The Bucs Start Here - A Pirates Do-Over

[Makonnen]

Catching up here ... brutal for the Cubs not to carry through after that regular season.

I've lost touch with your rules: how did the Big Unit not qualify as preset selection? Was it not staying long enough with any single club?

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by Makonnen

Catching up here ... brutal for the Cubs not to carry through after that regular season.

I've lost touch with your rules: how did the Big Unit not qualify as preset selection? Was it not staying long enough with any single club?

Both them and the A's would feel disappointed - they were the dominant teams.

Normal Legacies need 25 career WAR (20 for one-club players) and either 1000 games played for position players, 200 games started for SP or 400 games pitched for RP.

So nice pickup there. Randy was a complete flub by me (266 GS for the M's) and I have amended it so that the picks now read:

R1, Pick 7: Seattle Mariners - Randy Johnson LEGACY
R1, Pick 8: Cleveland Indians - Gary Sheffield
R1, Pick 9: San Diego Padres - Roberto Alomar
R1, Pick 10: California Angels - Erik Hanson
R1, Pick 11: Texas Rangers - Dante Bichette
R1, Pick 12: Boston Red Sox - Hal Morris

Thanks!

G

[luckymann]

The Yanks are all over this offseason’s transaction market throwing wallets hither and thither—but are they being caught by the right players?

They have been doing this a long time and haven’t much to show for it with their last title back in 1951 and only two postseason appearances since then.

Compare them with their top foe over at Fenway, who seem perennially in contention and yet don’t feature prominently here.

Here are the major transactions from the break:

1B Ken Phelps: Yankees, 5 years / $21.7m / AAV $4.34m
OF Kevin McReynolds: Cubs, 5 years / $21.2m / AAV $4.24m
P Tim Leary: Cardinals, 3 years / $12.2m / AAV $4.08m
2B Glenn Hubbard: Yankees, 4 years / $14.0m / AAV $3.49m
OF Brett Butler: Padres, 4 years / $12.8m / AAV $3.20m
OF Andre Dawson: Reds, 3 years / $8.6m / AAV $2.88m
OF Phil Bradley: Yankees, 4 years / $11.4m / AAV $2.84m
OF Jim Dwyer: Blue Jays, 3 years / $7.6m / AAV $2.52m
OF George Bell: Brewers, 3 years / $7.4m / AAV $2.48m
3B Buddy Bell: Yankees, 1 year / $2.5m / AAV $2.48m
P Mike Moore: Astros, 3 years / $7.1m / AAV $2.36m
C Lance Parrish: Cubs, 1 year / $2.3m / AAV $2.32m
2B Tim Teufel: Braves, 2 years / $4.5m / AAV $2.24m
P Danny Jackson: Tigers, 3 years / $6.6m / AAV $2.20m
P Bryn Smith: Giants, 5 years / $10.6m / AAV $2.12m
P Scott Sanderson: Tigers, 1 year / $2.1m / AAV $2.08m
P Rick Honeycutt: Orioles, 1 year / $1.9m / AAV $1.94m
OF Dion James: Phillies, 3 years / $5.4m / AAV $1.79m
P Ron Guidry: Mets, 1 year / $1.8m / AAV $1.78m
OF Lonnie Smith: Royals, 2 years / $1.6m / AAV $3.12m
P Dennis Martinez: Cubs, 1 year / $1.7m / AAV $1.68m
C Tony Pena: Reds, 1 year / $1.6m / AAV $1.58m
1B Randy Bush: Angels, 3 years / $4.6m / AAV $1.52m


