A Fictional Fling beginning in 1961

[David Watts]

Tons of player movement prior to the 1966 season.

The transaction that broke my heart was the Tigers trading Mickey Lolich to the San Francisco Giants. Ugh! I was so stunned, I didn't even make note of the player/s they received in return. The Tigers continue to bleed of all remnants of that great 1968 team that beat the Cardinals. I will check when I get home, but I wonder if 1966 is a walk year for Lolich? Tigers may have figured they wouldn't be able to sign him. Good news for the Tigers if they pan out is, they have both Dave McNally and Mike Cueller in their farm system. Cuellar, Stottlemyre and McNally might make for a nice rotation.

The Tigers also sent Dick Mcauliffe packing. Mcauliffe played SS for the team in 65, as Jerry Lumpe manned 2B, Lumpe is also gone for 66.

The Cardinals traded Bob Gibson to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Guessing Gibson danced a happy dance when he heard the news. The Cardinals have been awful and the Pirates always seem to find themselves in the thick of things. Of course, Gibson has to pitch better for it to matter. He's still under .500 for his career.

Sandy Koufax signed a free agent deal to play for the New York Yankees. Koufax will fill the spot in the rotation vacated by the loss of Billy O'dell, meaning Sandy has some really big shoes to fill O'dell has been really good over the last few seasons. Koufax had his best season in 1965.

Harmon Killebrew signed a deal to play for the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies have him hitting 4th behind Dick Allen. Figure that's good for 60-80 home runs over the course of the season. Killebrew moving to the Phillies has to make Don Mincher happy. Mincher hit 46 home runs in 61, won a AL MVP in 62, but would find himself on the bench if the Twins decided Killebrew should start at 1B. Will be interesting to see what type of season Mincher has in 66

Don Drysdale signed a deal with the Chicago White Sox.

Back to the Twins. The Twins have Reggie Smith starting at 2B to start the season. This means a young Rod Carew is his backup. Thing is, Reggie Smith is basically Tony Phillips/Shane Halter in that he's rated to play all over the field. Heck, I mentioned Mincher above....could he lose his starting position to Carew? In the end, the Twins need to find a way to get Rod's bat in the lineup.

[David Watts]

Juan Marichal is now a Atlanta Brave. The Braves add Marichal and then lose Phil Niekro to a season ending injury. Ugh.

The New York Mets have added to Tom Seaver to their rotation, making him their opening day starter. I forgot to check if the Cardinals have finally added to Steve Carlton to theirs.

Catfish Hunter took home Rookie of the Year honors in 65 for the Kansas City Athletics. Don Sutton took home those honors in the NL.

[David Watts]

The preseason predictions have the Orioles winning the American League and the Cincinnati Reds repeating as National League champs.

[David Watts]

Aurelio Rodriguez was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the 66 season. Somehow he has to make his way to Detroit.

Hard to believe the Tigers will start their 3rd season in a row with offensive juggernaut Don Wert as their leadoff hitter. I joke, but Don may be their best suited player for that role. He doesn't hit for average, but he does get on base quite a bit. The Tigers have Wert at 3B, Jerry Kenney at SS and Dick Tracewski at 2B. Opposing pitchers have to be shaking in their boots(why are they wearing boots to begin with) having to face that trio 3 to 4 times a game. Can't remember who they have manning 1B. Kind of hope the Giants give up on Stormin Norman and ship him back to Detroit.

Keep trying to decide if I want to edit Jim Northrup so that he's not from Breckenridge Texas, but instead his actual birth place Breckenridge Michigan. Will doing so jinx him an ruin his career? Of course, later I will have to make the same type of decision with Verne Ruhle. The game has him born in Coleman Texas instead of Coleman Michigan.

Eddie Brinkman is the starting SS for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Would love to see him find his way to Detroit as well.

I think this past offseason was the first one not featuring at least one transaction involving Mickey Stanley.

I fast sim Spring Training every season. I have to ask, is there anything more scary that reading all news stories that accumulate through Spring Training and Opening day? The M*A*S*H* report is so depressing. Learning how many star players will miss the entire season is not always the best motivator to get one fired up for the season. That being said, I've never enjoyed playing this game without injuries, so it is what it is.

