anything. He is 92 of 157 for his career.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by luckymann

I actually ticked him down a notch for his stealing strategy in '64 after he stole 30 but got caught 23 times last year. This year was better, 12 CS. Still that's barely adding anything. He is 92 of 157 for his career.

Looking at stealing stats bank then I think their view was if SB was higher than CS they were coming out ahead.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Looking at stealing stats bank then I think their view was if SB was higher than CS they were coming out ahead.

Once a sabermetrician, forever one - 2 from 3 is the cutoff for mine...

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Pittsburgh

Camilo Pascual (13-9, 3.22) v Denny Lemaster (18-4, 3.03)

Perhaps the most important thing for us about getting that Game 161 clinch was that it allowed us to rest Patata to go in this one. They have no such luxury and are “forced” to go with Denny Lemaster, who has bounced back strongly after a slight sophomore slump in ’63. Of course, his 1962 campaign was up there with the best by a rookie, 7 pWAR and both the Johnson-Waddell and RoY awards. So he can pitch all right, don't you worry about that.

They give us exactly the sort of Game 1 you’d expect, with both generally in control and the scores tight throughout. Tied at 3 in regulation, we finally get home in the 10th on a walkoff single by Donn Clendenon, who had also gone solo deep earlier in the game. A high-quality start to this series.

Game 2 in Pittsburgh

Bob Veale (16-8, 3.38) v Whitey Ford (12-12, 3.47)

Pirates lead series 1-0

Just to break the fourth wall for a sec, I find it awesomely ironic that in this timeline, it is with the BoSox rather than the Yanks that Whitey Ford gets to make his first playoff appearance at the ripe old age of 35. He’s lost some of his zip by now but still as all the guile you need to get your share of wins, and we expect him to really test us today. Bob Veale goes for us and, as always, it is just a matter of him spotting his pitches. If he gets wild and puts men on base all game then we are in strife against this mob.

He does precisely the opposite, not giving up a hit until the 5th and only two all up in a commanding performance as the only run of the game, driven in by Felipe Alou in the 1st, proves the difference. Ford is superb as well, holding us to just 4 hits – three of which, including two doubles, come off the bat of a red-hot Donn Clendenon – and they’ll be extremely disappointed they wasted it. Two ripper games from two that highlight how closely-matched these two squads are.

Game 3 in Boston

Luis Tiant (12-12, 3.10) v Bob Friend (13-11, 2.50)

Pirates lead series 2-0

What a study in opposites this game should be as we get the wily veteran Bob Friend against the fiery flamethrowing rookie Luis Tiant. Our scouts like him much better than his 12-12 record implies and they see no reason why he’ll struggle under the pressure in this one. Ahhh the confidence of youth.

And boy are they on the mark as “El Tiant” fans 12 in another pitching heavy thriller that, this time, the result of which goes against us as the BP blows the save and they walk it off with a deuce in the bottom 9th.

The bats do wake up a little bit in this one, with the two lineups combining for 22 hits, but they don’t do as much with them as they might, as the 4-3 final indicates. Warrior helps his own cause with a 2-run double in the 5th and Clendenon adds 2 more hits to his growing total, but we need to be far more efficient for the remainder. Pops Stargell is 0-for-11 to this point.

Game 4 in Boston

Don Mossi (11-8, 2.82) v Juan Pizarro (14-9, 3.27)

Pirates lead series 2-1

Southpaws do battle here with Juan Pizarro facing veteran Don Mossi, who has had a sensational late-career renaissance going 31-15 over the past two seasons. That’s no fluke and, just like Ford is a result of him increasing the craftiness as the velo tails off a bit. Their top-rated defence behind him is another key factor. We historically have had problems with his type and will really need to make every post a winner today. I’ve benched Pops today to try and give them a rev up, with Matty Alou starting in LF.

The boys step up big time here, posting 4 early and controlling the game from there to record a strong 6-1 win. Pizarro World, making a bit of a rep for himself as a big-game pitcher, is strong over 8, while Clemente knocks in a pair and Demeter goes solo yard. Nearly there.

Game 5 in Boston

Camilo Pascual (1-0, 2.57) v Mickey Lolich (0-1, 3.86)

Pirates lead series 3-1

What have these two aces got for us today with everything on the line? We’ve been here a few times before and know that the last thing you want to be doing is allowing your opponent to head home with a win under their belt and no room for error. I trust the lads understand this and will do everything in their power not to let it happen. Hal Smith in against the lefty for a struggling Blanchard, for whom a win will mean his Pirates career ends today.