P Bobby Witt from Red Sox to Phillies for C Ozzie Virgil and P Ed Correa
1B Wally Joyner from Orioles to White Sox for P Danny Cox
P Greg Harris and OF Stan Javier from Tigers to White Sox for OF Jerry Mumphrey (retaining 60%)
C Ron Hassey and SS Kevin Elster from Tigers to Braves for 2B Kurt Stilwell
OF Bo Jackson and SS Luis Rivera from Mets to Braves for P Steve Howe
P Ron Robinson from Expos to Mets for 2B Mark McLemore, SS Andres Thomas and P John Habyan
P Terry Mulholland from Mariners to Dodgers for P Charlie Leibrandt (retaining 25%)
SS Shawon Dunston from Mariners to Dodgers for SS Craig Reynolds (retaining 90%) and 3B Eddie Williams
2B Tony Phillips from Blue Jays to White Sox for P Scott Gardner
C Damon Berryhill and P Ricky Rojas from Mets to Padres for P Jeff Lahti
OF Chili Davis from Astros to White Sox for SS Walt Weiss


We go 11-7 in Spring Training with just a niggle or two but go into OD at full strength.

BNN are predicting a Boston blowout in the AL East but super close races in the other three divisions, including us narrowly seeing off the Cubs.

Oakland loses Tim Belcher for most of the season with some elbow problems, while a fracture of the same body part will sideline Angels 2B Robby Thompson for 5 months or so.

[luckymann]

We were almost completely absent from the offseason action, with just one what we see as key FA signing:




Other than that and a bit of a bullpen shuffle, we remain unchanged from last season. That's not accidental.

[luckymann]

Nearing the end of the window with this current group. Webster, Law and Tudor are done after this year; Scott, Ray, Fletcher and a few others the year after.

Bobby Bo the number one priority for our re-ups this year, with Doug Drabek and Cecil Fielder also needing consideration.

No real dramas affording them for now but things start getting a bit hairy as Van and Barry's salaries skyrocket from 1992. We'll need to brace for the impact of that well in advance.

[luckymann]

Who holds the single season record in the MLB for RBI?

• Turkey Stearnes, NYY, 161, 1933
• Hank Greenberg, DET, 158, 1933
• Chuck Klein, PHI, 156, 1932
• Rogers Hornsby, STL, 155, 1925
• Cecil Cooper, DET, 154, 1977

[luckymann]

Some early injury struggles with Andy Van needing a minimum IL stint and Ellis picking up various niggles as well and needing to be nursed through them.

We already had a waiver claim in for Cecil Espy, planning on sending him to AAA but he stops off for a brief while with us until Van returns.

It is an all over messy start as the pitching is wobbly and the hitting inconsistent, with Fielder and Bonilla a combined 3 for their first 46, and yet we manage to go 10-5 for our first 15.

Bo heats up, Daddy starts whacking a few homers. Life is sweet.

I wish.

By the end of April, our pitching is near-worst in the NL, with Don Robinson and Jose de Leon both having ERAs north of 7, and we are barely above 500.

We do, however, get it together in the early part of May with 12 wins on the bounce to catch a wee break from the rest of the division.

Not quite so dominant for the remainder with a couple worrisome implosions by Alejandro Pena but we head into the dog days 4 ahead of the Expos at 33-18.



Just the one extension signed so far: Bobby Bo on a 1/920 deal.





Monthly Award Winners

April

American League

Batter – Wade Boggs (Red Sox): 494 / 3 HR / 9 RBI
Pitcher – Charlie Hough (Orioles): 5-1 / 1.65 / 26 K / 49 IP
Rookie – Todd Stottlemyre (Indians): 4-1 / 2.41 / 20 K / 37.1 IP


National League

Batter – Howard Johnson (Cubs): 316 / 8 HR / 19 RBI
Pitcher – Jack McDowell (Dodgers): 4-0 / 2.08 / 23 K / 39 IP
Rookie –Ken Hill (Braves): 3-1 / 2.56 / 25 K / 38.2 IP


May

American League

Batter – Lloyd Moseby (Blue Jays): 350 / 8 HR / 33 RBI
Pitcher – Bob Milacki (Brewers): 4-0 / 1.79 / 20 K / 45.1 IP
Rookie – Bob Milacki


National League

Batter – Barry Bonds (Pirates): 340 / 8 HR / 26 RBI
Pitcher – Greg Maddux (Braves): 6-0 / 1.58 / 21 K / 45.2 IP
Rookie – John Smoltz (Braves): 2-3 / 2.64 / 28 K / 44.1 IP


News and Leaders




Milestones and Observations of Note

2500 Hits: Buddy Bell

The Tigers will be without Alan Trammell for the maximum 3 month Legacy layoff after he tears a tendon in his elbow,

The BoSox retain the services of SS Jose Uribe for another 4 years at a total cost of $3.34m.