[David Watts]

I'm still loving the fact that teams aren't packing their rosters full guys that never ever seen a day in the big leagues. In the past when I would try historical minors, I would end up quitting right away when it seemed like every pitching rotation featured 1 or 2 actual big league pitchers and 3 or 4 guys that never pitched higher than Triple A. Same goes for position players. Probably just me, but I always felt like the guys from the minor league database performed like fictional players when I had recalc turned on. The Tigers having guys like Wert and Tracewski in their starting lineup is so much better than the AI deciding Wilson Koegalsmell and Cody Blisterlip are the better choices based on their stellar careers at A level ball.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by Reed

Without recalc, it will be interesting to see how fast development takes him down. (Unless David slowed down the aging process.)

It seems that at the beginning of a players career dev looks at what a player did but not when.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by David Watts

I'm still loving the fact that teams aren't packing their rosters full guys that never ever seen a day in the big leagues. In the past when I would try historical minors, I would end up quitting right away when it seemed like every pitching rotation featured 1 or 2 actual big league pitchers and 3 or 4 guys that never pitched higher than Triple A. Same goes for position players. Probably just me, but I always felt like the guys from the minor league database performed like fictional players when I had recalc turned on. The Tigers having guys like Wert and Tracewski in their starting lineup is so much better than the AI deciding Wilson Koegalsmell and Cody Blisterlip are the better choices based on their stellar careers at A level ball.

Playing with dev and recalc. I edited career minor leaguers so they are a maximum of three stars. But players can out perform their ratings. The 67 A's had a career minor league 3B rated 2.5 stars hit 30 HRs.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Tons of player movement prior to the 1966 season.

The transaction that broke my heart was the Tigers trading Mickey Lolich to the San Francisco Giants. Ugh! I was so stunned, I didn't even make note of the player/s they received in return. The Tigers continue to bleed of all remnants of that great 1968 team that beat the Cardinals. I will check when I get home, but I wonder if 1966 is a walk year for Lolich? Tigers may have figured they wouldn't be able to sign him. Good news for the Tigers if they pan out is, they have both Dave McNally and Mike Cueller in their farm system. Cuellar, Stottlemyre and McNally might make for a nice rotation.

The Tigers also sent Dick Mcauliffe packing. Mcauliffe played SS for the team in 65, as Jerry Lumpe manned 2B, Lumpe is also gone for 66.

The Cardinals traded Bob Gibson to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Guessing Gibson danced a happy dance when he heard the news. The Cardinals have been awful and the Pirates always seem to find themselves in the thick of things. Of course, Gibson has to pitch better for it to matter. He's still under .500 for his career.

Sandy Koufax signed a free agent deal to play for the New York Yankees. Koufax will fill the spot in the rotation vacated by the loss of Billy O'dell, meaning Sandy has some really big shoes to fill O'dell has been really good over the last few seasons. Koufax had his best season in 1965.

Harmon Killebrew signed a deal to play for the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies have him hitting 4th behind Dick Allen. Figure that's good for 60-80 home runs over the course of the season. Killebrew moving to the Phillies has to make Don Mincher happy. Mincher hit 46 home runs in 61, won a AL MVP in 62, but would find himself on the bench if the Twins decided Killebrew should start at 1B. Will be interesting to see what type of season Mincher has in 66

Don Drysdale signed a deal with the Chicago White Sox.

Back to the Twins. The Twins have Reggie Smith starting at 2B to start the season. This means a young Rod Carew is his backup. Thing is, Reggie Smith is basically Tony Phillips/Shane Halter in that he's rated to play all over the field. Heck, I mentioned Mincher above....could he lose his starting position to Carew? In the end, the Twins need to find a way to get Rod's bat in the lineup.

A lot of people share your feelings. Fans want to win but they want to win with players they know and like.

[David Watts]

Very early in the 1966 season. Was stunned to see the Twins sitting at 8-1, while hitting .189 as a team.

Don Drysdale is off to an O-4 start with his new team the Chicago White Sox. He's managed to pick up 4 losses with and ERA under 3.00.

Rookie Tom Seaver is pitching like a seasoned vet for the Mets so far. 2 or 3 wins without a loss and a 0.82 ERA.

Steve Carlton is now a part of the starting rotation for the Cardinals. He's off to a 2-0 start so far.

[Reed]

How are Mr. Cub and the Say Hey Kid doing?

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by Reed

How are Mr. Cub and the Say Hey Kid doing?

