Meet the Mets, meet the Mets--dynasty est. 1962

[rjl518]

1973 WS Preview:

The TEX Rangers took out the DET Tigers to win the ALCS.
So the 1973 World Series will feature the NY Mets and the TEX Rangers.
TEX had 101 wins this year, so they get the home field in this contest.
On paper, the Rangers look average.
Mickey Lolich is pretty much their best pitcher, while Gary Ryerson looks like he is no slouch either.
At the plate, Don Baylor and Darrell Evans are the anchors of the lineup.
This team seems to know how to win, and even though the Rangers don't look impressive, i have to treat them like they are who i think they are!
Steve Carlton, Don Sutton, Vida Blue and Gaylord Perry, will be the first four pitchers of the series.
In 1973, the AL instituted the WORST rule in baseball history, the Designated Hitter!
I have decided to give that honor to Lou Pinella, while Pete Rose will play RF since he is the better defensive player, when we are in Arlington Stadium.
In 1973 historically, the NY Mets did make the World Series, but lost to the OAK Athletics in seven games!
I think we should win this whole thing this time.
But, OOTP is finicky when it wants to be.
The 1973 World Series is here, and its next!!!

[rjl518]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

Not yet, but beating a 111 win is a nice step along the way!

We would have won this series in 4 games if we didnt blow the 2nd game!

Here is the box score of that crazy game:
Tom Seaver went 23-8 for this season, we killed him in this series!
Also, it looks like getting Tony Horton was the Transaction of the year!

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by rjl518

We would have won this series in 4 games if we didnt blow the 2nd game!

Here is the box score of that crazy game:
Tom Seaver went 23-8 for this season, we killed him in this series!

That is a crazy game! Your world is upside down with Tom Seaver pitching for the Giants and Vida Blue pitching for the Mets.

[rjl518]

Wish i could report a happier note, but such was not to be.
The TEX Rangers win the 1973 World Series over the NY Mets 4 games to 3.
The series went the distance, but the Mets couldnt.
Highlights of the series on the 2nd page.

[rjl518]

Tug McGraw blows a BIG save opportunity in Game 1 which allowed TEX to win the game.
Vida Blue and Steve Carlton didnt win a single game they started.
Bud Harrelson breaks up a no-hit bid by Don Sutton with just one out left in the 9th in Game 6!
The NYM committed THREE crucial errors in Game 7 to allow TEX to take an early 2-run lead.
As i said, OOTP is finicky when it comes to managing WS games.
IDK...maybe the game engine raises some sort of skill level when you manually play games out.
I feel that i made all the right moves during these seven games, and we still lost.
All i know, is that we got beat by a team that was not as good as we was.
But, on to the off-season and we shall see what 1974 has in store for us.
Off-Season reports coming up.

TEX Rangers WIN World Series 4-3

[rjl518]

Steve Carlton gets a Gold Glove AND a Silver Slugger Award.
Wes Parker gets a Gold Glove.
Johnny Bench gets a Silver Slugger Award.
But the best award goes to Vida Blue, who won the 1973 Cy Young Award!!
Congrats to all my award winners for 1973!

[rjl518]

One of my favorite parts of this dynasty is the off-season and draft.
The CHC gave Matty Alou for Johnny Oates and i felt that the trade made sense since i have Charlie Moore in the minors ready to play.
As you can see in the draft, some big names came off the board before i could pick.
Keith Hernandez made sense because Im not sure how long Tony Horton is going to play this well.

[rjl518]

NYM Transactions:

Since the beginning of the Mets, Gaylord Perry has been there.
I drafted him in 1962 and he helped us win a title in 1970.
But he was getting on in years, and it was time to say goodbye.
I traded him to HOU for Wayne Twitchell, a good young relief pitcher.
I also sent Jim Lyttle to BOS for Chris Chambliss, who will be a backup 1B.

[rjl518]

The Predictions have us winning the NL East again.
In order to get back into the playoffs, i expect nothing less with the HOF rotation i have.
I think this is going to be a very good year.
So everyone on your feet and give a cheer for...

THE 1974 NEW YORK METS!!!

[NYY #23]

That sucks that you lost to the Rangers. Perry looks like he's had a rough career. Good luck in '74.

[rjl518]

I have kinda gotten used to these slow starts, as i know what this team will be like in the middle of the season.
We are at .500 after April, 3.5 GB of the CHI Cubs for the NL East, but that really doesn't mean anything.
Vida Blue gets POTM, and Phil Niekro is off to a great start as well.
Russell, Thomasson, Dent and Greg Gross have taken over the hitting leadership for now.
Tony Perez isn't hitting very well, but what he DOES hit, goes out of the park, (no pun intended).
Lets see what May has to offer, as the 1974 campaign has only just begun.