They also go on a tear, winning a whopping 16 straight after a sluggish start to move to the top of the AL East. Much of that has to do with Wade Boggs, who enters June hitting 435.

The Cubs extend Tom Candiotti on a 3/4740 deal.

[luckymann]

Which pitchers are leading the MLB in career strikeouts?

• Sandy Koufax, -, 5293
• Nolan Ryan, -, 4824
• Satchel Paige, -, 4496
• Steve Carlton, -, 4247
• Walter Johnson, -, 4015

Active leader: JR Richard, 3755

[luckymann]

Just the Three Bs in for us this time around, which seems fair enough.

American League

• SP Erik Hanson (CAL) - 9-7, 2.59 ERA, 159.2 IP, 1.06 WHIP, 6.7 K/9, 4.5 WAR (Injured)
• SP Charlie Hough (BAL) - 10-8, 2.93 ERA, 147.2 IP, 1.16 WHIP, 5.0 K/9, 1.3 WAR
• SP Steve Mura (BAL) - 7-3, 2.39 ERA, 98.0 IP, 1.30 WHIP, 5.3 K/9, 1.7 WAR
• SP Pascual Perez (BOS) - 10-4, 2.98 ERA, 145.0 IP, 1.15 WHIP, 4.9 K/9, 3.1 WAR
• SP Bret Saberhagen (KC)* - 8-7, 2.24 ERA, 161.0 IP, 1.11 WHIP, 5.2 K/9, 4.0 WAR
• SP Dave Stieb (TOR) - 12-4, 2.91 ERA, 139.0 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 6.3 K/9, 2.9 WAR
• SP Bob Welch (OAK) - 13-2, 3.45 ERA, 148.2 IP, 1.28 WHIP, 5.8 K/9, 3.3 WAR
• CL Larry Andersen (ML4) - 5-5, 17 SV, 2.85 ERA, 60.0 IP, 1.13 WHIP, 4.3 K/9, 1.5 WAR
• CL Scott Garrelts (SEA) - 1-4, 17 SV, 2.66 ERA, 44.0 IP, 1.48 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, 0.5 WAR
• CL Bryan Harvey (BOS)* - 1-2, 15 SV, 1.12 ERA, 48.1 IP, 1.24 WHIP, 8.4 K/9, 1.8 WAR
• CL Doug Jones (MIN) - 4-3, 11 SV, 2.45 ERA, 55.0 IP, 1.25 WHIP, 4.4 K/9, 1.2 WAR
• C Bob Boone (TEX) - .336/.374/.398, 211 AB, 2 HR, 108 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
• C Bo Diaz (KC) - .296/.305/.442, 226 AB, 8 HR, 106 wRC+, 0.8 WAR
• C Benito Santiago (CAL)* - .341/.355/.504, 270 AB, 10 HR, 17 SB, 141 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
• 1B Andres Galarraga (SEA) - .319/.351/.591, 232 AB, 18 HR, 4 SB, 164 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• 1B Don Mattingly (NYY)* - .284/.334/.470, 317 AB, 14 HR, 122 wRC+, 1.1 WAR
• 2B Lou Whitaker (DET)* - .271/.384/.442, 269 AB, 10 HR, 1 SB, 139 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• 3B Buddy Bell (NYY) - .344/.414/.470, 270 AB, 7 HR, 1 SB, 152 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
• 3B Wade Boggs (BOS)* - .367/.466/.514, 286 AB, 4 HR, 1 SB, 178 wRC+, 4.1 WAR
• 3B Darnell Coles (CWS) - .322/.404/.500, 264 AB, 10 HR, 1 SB, 152 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
• 3B Paul Molitor (ML4) - .332/.397/.483, 265 AB, 5 HR, 19 SB, 148 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
• SS Tony Fernandez (TOR)* - .338/.399/.463, 311 AB, 4 HR, 19 SB, 145 wRC+, 4.2 WAR
• LF Kal Daniels (CLE) - .330/.413/.529, 306 AB, 16 HR, 22 SB, 169 wRC+, 3.7 WAR
• LF Kirk Gibson (TEX) - .294/.402/.518, 282 AB, 17 HR, 11 SB, 147 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
• LF Mike Greenwell (BOS)* - .295/.370/.537, 315 AB, 13 HR, 11 SB, 150 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• LF Rickey Henderson (OAK) - .283/.408/.401, 297 AB, 5 HR, 49 SB, 133 wRC+, 4.7 WAR
• CF Vince Coleman (TEX) - .322/.399/.442, 326 AB, 1 HR, 49 SB, 137 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
• CF Lloyd Moseby (TOR)* - .297/.381/.536, 343 AB, 18 HR, 20 SB, 158 wRC+, 3.1 WAR
• CF Kirby Puckett (MIN)* - .296/.338/.465, 331 AB, 11 HR, 1 SB, 114 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
• RF Jose Canseco (OAK)* - .310/.393/.541, 303 AB, 16 HR, 21 SB, 153 wRC+, 4.1 WAR
• RF Ruben Sierra (CLE) - .291/.353/.550, 302 AB, 20 HR, 5 SB, 144 wRC+, 3.2 WAR

