Complete Universe Facegen Pack

[LansdowneSt]

I didn't feel like Brian's story was complete until I researched Gary "Gene" Krug who took Brian's place in The Show that fateful day. Went 2 for 5 in 7 games then back to Iowa. Just to make Brian nervous, here's his best friend...

[Amazin69]

The Yankees loved Ohio State pitcher Paul Semall. They drafted him in the 19th round in 1976, and after Semall chose to return for his senior season, took him in the 12th round in '77. After finishing that year at Oneonta, they jumped him all the way to the Eastern League in 1978, where he starred for West Haven, and then they called him up during the year. (You may recall that part of what led to Billy Martin's meltdown/exit was the constant pitching injuries, resulting in a parade of kids [Jim Beattie, Ken Clay, Bob Kammeyer, Larry McCall])

So, naturally, Billy wasn't in a rush to try the AA kid. Two days after Semall was called up, Don Gullett came off the DL, and it was back to West Haven. Still, Paul went 17-8, leading the EL in wins.

1979 started even better, with Paul at AAA Columbus, pitching in his college town. But halfway through the season, they sent him to the Cubs to reacquire Bobby Murcer, and Semall had to swap Columbus for Wichita, first place for last.

He never did find his wings as an Aero, floundering in '79 and '80, even "earning" some time at AA Midland before he was done. Still, he got his second trip to The Show out of the deal.

Lynn McGlothlen had hurt his groin and was scheduled for a stint on the DL. Semall showed up at Wrigley Field and McGlothlen miraculously felt better. (He gave up 4 runs in 2 IP, but still.) Back to Wichita, kid.

Still, once the Cubs put him in the bullpen at Iowa in 1981, he stabilized, and stayed at AAA until 1985, flipped to Texas in the Bump Wills-Paul Mirabella swap and eventually to the Pirates organization. Where he kind of lost the plot in his final years with Hawai'i…but OTOH, it's Hawai'i. Enough Mai Tais and you won't even notice…

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In my game, the Cubs AI has been willfully trading pitchers for hitters. Not that Larry Andersen and #2 pick Charles Hudson for Terry Kennedy is a bad deal, per se, but I wouldn't think the Cubs would be seeing themselves as pitching-rich necessarily. But it's opened up a slot for Semall, so we'll see.

(As a bonus, he won't have to worry about Lynn McGlothlen, who signed with…yes, the Yankees [I tell you, they signed EVERYONE] last offseason. So Paul can wish McGlothlen's groin all the best, now.)

[LansdowneSt]

As a Red Sox fan, I avoid all Larry Andersen trades - and whatever prospect their GM wants for him, I immediately designate as "unattachable" in trade talks!

I poked around for other pictures of Paul and facegen liked the one without the beard best. So the facegen hs no beard but adding a "delta" beard to the facegen gets him close to his by-the-pool, last-year-of-bus-rides Hawaiian look...

[Amazin69]

Mike Barnes was having a fun 1979 as a second baseman in the Pirates chain, putting up a .936 OPS split between Salem (A) and Buffalo (AA). His full-season marks at Buffalo in 1980 were less amazing, but .815 for a young middle infielder should be enough for another look, or even a promotion.

But then…nothing. I have no idea what happened. I mean, yeah, Phil Garner had the 2B job in Pittsburgh, but come now. At least keep Barnes at AAA.



In game, the Pirates moved Scrap Iron to the scrap heap and gave Barnes the job. But now they've swapped him to Kansas City for Onix Concepcion. (Really?) He'll have a chance in KC, since they non-tendered Frank White, which I'm surprised, since White's 1980 was pretty much in line with previous seasons and his glove is so good. I'm sure they thought Joe Morgan would be an upgrade, but sadly that isn't working out. Best wishes to Barnes, I guess.

(BTW, "my" Rangers have fought their way back into first place in the AL West and we're headed to the Bronx for a showdown with the Yankees, a rematch of last year's playoffs and possible preview of 1981's. Of course, if we were in the East, we'd be 16.5 games behind and in fifth place, percentage points behind Milwaukee. But hey, first place is first place, right?)

