MLB Replay....A new History

[rjl518]

The M's win the world series...how about that?

[wwines]

I am sure if someone told the Pirates they would give up 7 runs in four games they would have been ecstatic...

[George_Bell]

[George_Bell]

1986-87 Offseason News and Notes

Ken Griffey Jr is the top pick in this years Rookie draft. He looks good, but not as good as you would think. I could make the argument that Albert Belle, Kevin Appier or Craig Biggio were would be better picks, but Griffey is a safe pick. The Mets grab Pat Hentgan, one of my favourite pitchers late in the supplemental round.

Sadaharu Oh is a easy induction. He had a legendary career, and while be included when the greatest of all time is discussed. Eight MVP awards is amazing! Dick Ellsworth is probably right on that line of is he or isn't he, and I've been pretty strict, but I always though Ellsworth was really good, and he pitched in the shadow of Sandy Koufax his whole career.

I'm wondering if anyone has any specific things they want me to share. I tend to use the offseason post as a way of looking at some part of this leagues history, but if someone wants to see a specific career record, or single season list, or anything, just let me know.

Today, I got curious about perfect games. If the game tells you about a perfect game in the news, it's really easy to miss. I haven't noticed one in a while, so i checked the records. Turns out they are much rarer in this universe then in real life. Infact, it's been almost 20 years since the feat was accomplished. Here's the MASSIVE list of all the perfect games thrown.

Rube Waddell, Hal Newhouser, Sandy Koufax each have thrown 4 no hitters. Noone has hit 5. In 1969, the Reds HOF pitcher, Bill Singer threw the only World Series no hitter in baseball history.

Here is the 1986-87 free agent class.

The Pittsburgh Pirates might never lose again. They got stronger, and when i say they may never lose, that doesn't include the World Series, where they have lost 2 straight years.

Not shown on this list, is that Reggie Jackson signed a 1 year contract in Boston. Robin Yount joined the Angels, and Paul Molitor signed with the World Champion Mariners!

Here are the offseason trades

[HerbertMcHoover]

Wow, almost 20 years since the last perfect game. Damn. BTW, how is Seaver?

The new logos are always great.

[prisonerno6]

What is that on Orel's face?

[rjl518]

have to love the Pat Hentgen Pick for the Mets...

just a few more years to go until the arrival of the Florida Marlins!!!

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by prisonerno6

What is that on Orel's face?

I haven't done it nearly enough, i love adding facial hair to guys, i dont know why...haha

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by HerbertMcHoover

Wow, almost 20 years since the last perfect game. Damn. BTW, how is Seaver?

The new logos are always great.

Tom Seaver, 42 years old, just spent a year in Baltimore, and lost 20 games! He's not that bad though, at least in my opinion. The big news surrounding Seaver though, is that 10 years after leaving the Mets, and signing with the Cubbies, Seaver has returned. He signed a 1 year contract, presumably to finish out his HOF career back where he started!

[George_Bell]

1987 MLB Preview

Top Player

Top Pitcher

Top Prospect

[HerbertMcHoover]

The Pirates are really dangerous now. Thanks for the picture of Seaver. Hopefully this is his final year and he ends it on a good note.

[rjl518]

Originally Posted by HerbertMcHoover

The Pirates are really dangerous now. Thanks for the picture of Seaver. Hopefully this is his final year and he ends it on a good note.

same here...amazing...the Pirates are predicted to be the best team in baseball...but they cant win the series...

[Hendu Style]

It seems Rickey is an All-star year after year. Could you share his career stats so far?

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by Hendu Style

It seems Rickey is an All-star year after year. Could you share his career stats so far?

Absolutely

Here is Ricky's ratings as we sit in August of 1987. He's a 3 time stolen base champ, 6 time gold glove winner, and 8 time all-star. 1978 Rookie of the Year, and 1983 MVP. Thats alot of hardware for the 28 year old!

Here are his career stats. The totals are slightly off, as for some reason, OOTP counts minor league stats when everything is shown together.

[rjl518]

Rickey Henderson...IMO the best leadoff hitter in baseball history

[George_Bell]

1987 MLB Regular Season

Here is the top 10 prospects heading into the 1987 season

Starting off his return season with a milestone, Tom Seaver was the man of the moment, winning his first start during his triumphant return to the Mets. The win was also the 350^th of his career, the 19^th pitcher to hit the mark. It was Seaver’s 201^st victory in a Mets uniform.