National League

• SP Dwight Gooden (NYM)* - 8-5, 3.43 ERA, 144.1 IP, 1.21 WHIP, 6.4 K/9, 3.9 WAR
• SP Tim Leary (STL) - 7-6, 3.90 ERA, 136.0 IP, 1.26 WHIP, 6.0 K/9, 2.1 WAR
• SP Greg Maddux (ATL) - 11-5, 2.54 ERA, 145.0 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 4.8 K/9, 3.3 WAR
• SP Joe Magrane (MON) - 6-7, 2.85 ERA, 148.1 IP, 1.20 WHIP, 5.8 K/9, 4.2 WAR
• SP Jack McDowell (LAD) - 12-4, 2.37 ERA, 140.2 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 5.6 K/9, 2.5 WAR
• SP John Smiley (CHC) - 9-6, 2.90 ERA, 139.2 IP, 1.24 WHIP, 5.5 K/9, 3.7 WAR
• CL Tom Henke (SF)* - 2-5, 13 SV, 3.93 ERA, 55.0 IP, 1.38 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, 0.6 WAR
• CL Rob Murphy (ATL) - 5-2, 12 SV, 2.32 ERA, 50.1 IP, 1.29 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 1.6 WAR
• CL Mike Schooler (HOU) - 6-2, 11 SV, 2.80 ERA, 61.0 IP, 1.28 WHIP, 6.5 K/9, 1.2 WAR
• CL Todd Worrell (MON) - 5-2, 14 SV, 2.53 ERA, 46.1 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 6.0 K/9, 1.0 WAR
• C Gary Carter (MON) - .269/.322/.411, 219 AB, 8 HR, 105 wRC+, 1.1 WAR
• C Mike Scioscia (NYM) - .311/.355/.437, 238 AB, 5 HR, 126 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• C Ernie Whitt (SF)* - .259/.343/.456, 239 AB, 11 HR, 1 SB, 124 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
• 1B Todd Benzinger (PHI) - .310/.354/.513, 306 AB, 13 HR, 2 SB, 144 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
• 1B George Brett (CHC)* - .303/.364/.503, 304 AB, 14 HR, 2 SB, 141 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• 1B Alvin Davis (MON) - .292/.393/.460, 298 AB, 10 HR, 141 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
• 1B Glenn Davis (HOU) - .282/.341/.522, 316 AB, 21 HR, 1 SB, 142 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
• 1B Greg Walker (NYM) - .298/.357/.510, 312 AB, 15 HR, 145 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
• 2B Roberto Alomar (SD) - .355/.457/.414, 203 AB, 1 HR, 19 SB, 153 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
• 2B Willie Randolph (LAD)* - .284/.363/.368, 261 AB, 1 HR, 5 SB, 106 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
• 3B Bobby Bonilla (PIT)* - .315/.381/.557, 289 AB, 15 HR, 2 SB, 160 wRC+, 3.6 WAR
• 3B Mike Schmidt (PHI) - .283/.351/.502, 279 AB, 16 HR, 1 SB, 139 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
• SS Hubie Brooks (SF) - .311/.366/.478, 322 AB, 11 HR, 3 SB, 138 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
• SS Howard Johnson (CHC)* - .283/.349/.549, 297 AB, 21 HR, 18 SB, 144 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
• LF Barry Bonds (PIT)* - .298/.370/.556, 302 AB, 19 HR, 17 SB, 151 wRC+, 3.5 WAR
• LF Pedro Guerrero (LAD) - .347/.424/.547, 285 AB, 14 HR, 2 SB, 167 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
• CF Ellis Burks (PIT)* - .313/.401/.491, 275 AB, 6 HR, 10 SB, 156 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
• CF Brett Butler (SD) - .313/.432/.469, 294 AB, 3 HR, 32 SB, 160 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
• CF Oddibe McDowell (NYM) - .311/.374/.527, 296 AB, 13 HR, 30 SB, 152 wRC+, 4.0 WAR
• RF Darryl Strawberry (NYM)* - .270/.361/.536, 289 AB, 19 HR, 9 SB, 143 wRC+, 3.0 WAR