[rjl518]

The month of May turns out to be a lot better, as the NY Mets go 18-9 to now find themselves in 1st place in the NL East.
Only one game separates the Mets from the CHI Cubs, but im not worried.
However, two terrible injuries occurred.
Phil Niekro and Rod Carew are done for the year.
So, i brought up Tim Johnson as a backup 2B for Bill Russell, and Keith Hernandez to back up Chris Chambliss at 1B.
I was told that Keith might be a future gold glove at that position one day.
I don't know...we shall see.
Unfortunately, to make room for them, Willie Stargell was placed on waivers.
That does hurt, but Willie is just not doing it for us anymore.
Sometimes, the business of baseball really...SUCKS!!!
Greg Gross picked up ROTM.
Nice going, kid.

[rjl518]

The month of June turned out to be a good month as we go 19-11.
The CHI Cubs continue to stay hot themselves, as we wind up .5 GB of the division leaders.
This season might go down to the wire to see who will host the NLDS.
Vida Blue seems to have found his 2nd wind, as he owns NL batters.
Greg Gross continues to impress me.
Even though he is a rookie, he is playing like a veteran.
At this time, we have the best lineup in the NL, and the HOF pitching staff is doing what HOFamers do...win baseball games.
On a somber note, Willie Stargell did not want to be demoted and no other team would take him in a trade.
Therefore, i was forced to take the salary hit and he was subsequently released.
The fans were angry with me, but if we make the playoffs again, i think they will get over it.

[rjl518]

Congrats to Johnny Bench, Vida Blue and Tony Horton for making the All-Star Team for the NY Mets!

[rjl518]

Typical NY Mets.
When we get further into the season, this team just gets better.
We go 19-7 for July, and we hold a slim 2.5 game lead on the CHI Cubs.
Someone needs to tell Vida Blue that he is out of his mind.
He is 16-3 with a 2.35 ERA.
He is really having a good year.
He gets the POTM award.
Bench, Horton and Gross continue to smack the ball where opposing fielders ain't.
Still two months left to go, but i guess we should already be preparing for another NLDS against the Cubs.
Lets see what happens.

[rjl518]

We slow down a little as the NY Mets go 16-12 for August.
But the CHI Cubs have a tougher month as the Mets take an 8 game lead going into September.
It looks like that the Cubs will be on the menu for the NLDS for the 4th straight time.
However, the STL Cardinals might have something to say about that, as they are only 4 games behind the CHC.
The NYM are chugging along, and as i bring up some players via roster expansion, i just want my team to get ready for another run at the Postseason.
One month left, and then, into the playoffs we go.

[rjl518]

The NY Mets go on a tear and win the NL East with a 105-57 record.
Its the 1st time the Mets have had over 100 wins since 1971 when they won 112 games.
We didnt win the world series that year either.
I think this team has something to prove and i think they will go ahead and do it.
There is so much talent on this team, and i truly believe that if they don't win the whole thing, it will be a HUGE disappointment.
Tops in the NL in pitching and batting makes for a team hungry to win it all once again.

[rjl518]

1974 NLDS Preview:

Once again, the NY Mets will play the CHI Cubs in the NLDS for the FIFTH straight year.
I'm going to have Carlton, Sutton and Blue pitch the three games at Shea.
Vida Blue was my top pitcher for the year, but he needs rest.
So, if you happen to have Steve Carlton as your number two and Don Sutton as your number three, you must have a pretty good rotation.
The lineup is staying as is for i am not messing with it.
As we all know, OOTP is finicky when it comes to the playoffs, but i believe we should handle the Cubs with no problem.
The NLDS is up next.

[rjl518]

The NLDS went the distance, as the CHI Cubs gave the NY Mets all they could handle.
But it was the Mets who prevailed in the best of three series 2-1 @ Shea Stadium.

Game 1: CHC 4 NYM 1
Steve Carlton got the nod, but gave up 3 quick runs early.
The Mets lineup had a lot of trouble getting past CHC Dave Goltz, who pitched a gem of game.

Game 2: NYM 5 CHC 2
Don Sutton pitches his A$$ off as he practically goes the distance.
CHC Ron Santo is thrown out at home by Alou for the third out.
Chris Chambliss and Johnny Bench both go 2 for 4, with Johnny getting 2 RBIs in the game.

Game 3: NYM 9 CHC 4
Vida Blue was ready, but since my left-handers were having trouble, i made a last minute switch and went with Phil Niekro.
Phil gave up a run early, but settled down as the Mets gave him some serious run support.
Gary Thomasson went 3 for 4, and Bucky Dent had 2 big RBIs.
Niekro helped his cause with a couple of RBIs of his own.
The rookie, Keith Hernandez, went 2 for 4 in place of Tony Horton who was finishing a three game suspension.

NY Mets WIN NLDS 2-1

[rjl518]

1974 NLCS Preview:

The NY Mets will be facing the HOU Astros in the NLCS.
Not surprised.
The Astros with Nolan Ryan, Joe Morgan, and Gaylord Perry, who i traded away in last year's off-season, will be hungry for their 1st trip to the World Series.
It will be Vida Blue, Steve Carlton, and Don Sutton for the rotation.
Tony Horton is back from suspension, but Matty Alou is listed as day-to-day after getting hurt in the last series.
Every time the Mets play the Astros in a playoff series, its anybody's guess how its going to go.
On Xmas day, it's the NLCS.
Lets hope Santa doesn't leave us with coal in our stockings.