MLB Replay....A new History

[HerbertMcHoover]

49-113. Yikes; hope we don't have another Mets-like team on hand. They still have Ripken, right?

The injuries are awful as well.

[George_Bell]

Originally Posted by HerbertMcHoover

49-113. Yikes; hope we don't have another Mets-like team on hand. They still have Ripken, right?

The injuries are awful as well.

I thought my Jays were about to make the next few years amazing after their title, and they just went straight into the toilet. It hurts watching them right now. They make bad decisions, and deserve to be where they are.

Cal Ripken has not had a good career. His last 5 years in Toronto brought a lifetime average which was around .300 down to .271. He's been hurt, he's been declining, and now plays SS for the Tacoma Tigers in AAA. Ripken has fantastic in the early 80's. You couldn't tell with his current look. Here's he is.

[George_Bell]

[George_Bell]

I really do think the Pirates are fading, but the results show differently. They continue to be the best NL team out there. This will be the Pirates 7^th World Series appearance in 8 years. Only the Dodgers of the 1950’s, and the 30s/40s Browns have ever done that. Those Browns and Dodgers teams all won the World Series a bunch of times though. These Pirates are 2-4 in during their World Series run. If the Pirates ever want to be in the discussion for team ever, they need this win badly.

This year is a rematch of the 1990 Series, and the third meeting during the Pirates run with the Tigers. Detroit winning both the 87 and 90 series.

Howard Johnson’s batting average fell 87 points this year. The power is still there, but man, that’s a huge hole in the lineup. Pittsburgh needs to replace him next season. Despite the ratings drop off of a few pitchers, the Pirates are still a good pitching team, and the class of the NL. I don’t think they match up well against the Tigers, but I’m usually wrong. John Kruk ended up being an amazing signing.

Detroit’s the better team. In every way they have more talent. They have the post season experience and the physiological advantage of beating this Pittsburgh squad twice. Ron Gant has developed into a monster, and is capable of winning the series all on his own. Detroit in 5 is my prediction.

[rjl518]

Originally Posted by HerbertMcHoover

49-113. Yikes; hope we don't have another Mets-like team on hand. They still have Ripken, right?

The injuries are awful as well.

Mets-like huh???

[HerbertMcHoover]

Originally Posted by rjl518

Mets-like huh???

130 losses is 130 losses.

[rjl518]

Originally Posted by HerbertMcHoover

130 losses is 130 losses.

[wwines]

If the Tigers win this one a very public apology to Mr. Robles may be necessary! Go Tigers!!!

[George_Bell]

Pittsburgh jumps out to an early 3-0 lead. They accumulate 6 hits and 3 walks over the first 3 innings, so they did leave some runs on the bases. Turns out they needed them. Detroit scores 3 in the fourth, and 5 more in the third, without hitting anything more then singles. There were some walks, and a few ill time Pirate errors, but Detroit nickles and dimes them to death. They finish with 18 hits, and win game one, 9-3.

A first inning throwing error by Tigers 3B Brad Wellman is the key to a 3 run first inning for Pittsburgh. Off to another quick start. Shoddy Pittsburgh defense lets Detroit back into it in the fourth. 2 errors lead to 2 unearned runs to cut the lead to 1. Pittsburgh would go up get those runs back, and lead 6-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth.

Massive comeback by the Tigers, or a choke job by the Pirates. Either way, we are now tied. It wasn’t for long though, as Pittsburgh continued to self destruct. Mike Stanton walks Curtis Pride, allows Omar Vizquel to single, and Lonnie Smith finds a hole, scoring Pride in the bottom of the ninth for the walkoff, come back win. Detroit wins 7-6.

Kirk McCaskill is fantastic in a must win game for Pittsburgh. Infront of his home fans, McCaskill allows 6 hits over 7 innings, without allowing a run. The Pirates would score 3 in the seventh inning. Lance Johnson getting a big, 2 out, 2 run single. The Pirates bullpen does not implode. They complete the shutout. 3-0 Pittsburgh.

Brett Saberhagen allows Pittsburgh to jump out to their third early lead of the series, when they score a single run in the first. He then turns it on and shuts the Pirates down for the next 8 innings. Detroit has their customary big inning in the fourth. Scoring 5 times. Back to back singles by Tom Nieto and Mike Kingery do most of the damage. Detroit wins 5-1.