This game is everything that one imagined it would be but sadly doesn’t end how we hoped it would end as they dig deep and eke out a 4-2 win that sends us back to Motown.

The game remains scoreless thru 6 before the two sides swap deuces over the next couple and, with both bullpens deployed by this point, they regain the lead with 2 more in the top 9th and close it out without incident. The boys give their all and there’s nothing you can do in games like this where you were simply beaten by a better team on the day than doff your cap and move on.

S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

INS & OUTS

Just two GM casualties this year: Steve Wilson at Minnesota and Cincy's Jim Henry.


ROSTER MOVES

We execute Ducky Schofield's final contract year option at $34k. We let Virdon, Del Greco and one of the Hal Smiths walk, meaning we send just Ron Kline to arbitration.


SIM ACCURACY





HANGIN' THEM UP

I will cover Stan in the next post. Despite the presence of some quality guys on this list, he's the only one of them I see in the HoF and is clearly a first-balloter.

[luckymann]

What a stellar career Stan Musial has had in this timeline, very much doing justice to his one IRL. The one glaring omission is, of course, no Championships. But let's accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative - here are some highlights:

• .325 career BA (13th)
• .404 career OBP (18th)
• .532 career OBP (17th)
• 3203 career Games (2nd)
• 11330 career AB (3rd)
• 1857 career Runs (6th)
• 3679 career Hits (2nd)
• 6026 career Total Bases (1st)
• 702 career 2B (2nd)
• 164 career 3B (t-12th)
• 439 career HR (7th)
• 1939 career RBI (3rd)
• 1535 career BB (8th)
• 125.6 career bWAR (6th)

RoY - 4 Wagner-Lajoies - 11 Silver Sluggers - 15 ASGs - 5 Batting Titles

One of the all-time best indeed.

[luckymann]

AL 1964 HISTORY INDEX

NL 1964 HISTORY INDEX

AWARDS HISTORY


Willie Mays unanimously locks down his 6th Wagner-Lajoie, with Harmon Killebrew edging teammate Bob Allison across in the AL to win his first. Sandy Koufax earns Johnson-Waddell number three, alongside Sam McDowell in the junior circuit. The RoYs go to Rico Petrocelli and Milwaukee's Larry Brown, while our own Bob Miller and Senators rookie Gordie Richardson take home the Paige Plates.


S+ HOME

REPORTS HOME

PIRATES HOME

[luckymann]

An incredibly strong pitching group this year, including three of the best we’ve seen coming in as Marquees.

These are the Legacy Players for the 1965 Season:

Baltimore Orioles: Jim Palmer (68.5; 521 MARQEE 100% conceded)
Chicago Cubs: Fergie Jenkins (84.2; 347 GS MARQUEE 61%)
Detroit Tigers: John Hiller (30.5; 545 GP – one-club player)
Kansas City Athletics: Catfish Hunter (40.9; 340 GS)
Minnesota Twins: Cesar Tovar (28.2; 1090)
New York Yankees: Roy White (46.9; 1881 – one-club player)
Philadelphia Phillies: Steve Carlton (90.9; 499 GS MARQUEE 67%)


Bill Hands (27.4; 213 GS) was also eligible for the Cubs, but Jenkins’ higher WAR makes him the selection.

Ken Holtzman (27.3; 209 GS) was also eligible for the Cubs, but Jenkins’ higher WAR makes him the selection.

Bobby Murcer (32.1; 1256 GP) was also eligible for the Yankees, but White’s higher WAR makes him the selection.

Mark Belanger (41.0; 1962 GP) was also eligible for the Orioles, but Palmer’s higher WAR makes him the selection.


There are 118 rookies for this season, and the Draft will consist of 5 rounds.

The Draft order will be as follows (winning percentage from 1964 IRL season in brackets; bold indicates Legacy Pick in 1st Round):

Round 1

1. Philadelphia Phillies (568; dice roll)
2. Chicago Cubs (469)
3. Baltimore Orioles (599)
4. New York Yankees (611)
5. Kansas City Athletics (352)
6. Detroit Tigers (525)
7. Minnesota Twins (488; dice roll)
8. New York Mets (357)
9. Washington Senators (383)
10. Houston Astros (407)
11. Boston Red Sox (444)
12. Cleveland Indians (488; dice roll)
13. Los Angeles Dodgers (494; dice roll)
14. Pittsburgh Pirates (494; dice roll)
15. California Angels (506)
16. Milwaukee Braves (543)
17. San Francisco Giants (556)
18. Cincinnati Reds (568; dice roll)
19. St. Louis Cardinals (574)
20. Chicago White Sox (605)