Houston's Glenn Davis becomes just the 5th multiple HR Derby-winner, beating Howard Johnson 6-5 in the final.

In the main event, Tigers 2B Lou Whitaker leads the AL to a cushy 11-4 win.

[luckymann]

We start June strongly with an 8-2 run including a 17-7 slugfest against the Phils in which the previously-struggling Jay Bell wakes up with 2 homers and 7 RBI—he’d had just 1 HR and 2 RBI before then.

Things go OK from there until a poor sweep loss at the Mets just reminds us we’ve still a bunch more work to do.

A few days after that, Danny Darwin goes down for six weeks with a hamstring strain. We move Mike Bielecki into the rotation and recall Bob Walk from Lincoln.

The Mets take another two of three from us in Pittsburgh and suddenly things don’t feel quite so secure with our lead down to 6. We’ve seen this from the other angle a number of times—you fail to put other clubs away at your own peril.

By the much-needed All-Star Break, they are only 4 back and the Expos start a charge as well, winning 10 on the trot to move into second.

We steady a bit from there to sit 63-37 and 8 clear after 100 games.

Despite which, I’m not all that happy with how we are playing and feel about as unsafe as one can in possession of that sort of lead.

Furthermore, with these house rules in place as I have said elsewhere you really can’t afford to leave multiple trade tickets on the table when you are limited in your scope to effect change each season and have to try keep moving the needle at all times.

We have a great squad and I am reluctant to mess with it too much, but as the Deadline approaches we go wandering and when we see that the Tigers – non-competitive this year in 6th place – are sellers at an entirely reasonable price of two guys we really would like to buy, we pounce in the following manner:



We feel Danny is a much better option than Don moving forward especially with that retention putting them at close to the same cost.

Gary would be due a big arb settlement that we feel would be poor value for a backup OF.

With Jay our SS of the future, Felix was expendable.




We’ll look at extending both Danny and Dan when the time comes, with Danny signed thru 1990 and Dan into his arb period now.

We really don’t need to make any other changes for now and nothing compelling falls into our lap after this so we keep our hands in our pockets as the Deadline passes.



We do also grab reliever Bob Kipper from Texas off the WW and sign a couple more extensions: Cecil Fielder 1/400; Don Drabek 1/460.


Plenty still to play for across the board.




