Worst to First - The Sequel

[NYY #23]

The White Sox again had trouble doing much of anything against a Cub's starter, as Harry Salisbury held us to a pair of runs spread out over nine innings. Bob Weiland pitched well for the White Sox, except in the 6th inning when he gave up 4 runs.

Bip Roberts had an RBI double in the 8th, and Rondell White singled home a run in the fourth as we had just 6 hits.

With 7 hits and 3 runs in the past two games it's not too surprising that we've gone to 2-1.

[NYY #23]

I almost feel bad for Fernando Valenzuela having to face off against Jack Easton again. Fernando gave up just 7 hits tonight and 3 runs, but once again Easton was better, going 8 1/3 innings while holding the Cubs to just one run. Easton improves to 2-0 in the series and raised his ERA to 0.55.

Garry Maddox tripled and scored the first run of the game. Salvador Perez was 3-4 for the night, and Emil Brown and Jerry Standaert drove in runs for the White Sox.

The series is now tied up at 2 games apiece.

[NYY #23]

Win or lose we were going back home for Game 6, but it would feel a lot better with a win than a loss. Don Drysdale got the start and was shaky early again, but settled down for his first postseason win, allowing 5 runs in a complete game to lower his ERA to 8.78. It still wasn't a great game, but a win is a win.

Outside of the 4th inning we scored just 1 run on 5 hits, but the big inning helped us to victory. Todd Hollandsworth and Rondell White had back to back triples, while Bip Roberts singled home two runners in our big inning.

Both Bip and Ryan Roberts had two hits for the night, as did Carlos May, Hollandsworth, and White.

The White Sox now lead 3 games to 2 with a chance to finish off the series in Game 6.

[Painmantle]

I Predict Chicago will win!!!!

[Honorable_Pawn]

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by Painmantle

I Predict Chicago will win!!!!

I love how you go out on a limb with your predictions!

[NYY #23]

Bob Weiland pitched 8 innings to pick up the series clinching win for the White Sox. Salvador Perez was 3-4 for the night, including an RBI double. Carlos May also doubled home a run.

While the game was a little too close for comfort at times, we managed to battle back each time the Cubs scored. For the Cubs it's now their 3rd World Series loss in the last five years, although no team has more championships in their history than the Cubs and their 7 World Series victories.

The White Sox get just their second World Series victory in their history and first since 1933.

I've now approached the 1/3 point after winning my tenth World Series in my fourth year in Detroit. This was my seventh straight trip to the World Series where I've come out victorious. That type of luck can't continue, but if I can keep this pace we'll need just 90 more seasons which would take us through 2037. Divisional play will add a new wrinkle as well. Being 1/3 of the way through sounded much better to me though.

[yougo1000]

Mixed feelings. Happy you are leaving the Sox. But upset you beat the Cubs

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by yougo1000

Mixed feelings. Happy you are leaving the Sox. But upset you beat the Cubs

Thanks, this one was weird, especially since the Cubs were my last team. I'm definitely happy to move on though.

[Honorable_Pawn]

couple of questions:

1. what was your quickest turn-around?
2. What happens if the worst team is ateam that you have already won with. Up to the next worst team?

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by Honorable_Pawn

couple of questions:

1. what was your quickest turn-around?
2. What happens if the worst team is ateam that you have already won with. Up to the next worst team?

1. My quickest turn around was the Red Sox, who truly went from worst to winning it all the next year. That was a fluky thing though, as the only move I made was drafting Ken Griffey, Jr. in the amateur draft and the team had enough injuries the year before that their return plus Griffey plus an improbable season was all it took.

I've done two teams with two years, the Athletics and the Tigers. The A's were a cheap win, winning the World Series with an 85 win season. The Tigers were my favorite though, because they went from a 55 win team to 102 wins. Multiple years of high draft picks gave them a pretty good base though.

2. I haven't reached that point yet, but I know it will eventually. I'm pretty sure I'd take the next worst team as long as it still was a bad team. I'm not against fast forwarding a couple years too if the options are too good.