Rounds 2 thru 5

1. New York Mets (357)
2. Kansas City Athletics (352)
3. Washington Senators (383)
4. Houston Astros (407)
5. Boston Red Sox (444)
6. Chicago Cubs (469)
7. Minnesota Twins (488; dice roll)
8. Cleveland Indians (488; dice roll)
9. Los Angeles Dodgers (494; dice roll)
10. Pittsburgh Pirates (494; dice roll)
11. California Angels (506)
12. Detroit Tigers (525)
13. Milwaukee Braves (543)
14. San Francisco Giants (556)
15. Philadelphia Phillies (568; dice roll)
16. Cincinnati Reds (568; dice roll)
17. St. Louis Cardinals (574)
18. Baltimore Orioles (599)
19. Chicago White Sox (605)
20. New York Yankees (611)


Eligible PIT players: 3 position players + 6 pitchers = 9.

A fairly low-key Draft that plans out almost exactly as we’d foreseen it would. We take the following guys:

1. OF Bobby Tolan, 19

• There were arguably a couple more talented guys still on the loose but not by a big enough margin to be worth missing out on Bobby, who should eventually earn ratings at all three OF slots but is for now a corner guy. His presence frees up Willie Crawford to be flipped at some point.

2. SS Tito Fuentes (ineligible), 20

• We were expecting to take any one of three eligible pitchers in this slot but all went just ahead of our pick, so we used it on a guy who may indeed have a longer-term role at the club if things pan out. If not, again we will look to flip him for an eligible player.

3. 3B Jackie Hernandez, 24

• A utility backup IF at best.

4. P Grant Jackson, 22

• Nearly missed this guy, which would have annoyed the heck out of me because he is a really solid prospect from the left side.

5. C Tom Egan, 18 (ineligible)

• AAA filler.

Not too bad at all.


FULL DRAFT LOG

[luckymann]

A relatively busy turn of the year to report on.

We use our FA ticket this time around, bringing Andy Rodgers back for a second stint at the club. Ducky Schofield is getting ahead of himself, pricewise, with this his walk year and so we needed some IF utility coverage until we feel Dal Maxvill or perhaps now Tito Fuentes is up to snuff. He costs us $135k for 1+1, which will actually coincide with his IRL stint at our club.




Then just before the Draft, the Sens approach us with a generous offer for an eligible guy we'd been eyeing off for a while.



Dave Giusti, who spent a long while at the Buccos IRL in the 1970s, will come straight into the big club and hold down a LR / spot SP role. He's a great add for us and has two more years under TC.




That puts us in a position to aggressively chase the fellow we've wanted for a while as our everyday 3B, who we snag from the Phils with a strong play as follows:



The abiding trade settings meant Bob, at 22, held extra cachet to what he might have otherwise. But we are committed to the feeling that he's our guy and with Demeter's 3B ratings gone and Giusti aboard, I threw caution to the wind and let them have Grant, which was essentially the key to getting the deal done, even though Blass is unavailable until next year to replace him.

Let's hope Bob - who IRL started his MLB career at Pittsburgh - is worth it, because it does leave us needing to ensure we retain a couple arms who are in their walk year and will cost plenty to keep, namely Friend and Miller, with Veale another big-ticket item needing to be locked down.

[luckymann]

Add another NeLer to the Hall Wall as Monte Irvin gets in third go. Sam Bankhead misses out by what looks to be one vote, and has just next year to get over the line, while Charlie Keller makes a nice rebound from last year.

[luckymann]

Powered by AL MVP Zoilo Versailles, the Twins showed just how much a change can be as good as a holiday, taking advantage of the Yankees’ disintegration to win 102 games and the pennant. They faced the Dodgers in the World Series after LA had seen off the Giants in a heated NL race that included one of the nastiest brawls the game had seen, between Juan Marichal and John Roseboro. The Dodgers overcame both the Twins and ace Sandy Koufax’s religious observances to win it all in an enthralling seven-gamer.