[LansdowneSt]

Take first place wherever you can get it. Do you have Ruben Sierra, Kevin Brown, Bobby Witt on tap to come through the minors or is it an open draft in the sim? As a Sox fan, I'm pulling for ya vs. the Yanks

As for Mike Barnes, the William Penn Collage yearbook had a better facegen pic to work with. The book "Wonderland: A Year in the Life of an American High School" has SI reporter Michael Bamberger coming across Mr. Barnes as one of the assistant coaches of the team in 2005. Pennsbury High School was his alma mater (Class of '73). Here he is in '79 Pirates yellow to kinda match your his minor league card.

[Amazin69]

A correction; the series with the Yanks is in Arlington. Game 1, we fought back against Lynn McGlothlen (and his groin) to tie it at 4-4 after 8…but then Bill Castro gave up 3 runs in the 9th and Goose shut us down. Sigh.

At least Red Sox fans can take comfort that not only is Fred Lynn not in Anaheim, but he's having a great season. 2nd in the league in WAR to Steve Kemp; if the Sox can get past Detroit and challenge the Yanks, it might be time for another MVP award.

So, who's patrolling CF for the Angels, then? None other than James "Jay" Peters, off of a nice .853 OPS for Salt Lake City last season. He's posted a nice .775 in the Show, is 3rd in the AL in doubles with 28 (Fred's tied for 4th, at 27) and even backed up Freddie in the All-Star Game, being selected as California's representative.

(No, I don't know why "Dick Howser" passed on Rod Carew, who's leading the league in batting, again. Perhaps Rod asked off?)

IRL, Peters had an even better 1980 at SLC (.927) but apparently the Angels were all "you're turning 27, bro. Maybe you should take that offer from the Whales in the Japanese league, instead of just swimming in place?"

Also? Not a "Caucasian". No matter what the database says.



It's an open draft. And I gave up our #1 pick to sign Keith Hernandez. The Cards used to the pick to grab Jose Guzman, but I think I'm winning that one; Keith's been amazing (pardon the pun).

Not sure I'm thrilled that he's leading us in HRs, though. With nine. In August. Better get moving if you wanna match that "32" figure from last season, Zisk! (And Buddy Bell and Oliver and even Barrow hit 20 last season. What happened?)

[LansdowneSt]

Looks like the combo of Don Baylor and Joe Rudi blocked him in left and then Aikens's '79 performance drove the Halos to put Baylor in LF for half of that year. Baylor did win the MVP so that didn't help Jay in real life. That and age, as you say. Rooting for him nonetheless.

The first screenshot shows his mustache fading out because of the way turned heads import into facegen. I'd recommend changing his hair color to black and, assuming its not a mod beard I loaded years ago and you have it, layering on a "doublewide" mustache to even it out as shown in the second shot.

[Amazin69]

One existing FaceGen that troubles me is current Angels ace Juan Berenguer (Rule V from the Mets). He properly codes as "Hispanic", but he looks way too pale IMO (is there no code for "Mestizo"?) and his 'stache is distinctly wispy. Can something be done?

IRL, Jeff Bertoni spent four seasons ('80-'83) at AAA, but if you never crack .800, I can understand if you never get the call. But OTOH, a half-decent bat and being able to turn a DP should get you at least a casual glance, even if Gary Pettis beat him to the SS job. (Yes, Pettis is at SS and Brian Harper is in CF. It's brilliance like this that has you locked in last, Jim Fregosi…)



A quick check on Brian Rosinski's Cubs shows they're working a 13-game losing streak, having just been shut out by Steve Carlton for Lefty's career win #250. Which I guess explains their moving Bruce Sutter at the deadline…if you never have the lead, you don't really need an elite closer. But still.