Monthly Award Winners

June

American League

Batter – Paul Molitor (Brewers): 432 / 4 HR / 14 RBI
Pitcher – Erik Hanson (Angels): 4-1 / 1.20 / 43 K / 52.1 IP
Rookie – Erik Hanson


National League

Batter – Pedro Guerrero (Dodgers): 455 / 6 HR / 28 RBI
Pitcher – John Smiley (Cubs): 4-0 / 1.48 / 31 K / 48.2 IP
Rookie – Brian Holman (Mets): 5-1 / 3.24 / 20 K / 41.2 IP


July

American League

Batter – Wade Boggs (Red Sox): 447 / 2 HR / 19 RBI
Pitcher – Pascual Perez (Red Sox): 5-0 / 0.21 / 28 K / 42.1 IP
Rookie – Mike Harkey (Twins): 3-2 / 2.18 / 25 K / 45.1 IP


National League

Batter – Darryl Strawberry (Mets): 325 / 10 HR / 21 RBI
Pitcher – Greg Maddux (Braves): 5-1 / 1.65 / 24 K / 49 IP
Rookie – Greg Briley (Dodgers): 449 / 2 HR / 16 RBI



News, Leaders and Top 20s

Wade Boggs making a serious tilt at 400. He'd be the first to do so since Tubby Scales in 1931.




Milestones and Observations of Note

2000 Hits: Garry Templeton

Giants veteran Jim Gantner is done for the year thanks to a medial rupture, as is Braves outfielder Claudell Washington after he suffers a broken kneecap.

The Reds lose veteran reliever Bruce Sutter for 8 weeks to an elbow injury.

Deadline trades of note:

[luckymann]

So, who is the active leader in the MLB in career doubles?

• Cecil Cooper, -, 544
• Dave Parker, MON, 485
• George Brett, CHC, 481
• Keith Hernandez, LAD, 436
• Ted Simmons, -, 433

All-time leader: Tris Speaker, 721

[luckymann]

Who is the active leader in the MLB in career runs?

• Darrell Evans, MIN, 1308
• Dwight Evans, BOS, 1270
• Mike Schmidt, PHI, 1270
• Cecil Cooper, -, 1223
• George Brett, CHC, 1222

All-time leader: Ted Williams, 2119

[luckymann]

A dominant year for our Lincoln boys and they go all the way with a relatively easy passage to their 22nd title.

[luckymann]

Although our pitching continues to look shaky, we still play it safe and rehab Danny Darwin when he comes off the IL.

Before he makes it back, we lose Andy Van Slyke for a minimum IL stint with Cecil Espy back up and he’ll probably stay once rosters expand.

We’re certainly not playing well through this period, with the bats the main culprits as we go 4-11.

Two home losses to the Mets cut our lead to 5 but thankfully that’s about as close as either they or the Expos get as we find our footing and clinch with half a dozen games left.

A late charge sees us win our final 8 games to finish at 101-61.

We extend Dan Plesac on a 1/305 deal.

After tying the Saves record with 45 a year ago, Alejandro Pena makes it all his own this season with 48.




The Red Sox are the first to clinch, doing so easily and finishing with the league’s best record at 103-59.

The two West Division races go right to the finishing post.

With three to play, they look like this…



… and entering the final day, Oakland leads Texas and the Dodgers lead the Braves by one game in both cases.

LA clinches with a win; Oakland with a loss.




Final Leaders and Top 20s

Batting crowns to Wade Boggs, whose bid for 400 comes up well short in the end, and Pedro Guerrero.

Darryl Strawberry, with 42, is the only player to break 40 homers this season. Cleveland's Ruben Sierra leads both leagues with 121 RBI.

While Rickey has to be content with the third-highest total for the season behind Gerald Young (106) and Vincent Van Go (95), his 92 steals for the year take him past Lou Brock as the all-time leader and he ends the season on 1093.

Pascual Perez notches two legs of the Triple Crown, with his 21 Wins the league's highest this season and his AL-low 2.59 ERA just pipped by Joe Magrane across the aisle.

Rocket repeats as the King of K with 225, pipping El Sid Fernandez by 1 and, of course, Alejandro leads the Saves tally.