Not a single home run had been hit in this series until Damaso Garcia hit a 6^th inning blast off of David Wells. The run was Pittsburgh’s first of the game, and cut their deficit to 2-1. They would tie the game in the 7^th, but Detroit responds when Joe Lefebvre hits a 2 out, bases loaded seeing eye single which would plate 2. Pittsburgh loads the bases in the eighth after they draw three straight 2 out walks. Jeff Montgomery enters the game and gets Brad Wellman to fly out. That ended up being the Pirates last real chance as Dave Righetti stikes out the side in the ninth. Detroit wins 4-2, and win the series in 5!

[George_Bell]

[rjl518]

here I am about breaking up the Pirates...man...someone break up the Tigers also....

[HerbertMcHoover]

Lonnie Smith needs some sunblock or get out of the tanning booth sooner than he actually does. My goodness.

[George_Bell]

I ran into a little issue with this years draft. For some reason, the game only created 24 and 25 year olds, so I'm trying to figure out a work around to get things normal again. In the mean time, here are the award winners for the 1991 season.

[George_Bell]

1991-92 Offseason News and Notes

OK….I ran into a problem with the draft. For some reason, the game only generated 53 players for this years draft. I never really look at the draft until draft day, and draft day snuck on on me before I had a chance to check them out. All the players were 23-26, which is weird as I’m using the file that’s supposed to have players enter the draft 16-18. So it's to late to change.

I figured the game already drafted all the players selected in this years draft, like Mike Piazza, years ago. Yet, I could not find them. I could not find them in my last 15 file either which is in 1989. I would have expected Piazza to be drafted around the 86-89 time.Very strange.

I figure downloading an OOTP update copied over my database files.
So, I believe there needs to be another draft, or the correct players, that should be entering the league this year, will never exist. The original draft, which we’ll call the old man draft has already taken place, and I can’t reverse, other then deleting the players, which I don’t want to do. So, what I will do is hold another draft in the start of December, for the actual amateurs that should have been picked in the first place. The draft order will be randomized 3 times. What ever happens, happens.

Here are the results from the old man draft, which has Mike Piazza taken first by the Blue Jays. Wonder why he wasn’t around 5 or 6 years ago.

Great. Now the game freezes when I try to advance past the proper draft. I will release all the players into free agency, and let the teams bid on them. Annoying.

Ok, I cant find a way to release the draft pool into free agency either….
So, these players, like Derek Jeter, Mike Cameron, Derek Lowe, and Johnny Damon are sitting in the draft pool, and I'm unable to get them into the game fairly. Hopefully, they will stay there until next years draft, and it will be a loaded year.

Blue Moon Odom is elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He received 86.1 percent of the votes. Odom is the 2^nd Indians pitchers to enter the Hall of Fame. Bob Gibson was the first. Slim Harris and Louis Tiant were both vetoed by yours truly.

Floyd Wicker received 78.9 percent of the vote in his first chance, which is good enough for enshrinement. His massive home run totals are a good enough reason to let this stand. Wicker will probably be the only player to enter the Hall in the uniform of the expansion Washington Senators, who eventually moved to Texas.

I like the new team history tabs in the meet the team page OOTP displays. I figure the offseason would be a good time to share these as a quick view of each teams history in the league. Up first, the AL East.



Team records include years 1871-1899, which were in the game before I played a game.

Here are is this years free agent class


Legendary Detroit GM Robles is killing it. Darryl Stawberry is coming off a horrible injury plagued season, and if healthy, makes baseballs best team that much better. Tigers also add a dominant closer. George Brett enters his 20th season with the team he kept beating in the World Series, and Bob Geren will give the Wriggley faithful something really big to cheer about!

Here are the offseason trades

[HerbertMcHoover]

Looks like the Dodgers and Pirates will be in the WS together for a few more years.

[rjl518]

i like the JT Snow pick by the Mets...and the Marlins are right around around the corner

[George_Bell]

Oops. I gorgot to do the preseason predictions this year. It's too late to get them, so lets just assume Detroit and Pittsburgh are favoured to win their divisions!!

Top Player

Geren becomes baseballs best player right after joining the Cubs. Nice signing. His ratings arent as impressive as you would think, but his results are!

Top Pitcher

Broken record here. Since joining the White Sox, Gooden has won 2 MVP awards, the only pitcher to ever accomplish that!