They sent him to Seattle for Bud Black, Tim Burke and two minor league OFs. Not a bad deal, IMO, but still a bit sad. I mean, you wouldn't think the 6th-place Mariners were planning a playoff push, either. But the Cubs are so far down, pretty much any place else looks like up, I guess.

[LansdowneSt]

Here's a reworked Juan Berenguer, whom I last recall in the Twins' bullpen. Ace of the Halos, eh? Who'd have thunk it?

[LansdowneSt]

Backing up Juan in the infield is Jeff Bertoni. The headshot was good enough to keep the 'stache. With Harper in CF, let's hope Juan sends a lot of ground balls Bertoni & Pettis' way...

[Amazin69]

I wouldn't take being California's "ace" as being that impressive, though. Yeah, Juan's leading the Angels in wins, ERA, and strikeouts…but they're still last on merit. July Pitcher of the Month Jon Matlack (he said with a certain pride) is looking elsewhere for his Cy Young competition, methinks.

For example, Britt Burns is leading the loop in ERA, and is a key reason the White Sox are battling us for the division. Along with LaRussa getting good results from that Dom Fucci/Rod Allen/Hosken Powell outfield (Baines has been hurt since April) and some just weird things. I mean, how does Fran Mullins, of all people, have 10 HRs? Is "Needles" Weinberg in mid-career form, or something?

Meanwhile, on the near North side, the Cubs' skid has reached 15 straight, even Tony Gwynn is down to .298, and Karl Pagel broke an ankle and is done for the season. This means that CF is now being patrolled by…Mark Gillaspie, father of…of…of…

FLAMES!! FLAMES ON THE SIDE OF MY FACE!!! ARRRGGH!!!

…er, excuse me. Of Conor. (May he rot in Hell.)

I mean, 2015 was really special. The Mets are playing the Padres today, and the crowd booed Eric Hosmer every chance they got, which was sweet. (Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez are still inexplicably pretending Hosmer's mad dash was a good play, instead of utter stupidity rewarded by dumb luck. I mean, if Duda doesn't throw the ball halfway towards Brooklyn, Hos is out by 10 feet. I still say d'Arnaud could have taken a few steps away from the plate, caught the throw, and gotten back in time to tag him…)

But 2016 had real potential, too. "In Las Vegas, there's a whole clubhouse filled of guys who want to sit in this room, and I'll find 'em!" Gsellman and Lugo stepping in to save the rotation, the Granderson switch-hit HRs in extra innings game (I was there, which was pretty good, as I lived in LA then), the Asdrubal bat-flip walkoff. Even some of the losses in the 27-13 run were cool, like the one where Inciarte goes above the wall to turn Cespi's walk-off into the final out, or when we spotted the Phils a 10-0 lead and still nearly caught them. A great closing rush.

And then some idiot turned out the lights. Sigh.

(I don't mind getting beat by MadBum, because he's a talent. But Conor-f'ing-Gillaspie??? Gah.)

Truth be told, I think Mark was better. He tore up the minors for most of the '80s (Texas League Player of the Year in 1983) but never got a shot.

In game, rather than being drafted by the Padres and blocked by the likes of John Kruk (his rookie roomie) and Tony Gwynn, he was the Cubs' #3 pick and is now in the Wrigley outfield…right next to Tony Gwynn. Huh.

[LansdowneSt]

The picture on the far right, the '88 Chicks, was the basis for this one. Took some work to get close. While I rewatched Conor's home run to relive your trauma, I'm relieved to report that Mark's youngest never got to the show, but in anticipation of the Rays calling him up 35 years in the future of the sim, here's Casey Gillaspie too...

[Amazin69]

Actually, Casey G. already has not one, but two, facegens in the pack. They must have anticipated demand, seeing as he comes from such a dynasty…grr…

Anyhow, after dropping two out of three at home to the Yankees, we restored a sense of normalcy by taking 3/4 from Cleveland. Keith Hernandez was on fire, hitting 3 HR in the series. But in the one loss, Keith's solo shot and two from ex-Tribesman Cliff Johnson were for naught, as we fell, 4-3, on a late two-run shot by…George Cecchetti.