AL CHAMPIONS: Minnesota Twins (102-60)
NL CHAMPIONS: Los Angeles Dodgers (97-65)
WORLD SERIES: Dodgers 4, Twins 3

Pittsburgh Pirates: 90-72, 3rd in NL

AL MVP: Zoilo Versailles (Twins)
NL MVP: Willie Mays (Giants)

AL CYA: not given
NL CYA: Sandy Koufax (Dodgers

AL RoY: Curt Blefary (Orioles)
NL RoY: Jim Lefebvre (Dodgers)


Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. WILLIE MAYS, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .317 average, 118 runs, 177 hits, 52 home runs, 112 RBIs, 76 walks, .398 on-base percentage, .645 slugging percentage.
• For Mays, it all seemed to be about the home run; among his career-high 52 blasts was his 500th lifetime homer and 17 in one month (August) for a then-NL record.

2. BILLY WILLIAMS, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 164 games, .315 average, 115 runs, 203 hits, 39 doubles, 6 triples, 34 home runs, 108 RBIs, 10 stolen bases.
• Though he would have more awe-inspiring numbers down the line, Williams continued to be at his most complete in 1965—hitting over .300 and collecting 200-plus hits and 10 steals for the second straight year.

3. FRANK ROBINSON, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 109 runs, 172 hits, 33 doubles, 5 triples, 33 home runs, 113 RBIs, 18 intentional walks, 18 hit-by-pitches, 13 stolen bases.
• We should have all been happy to play like an “old 30,” as the Reds claimed Robinson was before sending him off to Baltimore, given the exceptional output he produced in his last season at Cincinnati.

4. HANK AARON, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: .318 average, 109 runs, 181 hits, 40 doubles, 32 home runs, 89 RBIs, 24 stolen bases.
• Aaron’s 32 home runs led a sextet of Braves players who hit 20 or more, a then-NL record.

5. DERON JOHNSON, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .287 average, 92 runs, 177 hits, 30 doubles, 7 triples, 32 home runs, 130 RBIs, 10 sacrifice flies.
• Johnson was a surprise among the usual suspects (Frank Robinson, Vada Pinson, Pete Rose) in a Red-hot Cincinnati lineup. He never knocked in 100 runs—never mind 130—in any of 15 other seasons.

6. PETE ROSE, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .312 average, 670 at-bats, 117 runs, 209 hits, 35 doubles, 11 triples, 11 home runs, 81 RBIs.
• Charlie Hustle had his first of 10 200-hit seasons and his first of 10 five-hit games.

7. WILLIE MCCOVEY, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: .276 average, 93 runs, 39 home runs, 92 RBIs, 88 walks.
• It appeared that Stretch finally won the Cold War between himself and the injured Orlando Cepeda for the job of Giants first baseman; Cepeda would be dealt away to St. Louis the following year.

8. RON SANTO, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 164 games, .285 average, 88 runs, 173 hits, 30 doubles, 33 home runs, 101 RBIs, 88 walks.
• For Santo, the Wrigley sunshine must have been the ultimate replacement for Vitamin D as both he and Billy Williams co-led the majors with 164 games played—and played well, we might add.

9. VADA PINSON, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .305 average, 669 at-bats, 97 runs, 204 hits, 34 doubles, 10 triples, 22 home runs, 94 RBIs, 21 stolen bases.
• Pinson hit safely in his last 27 games, officially tying him with Edd Roush (in 1920 and 1924) for the longest streak in Reds history; he would add four more games to start 1966 and make it 31.

10. DICK ALLEN, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .302 average, 93 runs, 187 hits, 31 doubles, 14 triples, 20 home runs, 85 RBIs, 74 walks, 15 stolen bases, 150 strikeouts.
• It’s interesting to note: Allen was leading the NL in hitting (at .335) on July 3—the night he engaged in a pregame fight with veteran teammate Frank Thomas over a racist comment; he batted .276 the rest of the season as Phillies fans channeled their anger upon Allen after Thomas’ release from the club.

AL Hitters

1. TONY OLIVA, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .321 average, 107 runs, 185 hits, 40 doubles, 5 triples, 16 home runs, 98 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, 10 sacrifice flies.
• No American League player had won back-to-back batting titles to start a career—until Oliva.

2. ZOILO VERSALLES, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .273 average, 666 at-bats, 126 runs, 182 hits, 45 doubles, 12 triples, 19 home runs, 77 RBIs, 27 stolen bases, 122 strikeouts.
• Versalles’ one-year wonder of a season—he had worthy numbers in other campaigns, but nothing like this—signaled the end of an era for an influx of Cuban ballplayers, shut off by Fidel Castro’s communist regime. Electric down the stretch, Versalles hit .346 with 23 doubles, 52 runs and 13 steals over his final 59 games.