Monthly Award Winners

August

American League

Batter – Spike Owen (White Sox): 415 / 6 HR / 23 RBI
Pitcher – Roger Clemens (Red Sox): 4-0 / 2.15 / 44 K / 50.1 IP
Rookie – Pete Harnisch (Royals): 3-2 / 2.61 / 30 K / 41.1 IP


National League

Batter – Darryl Strawberry (Mets): 424 / 8 HR / 19 RBI
Pitcher – Jack Morris (Reds): 5-1 / 1.72 / 32 K / 47 IP
Rookie – Pete Harnisch (Royals): 3-2 / 2.00 / 24 K / 45 IP


September

American League

Batter – Dave Martinez (Yankees): 402 / 3 HR / 15 RBI
Pitcher – Charlie Leibrandt (Mariners): 5-0 / 1.80 / 26 K / 50 IP
Rookie – John Smoltz (Braves): 4-0 / 2.14 / 31 K / 46.1 IP


National League

Batter – Von Hayes (Phillies): 351 / 8 HR / 20 RBI
Pitcher – Joe Magrane (Expos): 5-0 / 2.16 / 33 K / 50 IP
Rookie – Jack McDowell (Dodgers): 4-0 / 2.45 / 35 K / 44 IP


Milestones and Observations of Note

400 HR: Darrell Evans

2500 Hits: Dave Parker

2000 Hits: Jerry Mumphrey; Eddie Murray

A fractured elbow brings an abrupt end to the season for Indians reliever Duane Ward, while a fractured rib puts Ozzie Smith on the shelf for 5 weeks.

The Astros lose rookie SP David West in late August, his season ended by a UCL tear, and then 2B John Castino for the year as well a few days later to an elbow break.

Jays outfielder Jim Dwyer also gets an early holiday after suffering a UCL tear, as does Mets Closer Roy Smith thanks to RC troubles.

[luckymann]

Boston Red Sox (103-59) v Oakland A’s (93-69)


This is a beast of a Red Sox team that finished at or near the top in pretty much every meaningful stat cat this season and the A’s take them on without Closer Jeff Reardon. The Sox will be without backup OF Billy Hatcher for the remainder.

Bob Welch gives Oakland another ripper playoff start, 4-hitting the Sox in a 1-0 upset over Roger Clemens, and then the wheels come off for Boston as they make 3 errors and get just 6 hits against Tim Belcher and the A’s whip them 7-1 to head home with their sails full of wind.

The boilover continues as the A’s win again 7-3 behind Frank Pastore and they look all set for the unlikeliest of sweeps when they take a 7-4 lead into the 9th in Game 4 but the Boston bats finally come alive with a 5-spot and they just hang on for a miraculous 9-8 win to keep the series alive and then send it back to Fenway with a more convincing 8-3 victory the following day.

The tide has completely turned now and the Sox force a Game 7 with a comprehensive 12-5 spanking and this epic series comes to a suitably magnificent end as 11 innings are needed before Jose Uribe delivers Boston the miracle win with a walkoff 2-run HR for a 6-4 final.

Mike Greenwell wins the series MVP.





National League
Pittsburgh Pirates (101-63) v Los Angeles Dodgers (84-78)

No injuries for either club ahead of a series we expect to be much more of a challenge than the regular season standings might imply. If you’ve got a strong enough rotation to have Fernando Valenzuela demoted to the BP then you are doing OK.

Mike Scott gets little support as we drop the opener 3-2 at home and Game 2 is perhaps the oddest post-season contest we’ve been involved in as the Dodgers tear Jose De Leon apart with 7 but the pen keeps them quiet after that and our bats come to the rescue in a 12-8 final.

They edge ahead again with a dramatic walkoff 3-2 Game 3 win in 10 as Greg Briley takes Alejandro Pena deep to win it. Bonds and Van Slyke have a hit apiece in the series to this point.

A fine outing by Danny Jackson the next day earns us a 3-1 win but another trainwreck in Game 5 sees Mike Scott treated with disdain as they thrash us 8-1.