[NYY #23]

With the White Sox World Series win I'm now done with both Chicago teams. I've hit the infamous 'Resign from team' button and it's time to wrap things up from my four years in Chicago with the White Sox. I think I'll remember Chicago for the financial problems I inherited, but that did allow me to add both Don Drysdale and Garry Maddox in the same draft. Drafting Carlos May over Carlos Delgado turned out to be a blessing in disguise, even though it wasn't my choice at the time. May has a WAR of 13.6 in three years, versus 6.6 for Delgado.

But ultimately the White Sox were primarily built through the draft. Easton, Drysdale, and Weiland were all #1 picks by Chicago, although only Drysdale on my watch. Our top three offensive players this year we're drafted by me (Maddox, Standaert, and May).

And I think I left the White Sox in pretty good shape. There are a couple positions they'll need to address long term, but they've got a good core. Which will make things even more fun because I'll be going back to the American League to take them on, with the 58-96 Indians. But we'll get to the Indians in just a bit.

Jhoulys Chacin, Rondell White, and Garry Maddox won Gold Gloves. Todd Hollandsworth won the American League Rookie of the Year after hitting .269 with 14 home runs, 76 RBI, and 59 runs scored. I was also the recipient of my second straight Manager of the Year Award.

One player was elected to the Hall of Fame this year, 1B Jay Kirke.



Chicago White Sox - 52-102 (.338) 50 GB
1944 - Chicago White Sox 72-82 (.468) 18 GB (Season Score - 15)
1945 - Chicago White Sox 81-73 (.526) 7 GB (Season Score - 55)
1946 - Chicago White Sox 86-68 (.558) 2 GB (Season Score - 75)
1947 - Chicago White Sox 92-56 (.622) - GB (Season Score - 100)

And with our 10th World Series victory that closes the chapter on OOTP 13. Up next the Cleveland Indians and OOTP 14.

[edm]

Nice job with the franchise. I may try something similar once I'm done with my other league, maybe starting with an expansion team with a crappy roster or something Good luck with the Indians!

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by edm

Nice job with the franchise. I may try something similar once I'm done with my other league, maybe starting with an expansion team with a crappy roster or something Good luck with the Indians!

Thanks, and by the looks of things I'm going to need a lot of luck in Cleveland!

[NYY #23]

Next up on the journey from worst to first is team number 11, the Cleveland Indians, who are coming off a season in which they finished 58-96. Unfortunately for Indians fans there hasn't been much recent success, finishing no higher than 3rd place in any of the last 15 years.

In fact the Indians have just 4 winning seasons in those 15 years, and just experienced their seventh straight losing season and haven't finished higher than 6th place.



For the Indians pitching isn't the biggest concern. Don Gullett is the old man in the rotation at 27, with Andy Benes (25), Silvio Martinez (24), and Walter Thornton (19) at least providing youth. I'd be surprised if that rotation won a World Series, but it's also not a last place rotation, at least if they fully develop.

In the outfield center fielder Bill Ramsey led the team with 3.3 WAR, 25 year old left fielder Turner Barber had a WAR of 2.9, and our right field platoon of Fred Brown and Jeff Conine is serviceable.

29 year old Johnny Peralta is our only keeper in the infield at shortstop, although to be fair both Ollie Bejma at second and Gregg Jeffries at 1B had decent seasons, they are just both over 36 years old so they will be shopped around in an effort to get younger.

We do need some help at third base, or shortstop if Johnny Peralta slides over, although I'd rather have a better bat at third base.

Levin Jones was our starting catcher last year, and he was worth -1.6 WAR. He shouldn't plan on returning to Cleveland. 27 year old Chris Gimenez can at least provide defense, and he hit .341 in 41 at-bats last year. In fact he's a .308 career hitter, but that's just in 65 at-bats. More playing time will likely expose his weaknesses.