Who? Well, George did have good years at AA Chattanooga in '81 and Buffalo in '83. But he took a step back when sent back for a second season, both times, and when he finally reached AAA with the Maine Guides in '86, he was lost in the woods and got released.

OTOH, here he's battling Carmelo Castillo for playing time in LF (1st round pick Sid Bream got hurt at AAA) and RF is being handled by Sal Rende (BA of .192) while the team waits for the perennially-injured Jorge Orta to heal. And with Mike Hargrove now causing rain delays in Montreal, 1B is in the hands of Gary Gray, currently following up last season's .177 average with a ….170. Yoicks. So why not let George do it?

[LansdowneSt]

Well, I'm sure my Casey Gillaspie is better ;P... Here's George Cecchetti. I don't know what fate befell him after baseball but his facegen reminds me of someone who comes into a small business and asks the proprietor if he knows what happens to nice folk who fall behind in their protection payments to il Padrone...

[Amazin69]

I actually thought George Cecchetti was a nice looking fellow…

But you're not the only one not showing George respect; when Jorge Orta came off of the DL, Cleveland sent Cecchetti down to Charleston, even though he was hitting .417 (5/12, with 2 HR), which is more than Gary Gray and Sal Rende combined. Sigh.

At least one rookie is getting some love from the Tribe. IRL, Stan Holmes was the 1981 College World Series MVP, was drafted by the Twins, had powerhouse seasons at Visalia (A) in 1983 and Orlando (AA) in 1984, but came a cropper at AAA and never reached the bigs. Here, he was Cleveland's #3 pick and has been summoned to back up pretty much everyone, slotted as the #2 C/1B/3B/RF. Best of luck, Stan.

(He didn't have it IRL. Died at age 51, of kidney and liver disease.)

[LansdowneSt]

1985 in Toledo wasn't his best season but it was his best card for making a facegen, and so the facial hair endures...

[Amazin69]

Finishing up with the "Cleveland Lake Mistakes" (lol), we have Rob Pietroburgo, who spent 1979-1982 at AAA, and worked his ERA down from 6.17 to 2.76 and his WHIP from 1.46 to 1.17…but never got called up and was just dropped cold.

I think this is the same "Rob Pietroburgo" who became a "wealth management consultant" and runs his own winery in Belleville IL, but it's hard to be sure of resemblences across 40 years, IMO.

[LansdowneSt]

Definitely him. Both went to the University of Missouri at the same time per his bio (and the back of his minor league card). Man, some guys never get over getting cut and years later they are off dining and dashing... and other guys have wineries and such. I'm hoping he washes out of the majors, gets managing that wealth and shopping for grapes...

Here he is in the Mistakes' alternate jersey

[Amazin69]

Since snapping that 16-game skid, the Cubs are 5-5. Maybe it's Tony Johnson (acquired from Montreal for Willie Hernandez) taking over for the injured Leon Roberts in RF?

The Mets still don't actually feel the cellar-dwellers snapping at their ankles, though, holding an 8.5 game lead for the lofty heights of fifth-place. One contributor is Mark Naehring (uncle of Tim), acquired from the White Sox in a trade for Roy Lee Jackson.

IRL, Uncle Mark loved AA Knoxville, posting identical .851 OPS marks in '78 and '79. His .768 at AAA Iowa in 1980 wasn't terrible for a middle-infielder, but he found himself in the Orioles' chain next year, and never saw AAA again.

Here he's in the Mets' 2B mix, especially as somebody (*coughs discreetly*) stole Wally Backman in a trade…

[LansdowneSt]

Nice to see a Naehring. I recall when Tim came up with the Sox. Injuries did him in as I recall but he's always stayed in the game, albeit with the Yanks front office, I believe. Here's Uncle Mark. The shadows make it look a bit like an oil painting to my eyes and even though he's a Met in the sim, that card inspired me to throw him back to the late 70s Southside Hitmen... What a uniform that was...