Top Prospect

Jason Wood is a former ninth round draft pick, who has been developing extremely well. 237 players were taken before him, and baseball experts now think he's the best young player around!!

[George_Bell]

1992 Regular Season

Here are baseballs top prospects.

Mike Piazza has a pretty good debut month in Major League Baseball. 12 home runs and 31 RBI’s. His feet aren’t even wet yet.


Piazza

Piazza has a pretty good May as well, blasting 11 more home runs, bringing his total to 23. I wonder what the rookie record is, and I wonder if OOTP even keeps that kind of thing. It's probably Mule Suttles. I will go looking…

It’s early, but neither the Tigers or the Pirates are in first place. I know people want to see some new blood in the postseason. I do, but neither team is even close to being out of it. A month from now, both squads can be in first place.

Blue Jays rookie Mike Piazza is this years leading vote getter for the all-star game. The rookie garnered almost 3.1 million votes and will start at catcher for the AL. Piazza is leading baseball with 38 home runs at the break.

Some notes looking at the all-star rosters. Derrick White is having a monster season. One of the rare guys that I just don’t remember. Detroit’s Ron Gant has 19 home runs and 46 stolen bases. He’s gotten very little love from me, but damn, that’s amazing. The blend of power and speed is probably more valuable then any player in baseball. Ron Gant may very well be the main reason for Detroit’s dominance of late. Jose Canseco, Gary Sheffield, Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera and Jim Thome have all officially arrived!



So Ron Gant has hit the 30/30 mark three times. He’s put up massive production the last three years and has a career high 82 stolen bases in 1988. He draws a good amount of walks. A lot of strikeouts, so when he does manage to hit the ball, very good things usually happen. Gant is on pace for a monster season. I’ll keep an eye on him.


Ron Gant's stats

Here are the trades that took place in 1992. A few years since a real blockbuster took place.

Mike Piazza is joined by Mark McGwire on top of the home run list. Both players have 50 home runs heading into September. Being in such an offensive era, there are going to be a lot of runs at Lou Gehrigs record in the coming years.



Detroit trails Baltimore by 6.5 games. Pittsburgh is 9.5 behind St. Louis. This maybe the end of an era in Major League Baseball. The last time neither the Tigers or Pirates made the playoffs, was 1982. The following year, 1983, was the last time one of them wasn’t playing in the World Series. The Twins and Braves also have nice leads, in what looks like a uneventful September.

The Tigers do their best, going 20-8 in September, and winning 103 games, showing the league that they are not done, but it’s still an amazing 10 games behind the 113 win Baltimore Orioles! Baltimore goes 25-6 to win the AL East. Pittsburgh finishes the season in third, ending their incredible run. St. Louis, will play Atlanta in the NLCS. The Braves and the Cardinals are two of the least successful franchise in baseball history. The Cardinals have just two WS appearance, both wins, and the Braves have not won in 74 years. The Twins win the AL West for the third straight season.

Mark MwGwire is the only guy who kept up their amazing home run pace. A bunch reached 50, but McGwire hit 63, which is one short of his career high 64, done 2 years prior.

Ron Gant dropped off in the second half, hitting only .255, with 32 homers and 67 stolen bases. That’s just 11 home runs and 19 stolen bases in the 2^nd half. Alone it’s great, but compared to his first half...

[George_Bell]

[George_Bell]

I am expecting a lot of offense in this series. St. Louis has a wonderful lineup. From top to bottom, this team can hit. The top 6 is basically an all-star team. Canseco is leading off with 53 home runs!!! As good as the Cards are at hitting homers, they are equally bad at pitching. Only starter Cal Eldred has a ERA under 5.00 and it’s fairly close. The bullpen is strong, and has saved this team a few times. This maybe the worst rotation to ever pitch in the World Series.

Minnesota can hit and pitch. Now, they did score more runs then St. Louis, but their lineup isn’t remotely as scary. Somehow, they get the job done though. Mark McGwire isn’t just the straw, he’s the glass, the liquid, he’s everything. Take out McGwire, and this team isn’t here. Fernando Valenzuela is the ace, and a 3.07 ERA is pretty good this season.

I gotta think that offense from St. Louis will be to much for the Twins to overcome. I expect some high scoring games, with a overpowering performance from St. Louis.