So as we head into the draft and offseason our top targets are:
1. Third Baseman
2. Catcher
3. Second Baseman
4. First Baseman
5. Right Fielder

Money doesn't appear to be a concern in Cleveland, and our coaching staff is on contract at least through next year, so for now they'll remain in place. I'm looking forward to the draft to see what type of an offseason this will be in Cleveland.

[NYY #23]

In my opinion the draft class was on the weak side with the Indians drafting first overall. There were three options that I considered, catcher Bob Brenly, third baseman Ray Knight, and the guy my scouting director recommended, starting pitcher Alan Benes.

I wasn't crazy about all three as our top pick, but I ended up going with my scout. Even though pitching isn't the top priority, you can never have too much pitching. Plus he really was the best player available and we now have cornered the market on the Benes brothers.

In the second round we drafted first baseman James Loney. Shortstop Juan Bell was our third round pick, followed by starting pitcher Duke Esper and third baseman Henry Burroughs.

I'm not sure how much this draft helped, but we'll head into the offseason knowing where we need to improve.

[Painmantle]

Nice Job with the "Wrong Sox"

Let me know what you think about 14 as far as the learning curve going from 13 -14 the interface overall impressions and such. I'll be getting it pretty soon!

[Painmantle]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

In my opinion the draft class was on the weak side with the Indians drafting first overall. There were three options that I considered, catcher Bob Brenly, third baseman Ray Knight, and the guy my scouting director recommended, starting pitcher Alan Benes.

I wasn't crazy about all three as our top pick, but I ended up going with my scout. Even though pitching isn't the top priority, you can never have too much pitching. Plus he really was the best player available and we now have cornered the market on the Benes brothers.

In the second round we drafted first baseman James Loney. Shortstop Juan Bell was our third round pick, followed by starting pitcher Duke Esper and third baseman Henry Burroughs.

I'm not sure how much this draft helped, but we'll head into the offseason knowing where we need to improve.

The Benes Brothers are from Evansville, Indiana so you got that going for you!

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by Painmantle

Nice Job with the "Wrong Sox"

Let me know what you think about 14 as far as the learning curve going from 13 -14 the interface overall impressions and such. I'll be getting it pretty soon!

This was my last league on 13, and I didn't want to jinx things before winning the World Series with the White Sox.

I'm enjoying 14 quite a bit though, the interface seems quite a bit cleaner. The playoff screens are nice, and I've really enjoyed 14 so far. I don't think there was much of a learning curve, but it just improved on 13. I definitely think it's well worth the upgrade.

[NYY #23]

The first deal of the offseason was sending Gregg Jeffries, David Eckstein, and reliever Chick Brandom to the Washington Senators for catcher Frankie Pytlak. While Jeffries was a little difficult to give up since he was one of our better hitters, his age is a negative, and I'm hoping Pytlak can step in behind the plate.

The second deal of the offseason was a bigger deal (actually a little bigger deal than I like), but we sent SP Walter Thornton, 2B Ollie Bejma, RF Jeff Conine, RF Torii Hunter, and CF Bill Ramsey to the Reds and received back 3B Doug DeCinces, RF Jack Clark, and CF Russ McKelvy.

This trade already makes me uneasy. Walter Thornton was the top prospect in baseball at 19 years old with a full season of baseball under his belt. Ollie Bejma was our starting second baseman and he hit .271/.389/.370 last year while Bill Ramsey hit .306/.340/.402. Not to mention both Conine and Hunter were going to play a role on the team next year. They are veterans, but still could contribute.

We are getting back two very good players though.

DeCinces - .281/.350/.455, 23 HR
Clark - .271/.396/.508, 32 HR

DeCinces is 25 and Clark is 24 while McKelvy is a throw in. Luckily both DeCinces and Clark have some pop, because I've now traded away my top three home run hitters - Conine (16), Hunter (13), and Jeffries (9).

This trade also means that Kevin Jordan is our new second baseman, but at least he's good defensively. By default Russ McKelvy is our new starting centerfielder.