3. CARL YASTRZEMSKI, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 133 games, .312 average, 78 runs, 45 doubles, 3 triples, 20 home runs, 72 RBIs, 70 walks, .395 on-base percentage, .536 slugging percentage.
• A gradually improving Yaz was one of the precious few bright spots on a Red Sox team that lost 100 games and drew a scant 652,000 to Fenway Park.

4. LEON WAGNER, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .294 average, 91 runs, 28 home runs, 79 RBIs, 12 stolen bases.
• The veteran outfielder’s power remained consistent from years past but, curiously, Wagner found the discipline to put more balls in play—as evidenced in his strikeout totals being more than halved, from 121 to 52.

5. ROCKY COLAVITO, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 162 games, .287 average, 92 runs, 170 hits, 25 doubles, 26 home runs, 108 RBIs, 93 walks.
• All was well again in Cleveland with the return of the popular Colavito after a five-year absence. That price of feeling good cost the Indians Tommy John, whom went to Chicago in the three-team trade that brought Colavito back to Cleveland.

6. NORM CASH, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .266 average, 79 runs, 30 home runs, 83 RBIs, 77 walks.
• After a tepid (.199 average, four homers) first 58 games, Cash cashed in on a strong second half, slugging 26 homers on a .302 figure.

7. TOM TRESH, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .279 average, 94 runs, 29 doubles, 6 triples, 26 home runs, 74 RBIs.
• Goodness knows how much worse the Yankees’ 1965 collapse would have been had it not been for Tresh, one of the few team members who didn’t underperform or get banged up.

8. HARMON KILLEBREW, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 113 games, .269 average, 78 runs, 25 home runs, 75 RBIs, 72 walks.
• If not for a seven-week stay on the disabled list due to an elbow injury, Killer would have likely nailed down his fourth straight AL home run crown.

9. JIMMIE HALL, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: .285 average, 81 runs, 25 doubles, 20 home runs, 86 RBIs, 14 stolen bases.
• If the hitting of Oliva, the power of Killebrew and the breakout tenacity of Versalles wasn’t enough for opposing pitchers, they also had to deal with Hall, who quietly put together strong supporting numbers for the AL champion Twins.

10. TONY CONIGLIARO, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .269 average, 82 runs, 21 doubles, 5 triples, 32 home runs, 82 RBIs.
• The 20-year-old Conigliaro became the youngest American Leaguer to lead the junior circuit in home runs.

NL Pitchers

1. SANDY KOUFAX, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.04 ERA, 26 wins, 8 losses, .765 win percentage, 2 saves, 43 appearances, 41 starts, 27 complete games, 8 shutouts, 335.2 innings, 71 walks, 382 strikeouts, 11 wild pitches.
• In the emerging era of great pitching, it was becoming crystal clear that Sandy Koufax reigned as the king of kings on the mound. While he struck out 10 or more batters 21 times in his (then) record-setting year for K’s, he never struck out more than 14 in any one of them.

2. JUAN MARICHAL, SAN FRANCISCO

• Key Numbers: 2.13 ERA, 22 wins, 13 losses, 37 starts, 24 complete games, 10 shutouts, 295.1 innings, 46 walks.
• Marichal’s stellar ERA and 10 shutouts weren’t enough to overcome the notoriety of bashing Johnny Roseboro’s head with a bat.

3. JIM BUNNING, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.60 ERA, 19 wins, 9 losses, .679 win percentage, 39 starts, 7 shutouts, 291 innings, 62 walks, 12 hit-by-pitches.
• Once again, Bunning fell short of 20 wins; he might have gotten there had his offense awakened while taking a complete-game, 1-0 loss to Larry Jackson and the Cubs in his second-to-last start.

4. VERN LAW, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.15 ERA, 17 wins, 9 losses, 28 starts, 7 shutouts, 217.1 innings, 35 walks, 23 grounded into double plays.
• Struggling to get back into A-list shape after a torn rotator cuff that nearly led to retirement, Law prevailed in a strong comeback effort at age 35, posting a career-best ERA.

5. DON DRYSDALE, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.77 ERA, 23 wins, 12 losses, 44 appearances, 42 starts, 7 shutouts, 308.1 innings, 66 walks, 12 hit-by-pitches.
• For as terrific a pitcher as Drysdale continued to be, he may have been the best Dodgers hitter in 1965—batting .300 with seven home runs over 130 at-bats.

