MLB Replay....A new History

[rjl518]

way to go Blue Jays way to go!!!

Hey George Bell...your favorite team just won the world series for the first time...

what are you going to do now?

[HerbertMcHoover]

118 wins and the Pirates were without some of their starters as well. Congrats on your WS!

We are going to be entering a fun powerhouse era soon. Pirates have done the improbable the past four years. Best turnaround in history.

[prisonerno6]

Funny how it is Bret Saberhagen that helped the Blue Jays win in 1985.

[George_Bell]

[JcBoscan]

Don Mattingly's got some nice chops going these days! Good to see him get away from the Yankee facial hair ban.

[George_Bell]

1985-86 Offseason News and Notes

This years draft is not as deep, or talented as last years, which featured a bunch amazing looking prospects. It's still full of MLB talent, but, definitely not as "sexy." Top pick Kevin Brown, who goes to the Reds, is probably a 7-10 pick last season. He's still pretty good though. Bo Jackson goes late in the first to Montreal. I'll be keeping an eye on him.

Both Brooks Robinson and Kaz Inao were voted in last year, but, with my 2 a year policy, they had to wait a year. Robinson is the best defender i've seen. He also played a very long time at a high level. He'd get in on his hitting as well. Inao dominated as a young pitcher in the late 50's and early 60's. There was some drop off, but not a whole lot.

It's been a while since I looked at league wide look at World Series results. This league has now been playing for 85 years. Here's a look at each franchises success, and some very long droughts.

Atlanta has never made a world series. All their success has came when they played in Boston. San Francisco is in the same boat. The team won all their titles as the New York Giants. The New York Yankees, despite only 2 titles in the last 50 years or so, still rank 2nd in championships. The Athletics....wow....will they ever win?

So, i guess i just got traded

George Bell has developed into a pretty dependable run producer. He had his best season in 1985 knocking over 120 in. I guess the prize here is Glenallen Hill, but he's upside isn't what George Bell was. Baltimore looks like a candidate to select first in the 1986 draft.

Here are all the offseason trades


Here are the free agent results

I wish the Jays picked up Tony Fernandez. Yes, they have Cal Ripken, but Tony is only 23, and doesn't seem to get hurt like Ripken does in this world. The Yankees give out the biggest contact I've ever seen to Andy Van Slyke, the top prize in this years class.

[rjl518]

Baerga, Stevens, Hanson and Williams to the Mets.

This will be very interesting.

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by rjl518

Baerga, Stevens, Hanson and Williams to the Mets.

This will be very interesting.

I like their draft alot. That group is capable of being the backbone of a very good team. The Mets have been building, and with Dwight Gooden and Greg Maddux developing, will be pushing the Pirates soon!

[George_Bell]

1986 MLB Preview

Top Player

Top Pitcher

Top Prospect

It's like the Who's who in the PED world!!

[rjl518]

Welcome to the prelude to the Steroid Era...now lets watch some serious baseball

[rjl518]

I remember you telling me to take the Philadelphia Athletics for 1901 of my Expanded Playoffs Dynasty reboot...

Now i see the reason why...

and as you know...i did win the world series with that team in my first year...

good pick George

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by rjl518

I remember you telling me to take the Philadelphia Athletics for 1901 of my Expanded Playoffs Dynasty reboot...

Now i see the reason why...

and as you know...i did win the world series with that team in my first year...

good pick George

It took you 2 years to do what they couldn't do in 85!!! haha

[George_Bell]

1986 MLB Regular Season

Here are the top 10 prospects in baseball heading into the 1986 season.


So I’m sitting here waiting for news of Reggie Jackson’s 700^th home run so I can report the milestone. Its not everday some hits their 700^th home run. In fact, its only happened once. So, week after week after week, im waiting for it, and it doesn’t come. WTF….Ok, so I take a look, and on June 1^st, Reggie has been benched, with 1 home run on the season. He’s now a backup! Reggie, in about 100 at bats, is hitting .187, with a .397 OBP, and a single home run. At 40, Jackson does not look like he will get the playing time to do much more then inch across the plateau. Too bad, as I was hoping he could challenge Killebrew…


The Pirates are off to a bad start, 23-23, a far cry from last years 118 wins. They are closer to last in the NL East then 1^st. Roger Clemens hasn’t won a game, and Don Mattingly is the only hitter hitting over .250. They got the talent, we all know that, but this is a deep hole to climb out of.

Well, that took 1 month. The Pirates right the ship with a 23-6 June, and are back in first place. The Expos are only half a game out, but we’ve seen how good this Pirates team can be. It’s probably upto them if the Expos or anyone else can get close as the season plays out.

Finally. Reggie Jackson hits home run #700!!! The 40 year old is in the final year of his contract. Without a starting spot, I can’t see him returning to Atlanta. I also can’t see him retiring, so I’m officially, again, hoping for a bounce back season from Reggie in 1987, with a new team!!

A ton of trades before the all-star game this year!!!


Wow, despite sitting on the bench, it appears Reggie Jackson still has some value around the league.

Reggie Jackson is traded for the first time in his career, to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the NL’s best team. Duane Ward, whose a good prospect also goes. The deal brings back 4 time all-star and Rube Waddell award winner Pascual Perez. He’s only 29, and having a great season. It’s a bit surprising that the Braves could get a Perez for a 40 year old on the bench and a relief prospect, but lets count this as a shrewd trade I guess. Reggie is immediately inserted into the Pirates starting lineup!