They finish us off with a grinding 3-1 win back in Pittsburgh to keep the drought going for at least one more season.

Excluding Game 2 we managed just 9 runs in the other 5 games. That won’t get it done about 99% of the time, I’m afraid.

Keith Hernandez is named MVP.

[luckymann]

Boston Red Sox v Los Angeles Dodgers
Best-of-seven, Dodgers with the home-field advantage.


With Gibby at the Rangers, it would have been wasteful to set up the ’88 IRL rematch here anyway. At least that’s how I choose to look at it.

I’m not sure the Sox want to give these Dodgers a 3-game start and think they’ll be able to pull off the same magic trick, they are a different beast entirely from that fairly young and flashy Oakland group.

Nor do I expect them to and think they’ll get it done in five here.

Should the Dodgers in fact win it all, on the other hand, they’ll move into a three-way tie with the Cubs and Yanks on 6 Championships.

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

Game 1 in Los Angeles

Orel Hershiser (17-10, 3.13) v Roger Clemens (18-13, 4.24)

The Sox take an early lead with 2 in the top 1st but can’t add to them and, when Rocket flags in the 7th, the Dodgers pounce and run over the top of them in an 8-3 final.




Game 2 in Los Angeles
Jack McDowell (18-10, 2.92) v Bruce Hurst (13-8, 3.47)
Dodgers lead series 1-0

A seemingly shell-shocked Sox outfit comes up empty against McDowell, who 3-hits them here in a bad loss.




Game 3 in Boston
Sid Fernandez (17-8, 3.72) v Ramon Martinez (13-14, 3.45)
Dodgers lead series 2-0

The Sox have to dig deep in an arm-wrestle before opening their account in the series with a 5-4 win, walking it off in the 11th when Bill Doran doubles off John Costello.

Mike Greenwell smacks a pair of solo shots while Keith Hernandez is great in a losing cause for LA.




Game 4 in Boston
Pascual Perez (21-4, 2.59) v Terry Mulholland (9-14, 4.16)
Dodgers lead series 2-1

Boston levels it up with a much better performance behind Pasucal Perez, who goes the distance to continue his excellent season. Terry Kennedy drives in 3 for the victors.




Game 5 in Boston
Roger Clemens (1-2, 4.12) v Orel Hershiser (1-0, 2.70)
Series tied 2-2

The strong home team form continues as the Red Sox barely raise a sweat in making it three from three at the Fen.

Rocket goes the distance and Chet Lemon powers the bats.




Game 6 in Los Angeles
Jack McDowell (3-0, 1.12) v Bruce Hurst (0-1, 12.71)
Red Sox lead series 3-2

McDowell is fantastic again, sending us to a deciding Game 7 with another 3-hitter as the Dodgers win it 4-1.




Game 7 in Los Angeles
Ramon Martinez (1-0, 5.68) v Sid Fernandez (0-1, 6.00)
Series tied 3-3

One can only imagine what the atmosphere would have been like for this one at Chavez Ravine with two Latino pitchers going mano e mano.

That said the game itself is a bit of a fizzer, particularly for the home fans as the Sox are always in control and claim title number 13 with a 5-1 victory.

Wade Boggs is named MVP.

[luckymann]

OUT & OUTS

Just Ken Henderson of the White Sox gets the axe this year, while Chi-Chi Olivo of the Tigers doesn't have his contract renewed.


ROSTER MOVES

We execute Larry McWilliams' cheap final year option and re-sign Brian Harper on a 1/250 deal.

John Tudor, Dave LaPoint, Vance Law and Mitch Webster all walk.


The following extensions of note were signed elsewhere:

OF Ruben Sierra (Indians) 4/8640
P Kirk McCaskill (Expos) 4/5550


SIM ACCURACY



*From here on in I'll provide the in-game comparison as well as my own with the edited LTMs.


HANGIN' THEM UP

Some fine careers indeed among this year's retirees but only Johnny has inside running for the HoF in my books and him not even a certainty, although he'll be getting my vote.

[luckymann]