6. CHRIS SHORT, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.82 ERA, 18 wins, 11 losses, 47 appearances, 40 starts, 297.1 innings, 24 grounded into double plays.
• In his final start of the year on October 2 at New York, Short—pitching on three days’ rest after going the distance against the Cubs—let it all hang out and threw 15 innings against the Mets, striking out a franchise-record 18 batters. No Phillies pitcher has thrown more innings in a game since. (The game ended in an 18-inning, 0-0 tie.)

7. JIM MALONEY, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.54 ERA, 20 wins, 9 losses, .690 win percentage, 33 starts, 255.1 innings, 110 walks, 19 wild pitches, 24 stolen bases allowed.
• Not only did Maloney take two no-hitters into extra innings—succeeding in getting one of them—he also had a third potential no-no nullified in his first start of the year when the opposing Braves snagged their only hit to lead off the eighth inning.

8. BOB VEALE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.84 ERA, 17 wins, 12 losses, 37 starts, 266 innings, 119 walks, 276 strikeouts, 17 wild pitches.
• Never one to give up the long ball with reckless abandon—he averaged just 0.4 home runs per nine innings pitched over a 13-year career—Veale surrendered only five homers in 1965, including just one over 133.1 innings at Forbes Field.

9. CLAUDE OSTEEN, LOS ANGELES

• Key Numbers: 2.79 ERA, 15 wins, 15 losses, 40 starts, 287 innings, 28 grounded into double plays.
• Like the Dodgers needed another solid pitcher, they got one in Osteen from the Senators, sending their only slugger (Frank Howard) to D.C. Along with Koufax and Drysdale, Osteen became part of the first trio of pitchers in the modern era to each start 40 or more games.

10. TONY CLONINGER, MILWAUKEE

• Key Numbers: 3.29 ERA, 24 wins, 11 losses, .686 win percentage, 40 appearances, 38 starts, 279 innings, 119 walks, 22 wild pitches.
• Cloninger’s career peaked in the Braves’ final year at Milwaukee, even as he paced the NL in walks and wild pitches.

AL Pitchers

1. SAM MCDOWELL, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.18 ERA, 17 wins, 11 losses, 4 saves, 42 appearances, 35 starts, 273 innings, 132 walks, 325 strikeouts, 17 wild pitches, 23 grounded into double plays.
• “Sudden Sam” suddenly became a poor man’s Koufax, but don’t tell that to opposing AL batters who hit just .185 and struck out 325 times against the Cleveland southpaw.

2. EDDIE FISHER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.40 ERA, 15 wins, 7 losses, 24 saves, 82 appearances, 0 starts, 165.1 innings.
• Fisher never started a game, yet led the White Sox in wins, saves and threw enough innings to qualify for the AL ERA title—for which he placed second.

3. MEL STOTTLEMYRE, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.63 ERA, 20 wins, 9 losses, .690 win percentage, 37 starts, 18 complete games, 291 innings, 29 grounded into double plays.
• Stottlemyre’s timing was rotten; his stock rose considerably while the Yankees in general entered a protracted bear market.

4. SONNY SIEBERT, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.43 ERA, 16 wins, 8 losses, 39 appearances, 27 starts, 188.2 innings, 46 walks, 191 strikeouts.
• Though his career-high 191 K’s paled in comparison to teammate McDowell’s 325, Siebert was second in the AL to Sudden Sam in strikeouts per nine innings (9.1).

5. FRED NEWMAN, CALIFORNIA

• Key Numbers: 2.93 ERA, 14 wins, 16 losses, 36 starts, 260.2 innings, 25 grounded into double plays.
• The 23-year-old Boston native had all the numbers of an ace—until you got to the wins and losses. Teammates who barely supported him with three runs per start were largely at fault.

6. GEORGE BRUNET, CALIFORNIA

• Key Numbers: 2.56 ERA, 9 wins, 11 losses, 41 appearances, 26 starts, 197 innings.
• Newman’s notes might as well be copied and pasted for Brunet, even as the borderline roster pitcher of the last previous nine seasons (through four other organizations) finally broke through.

7. MUDCAT GRANT, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 3.30 ERA, 21 wins, 7 losses, .750 win percentage, 39 starts, 6 shutouts, 270.1 innings, 61 walks, 28 grounded into double plays.
• Practically stolen from Cleveland for two nondescript players a year earlier, Grant looked around at his new teammates, their potential and thought, “Yeah, this could work.” In 1965, it certainly did.