Here are the other 2nd half trades

Heading into September, the Mariners and the Pirates have pretty solid leads. The AL east is a different story. Every team other than Cleveland is in it. I guess my prediction of Baltimore being horrible was right on!!! The Blue Jays have the lead, but 6^th place NY is just 5 games out. Every game matters this month. In the NL West, Atlanta and San Francisco are tied.

The Blue Jays absolutely self destruct, losing 10 of their final 11 games, to eliminate them. The AL East was close. The 6^th place Brewers lose out by just 5 games, and the Yankees made a late run to finish 2^nd, but Boston takes the Division. A 5-6 run by Toronto would have won the thing! Seattle wins their first AL West, posting an impressive 99 wins. The Pirates win 14 less games then last season, but still win the NL east easily. Reggie Jackson is going to the playoffs, and he will play his old team, as the Atlanta Braves end a 58 year postseason drought!

Pascual Perez is fantastic in Atlanta. He finishes the season 8-3, with a 1.99 ERA in 14 starts. The Braves have found an ace.

Reggie Jackson is Pittsburgh’s starting RFer. He plays in 42 games, hitting 5 home runs, with 16 RBI’s and 23 walks. His .179 average isn’t very good, but I have faith that Reggie will come through in his first trip to the postseason!

[HerbertMcHoover]

Don't get the trade at all from the Pirates. If there is one issue I see from watching this replay, it is the trades of star players for insignificant prospects or bench players.

So close Yanks! The AL East in general was close.

This is Reggie's first playoff appearance? Wow.

Keep up the great work.

[George_Bell]

[George_Bell]

Even without Pascual Perez, the Pirates pitching was amazing. Sid Fernandez has passed Roger Clemens as the teams ace, though Clemens as a number 2 is a pretty good thing. Reggie Jackson hit over .400 with a home run in the 5 game series over his former team! His at bats are somewhat limited, but he was pretty effective.

Seattle was the AL’s best team. They have a impressive lineup that features Eric Davis, Will Clark, Steve Balboni and Ryne Sandberg. Sandberg is out for the playoffs however. Orel Hershiser is one of baseball’s best. He’s in his prime at 28, and pitching like it, with a career best season.

This is a close series. Both teams are good, and neither one looks overmatched! The Pirates are the favourites based on their amazing rotation, but Seattle is capable of overcoming that.

[rjl518]

why not...lets root for the OTHER expasnion team...go M's

[George_Bell]

Sid Fernandez is fantastic. He opens up the World Series perfect, minus an error for 5 innings. Bruce Hurst, Mariners starter, does his best to match Fernandez, holding Pittsburgh scoreless. The Mariners break through in the 6^th. Eric Davis doubles in a run, and scores after an error. Those 2 runs hold up, as Bruce Hurst out-duels Sid Fernandez. Seattle wins the opener 2-0.

The Pirates get their first run of the series in the fourth inning. Mickey Tettleton led off with a double, advances to third on a throwing error, and scored on a Rance Mulliniks double play ball. Dickie Noles, Mariners starter, was great the rest of the way, leaving with 2 outs in the 7^th, having only allowed that one run. Roger Clemens, like Fernandez looked amazing, pitching to the minimum through 6. (allowed 2 hits, 2 double plays). Seattle breaks through with back to back singles by Will Clark and Joe Orsulak in the seventh. Steve Balboni came on to pinch run for Clark, and he would score on a ground out. Tie game.

We goto the ninth, still tied at one, with Roger Clemens still on the mound…

Steve Balboni, in the game as a pinch runner for Will Clark homers, to give Seattle the 2-1 lead. Charlie Lea closes it out for the Mariners with a 1..2..3 ninth inning, and Seattle wins game two, 2-1. They lead the series 2-0 with wins over Pittsburgh’s two best pitchers heading back to Seattle!!

Ace Orel Hershiser starts for Seattle. He gets into trouble early, avoiding any damage despite walks and runners in scoring position in the first two innings. Hershiser flirts with disaster the whole game it seems, but always seems to get the big out when he needed to. Nino Espinosa, Pirates starter, is even better. Like other Pirates pitchers, he dominates, until the seventh, when Will Clark, Joe Orsulak, and Jerry Williard single, giving the Mariners the first run of the game. Hershiser then records 6 straight outs, for a complete game shutout. Seattle wins 1-0, and have a stranglehold on the lowest scoring series I’ve ever seen!

Bruce Hurst and Sid Fernandez meet again in a game 1 rematch. Again, both are just fantastic. Pittsburgh spoils a golden opportunity to open the scoring after Don Mattingly and Jeff Kunkel are stranded on 2^nd and 3^rd with no outs. For a team with 1 run in 3 games, that’s inexcusable. Over the next 4 innings, Hurst and Fernandez combine to allow 2 baserunners, and we remain scoreless heading into the bottom of the eighth.


Will Clark with a huge franchise altering hit, gives Seattle the 2-0 lead! Hurst and Charlie Lea combine to get the Pirates out in order in the ninth, and infront of their home fans, the Seattle Mariners, allowing just 1 run in 4 games, sweep the Pirates to win the 1986 World Series!!!

[George_Bell]

[HerbertMcHoover]

Great low scoring WS. Only eight runs scored! Balboni!