Seaver in his younger days

Reggie Jackson is not getting a lot of playing time in Boston. 43 plate appearances over the first two months. He’s hit 3 home runs though. The power is still there. He probably wont ever hit .250 again, but I maintain he can be a 30 home run guy, AND walk enough to be a plus WAR player. Stop laughing...

Waiting for one last hurrah!

Robbery. Highway Robbery is what just happened. The Padres GM, Greyson Neale, needs to be arrested after what he just did to the Tigers.

38 year old Dusty Baker is a decent platoon option. I’d take Dave Engle over him though. The Padres get Engle, and RANDY JOHNSON, who still likes like a great pitching prospect. WOW. This is probably the worst rip off trade I’ve ever seen. If I was reading a single player dynasty, and the guy writing it pulled of this deal, id stop reading, too unrealistic!!! How the hell did the cpu do this one? Lets just assume Detroit gm Lorenzo Robles is an idiot.

Here are the other first half trades

Wow, Steve Balboni has 31 home runs at the all-star break. Pretty nice debut season with his new team, the Angels. 30 home runs at the all-star break means he’s now being watch with 65 in sight. Balboni has hit atleast 36 home runs every year he’s played regularly. Barry Bonds has 31 homers too, but I really don’t like talking about him, so my head might be in the sand there!



Here are the 2nd half trades

Both Balboni and Bonds drop off the pace a bit. Balboni has 42 and Bonds has 41 has September hits. The record watch is over for this year.

Detroit has a massive lead on the Yankees, looking for their first ever AL east title. Maybe GM Robles isnt an idiot.The Mariners lead Oakland by 7, looking to repeat. Pittsburgh has baseball’s best record, and that’s good for a nine game lead on the Mets and Cubs, and the NL West is Atlanta's to lose with a 10 game lead on the Dodgers.

The races end as non-races, and everyone holds on to their big leads.

Reggie Jackson spends all year planted on the Red Sox bench. He plays in 46 games, hitting 3 home runs, and walking 21 times. I really think he can still be productive, but I doubt he’ll be given another chance.

Tom Seaver has a solid return to the Mets, going 8-12, with a 4.54 era. That’s much better then the disaster that was the 1986 season with Baltimore. It’s probably enough to bring Seaver back for another year.

Dusty Baker hits .249, with 3 home runs in his 60 games as a Tiger. The 38 year old was dealt for top prospect Randy Johnson, one of the dumbest deals in baseball history. Dave Engle, thought of as the throw in to the Padres, outperforms Baker with a .285 average, and 6 home runs. Randy Johnson is a September callup in San Diego, pitching 7 innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs. I'm gonna say the Tigers are going to the playoffs despite their GM!

[George_Bell]

[George_Bell]

Despite both teams being around for 87 years now, this will be the first meeting between these two clubs who have never changed their nicknames.

Detroit has good balance, which could have been better if Dave Engle was still on the team instead of Dusty Baker. Former Yankee, Keith Hernandez is a great hitter at the top of the order that probably is ignored when the next 6 batters all have double digit home runs.

Free agent signing Mike Moore leads the amazing Pirates pitching staff with a 2.41 ERA, but OOTP has placed him into the closer role for the playoffs! WHY!!! Steve Bedrosian saved 35 games this year, 186 in his career and a career ERA of 2.95. The Pirates have 5 potentially dominant starters. I don’t claim to know how to best take advantage of that in a short series, but I know I’m not moving a starter like Moore into a closers role, when my closer hasn’t been a problem. Moving on…. The Pirates have lost 2 straight World Series, a third would be embarrassing. Don Mattingly is probably the best player in baseball. He hit .342 this year, with monster power, production, and only struck out 16 times.

[HerbertMcHoover]

Rangers have a really nice foundation coming soon. The Padres seem to be trying to fix their mistake of trading Mike Schmidt -- as I said, if there is one downside to OOTP are the trades like that and the one with Randy Johnson. Teams just don't trade those types of players for what they got in the game.

I got the Pirates.

[rjl518]

man...the Pirates just wont go away will they?