8. STU MILLER, BALTIMORE

• Key Numbers: 1.89 ERA, 14 wins, 7 losses, 24 saves, 67 appearances, 0 starts, 119.1 innings, 32 walks.
• After giving up seven runs over his first three appearances out of the bullpen, Miller didn’t concede a run for the next 31.2 innings—which still ranks as the fourth longest such streak in Browns/Orioles history.

9. HOYT WILHELM, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 1.51 ERA, 6 wins, 5 losses, 19 saves, 64 appearances, 5 starts, 137 innings.
• The ageless, formidable knuckleballer became part of the first duo of teammates (along with Eddie Fisher) to each pick up 20 or more saves in a season.

10. JIM KAAT, MINNESOTA

• Key Numbers: 2.83 ERA, 18 wins, 11 losses, 2 saves, 45 appearances, 42 starts, 264.1 innings, 63 walks, 26 grounded into double plays.
• Despite that nifty ERA, Kaat led the AL in runs allowed with 121; however, 38 of those were unearned.

[luckymann]

A busy break, the clear highlight (lowlight) being the monstrous contract forked out by the Cubs for Earl Battey, making him the league’s best-remunerated player by about 40% above the next-highest.

Here are the notable ins and outs:

• C Earl Battey: Cubs, 7 years / $2912000
• 1B Bill White: Phillies, 5 years / $1470000 (extension)
• P Ken Johnson: Angels, 5 years / $1290000
• P Dick Stigman: Red Sox, 4 years / $1098000
• 3B Pete Ward: Athletics, 3 years / $830000 (extension)
• P Jim O’Toole: Tigers, 3 years / $852000
• SS Zoilo Versalles: Dodgers, 4 years / $810000 (extension)
• 2B Pumpsie Green: Cubs, 3 years / $792000
• OF Albie Pearson: Braves, 6 years / $714000
• P Bob Bruce: Yankees, 3 years / $556000 (extension)
• OF Tommy Davis: Athletics, 3 years / $474000
• 1B Joe Adcock: White Sox, 3 years / $444000
• OF Jim King: Cardinals, 2 years / $432000
• 1B Deron Johnson: Orioles, 4 years / $423000 (extension)
• P Steve Barber: Indians, 3 years / $387000 (extension)
• OF Russ Snyder: Phillies, 2 years / $418000
• P Whitey Ford: Cubs, 1 years / $280000

• C John Boccabella from Twins to Cubs for P Ken Rowe and OF Jesus Alou
• P Ray Sadecki from Cardinals to Senators for P Lloyd Fourroux
• P Dean Chance from Senators to Cardinals for 2B Don Buford and SS John Ryan
• OF Bob Chance from Orioles to Braves for OF Richie Ashburn
• P Jack Baldschun and P Ray Culp from Indians to Orioles for C John Roseboro (retaining 30%)
• P Sammy Ellis from Dodgers to Astros for P Barney Schultz and SS Woody Woodward
• P Jim Brewer (retaining 20%) from Indians to Twins for 2B Hal Lanier and OF Tommie Martz
• SS Sonny Jackson from Red Sox to Twins for OF Floyd Robinson
• OF Walt Williams and C Jeff Torborg from Cubs to Phillies for SS Dick Groat

We go 8-10 in ST with no injuries of note. The Angels lose 2B Jimmy Stewart for most of the year to a broken elbow bone.

ALL TRANSACTIONS


It’s funny, for once I think the BNN boffins are underestimating us. They see us finishing sub .500 and in the second div, well behind the Dodgers, with our pitching weakening right off. We shall see about that. They are tipping a tie in the AL between the Yanks and Tigers.

FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

[luckymann]

One can, as always, deep dive at one’s leisure HERE.

Like I said, I'm surprised and a little perturbed the prognosticators have gone cold on us. I agree our staff is aging and the bottom-end is potentially a problem, but I don't see them anywhere near over the hill yet and think we've our most balanced squad in quite some time.

Don Brand comes in, Cannizzarro makes way. We're a bit thin at 2B so we'll have to watch that, although Dal Maxvill can come up and Brand also plays there. We have a Waiver claim in for OF Al Luplow to beef up our stocks out there.

[Brad K]

RE Al Luplow good deal to find a RL Pirate on waivers. 55 games is enough! I see you've hit compliance with the 3 non Pirate rule.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

RE Al Luplow good deal to find a RL Pirate on waivers. 55 games is enough! I see you've hit compliance with the 3 non Pirate rule.

While the Draft has been a nightmare, we've been lucky on the WW - first Canizzarro and now hopefully Al (he hasn't cleared yet). Neither are superstars but good organisational pieces especially given the small subset we can pick from.

[Brad K]

When you first talked about it I though you had given yourself an impossible mission. Now I think it can work out OK because you can get some players who started or ended their careers with the Pirates in their middle years when they were good.

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Brad K

When you first talked about it I though you had given yourself an impossible mission. Now I think it can work out OK because you can get some players who started or ended their careers with the Pirates in their middle years when they were good.

Challenging? Yes. Impossible? No. Which is what I am after. Other house rules mean the best guys are unavailable to me in their peaks. EG El Tiant, who played a year for the Buccos right at the end of his career. But, because he is a Legacy Player, I cannot touch him until that section of his career is done with. Compensating for this is the Cutlass Club guys, which allows me to strategically place three interlopers in the group. Again, that comes with its own sets of challenges. I can't introduce a non-Pirates guy now because my 3 slots are filled. For me to do so, the trade would have to involve one of those 3 to free up the spot.

The Sens offered me McLain in the offseason, so I tried to swap out Demeter for him to free up the necessary spot. Sadly, no dice. Still the Giusti add is a good one for us. Should stay fairly cheap and is good but bot CYA great for quite some time. With our teensy budget we need those guys moving forward.

[luckymann]

For the second year in a row, we get a nice WW claim with Al Luplow, who survives the return journey and is now at AAA.

Plenty to do this time around with some really tough decisions ahead of me as a bunch of our guys are in their walk years or getting close to their upper value limit in our book.

Unofficial rule is for our payroll to be no higher than 12th and preferably in the bottom quarter. It is currently at $1.3m and 16th, next to our $2m Budget, the lowest of any club.

[luckymann]

Ed never achieved this feat IRL.

[luckymann]

I guess that's why they call them experts...




It's about a 72-25 split bad play to bad luck as we lose a bunch of position players - Maz, Gene Alley, Andy Rodgers, Don Demeter and Roberto, who is still out of action - to short IL stints, just as some key elements of our game hit a prolonged flat spot. The result? A 22-26 sectional that is actually enjoying a bit of an upswing these past couple weeks. At our worst, we fall seven games under 500.




No panic stations here just yet. Donn and Maz have been particularly slow out of the blocks but we retain our belief in them to turn things around. Pops goes from strength to strength, and is near the top of the HR table, while the Alou brothers have been solid as well. Bailey has struggled to contribute and is yet to go deep for us in 155 AB.




The rotation has been decent enough, but the BP has really struggled to get it done, with only Pizarro and Short holding it together. The 0-5 Brunet - who'll be leaving us at season's end at the latest after hitting us up for a fourfold raise to retain his services - has been unlucky, same with the 1-3 Veale. Clay Carroll isn't far from a call-up.


Chances aplenty with Cincy and the Cards each having an encouraging start to the year.




Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

• Batter – Tony Conigliaro (Angels): 362 / 7 HR / 14 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim Kaat (Twins): 4-0 / 1.12 / 24 K / 32 IP
• Rookie – Catfish Hunter (Athletics): 2-1 / 3.00 / 21 K / 33 IP

National League

• Batter – Jim Ray Hart (Giants): 384 / 10 HR / 20 RBI
• Pitcher – Dennis Musgraves (Reds): 2-0 / 0.00 / 4 SV / 8 K / 13.1 IP
• Rookie – Dennis Musgraves

May

American League

• Batter – Tony Conigliaro (Angels): 359 / 13 HR / 34 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim Bunning (Tigers): 5-1 / 2.50 / 47 K / 50.1 IP
• Rookie – Ken Holtzman (Red Sox): 3-1 / 2.06 / 31 K / 43.2 IP

National League

• Batter – Frank Robinson (Reds): 374 / 8 HR / 27 RBI
• Pitcher – Jim Maloney (Reds): 6-0 / 2.77 / 37 K / 48.2 IP
• Rookie – Jim Merritt (Mets): 2-0 / 1.53 / 36 K / 47 IP

News and Leaders






Milestones and Observations of Note

• 400 HR: Joe Adcock
• 200 Wins: Whitey Ford
• The Tribe loses highly-regarded rookie SP Dave Boswell until this time next year courtesy of a UCL tear.
• Baltimore rookie Jim Palmer loses his first six decisions before finally notching a win against Cleveland in late May.
• Last year it was Willie Mays, this season it is Angel Tony Conigliaro decimating the league’s pitching in the early going.

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