I really need to check to see where Ernie Banks is now that 1966 has begun. Ernie has been a strange case to say the least. He had a decent season for the Cubs in 1961(the year I started), hitting 30+ home runs. He then left the Cubs, signing a free agent deal with the Yankees. Right off the bat I knew something might be up when the AI had Ernie batting in the bottom half of the Yankees lineup. Ernie never really got things rolling in 62 and by the 2nd half of the season, he wasn't even a regular starter. He played very little over course of the next 2 seasons. In 65 he suddenly reappeared starting at 1B for the Phillies. It didn't last long, though, as the Phillies released him. Soon after his release, he was signed by the Pirates. He would be the Pirates starting 1B for most of the 65 season. He hit for very little power and didn't exactly light things up average wise either. His fielding ratings are flat out awful, a red 20 at 1B. He may still be with the Pirates, but he's not starting if he is. The Pirates acquired Wes Parker and he is their starting 1B in 66.

I will probably have to talk about Willie Mays when I get home and can have his numbers in front of me. He's been great at times, good at times and mediocre at times. Injuries have been a factor at time.

[David Watts]

Up to May 16 1966. The Tigers, Yankees and Angels are all tied at the top of the American League with 19-12 records.

The San Francisco Giants are in 1st place in the National League with the Pittsburgh Pirates nipping at their ankles.

Willie Horton looks like he's hell bent on avenging last years AL MVP snub. Horton is hitting .384 with 15 home runs. Both are best in the AL.

The demise of all offense is really starting to set in. Teams are hitting for low averages and the team ERA's are shrinking. Hoping I get a 30 game winner out of this before it's done.

Willie Mays is already on the IL for 3 weeks.

Mickey Mantle is off to a great start, hitting in the .350 range.

Aaron has 6 home runs, but only hitting around .260.

Harmon Killebrew is off to a nice start with his new team the Phillies

Al Kaline is hitting leadoff against right handers and 3rd against leftys. He's been knocking the cover off the ball this season, hitting 10 home runs already. Al is hitting around .280.

The Twins moved Reggie Smith to SS and have Rod Carew batting 3rd in their order. Carew has been lights out, hitting .340 since getting the starting nod.

Tom Seaver continues to shine for the Mets.

Pete Rose continues to hit for a high average. Pete's hitting around .330 so far. Same goes for Joe Morgan of the Astros. Morgan's average is lower, around .305, but he continues to get on base at a above .400 clip. The only time Morgan has been below .400 OBP was his rookie season.

[David Watts]

One thing I'm really enjoying about this so far, is getting to see all the players I grew up watching make their Major League debuts. Morgan, Rose, Seaver, Carlton, Carew, Oliver, Palmer, Hunter, Horton etc. If I decide to to this again, I may turn on the draft to spice things up.

[David Watts]

Don Drysdale has to be having second thought in regards to his decision to sign with the Chicago White Sox. Don is now 0-7. Ugh! Thing is, his ERA is still in the low 3's, so he's clearly not getting any help from his offense.

[Brad K]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Pete Rose continues to hit for a high average. Pete's hitting around .330 so far. Same goes for Joe Morgan of the Astros. Morgan's average is lower, around .305, but he continues to get on base at a above .400 clip. The only time Morgan has been below .400 OBP was his rookie season.

Has Morgan started hitting HRs yet?

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Has Morgan started hitting HRs yet?

I think he has 7 so far in 1966. Will have to check his totals overall. Frank Howard went to the Astros in 65, but only stayed one season. Hondo only hit 10 home runs for Houston. He's back with the Dodgers in 66. Then again, the Dodgers don't play in the most homer friendly park either.

[Brad K]

The value of OBP wasn't understood during these years. But with today's understanding the Reds got a steal on the trade even if Morgan hadn't turned into a HR hitter.

November 29, 1971: Traded by the Houston Astros with Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham, César Gerónimo and Denis Menke to the Cincinnati Reds for Tommy Helms, Lee May and Jimmy Stewart.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by Brad K

Has Morgan started hitting HRs yet?

Morgan's high for a season is 23. He's already hit 15 this season, so he should reach 23 an then some. The Astros are playing great baseball in 66. They've been as high as second place in the standings. Long way to go, but it's cool to see them having some success.

[David Watts]

Well the end may be near for Ernie Banks. As of mid June 1966, he remains unemployed.

Don Drysdale is now 2-10 on the season. Can he reach 20 losses by August? His White Sox are in last place in the American League.

Dean Chance continues to be an absolute stud on the mound for the Angels. Dude finished with a sub 2 ERA last season and is once again below 2 in 66.

The Angels are 6 games up in the American League. The Yankees are in 2nd place.

The San Francisco Giants lead the National League. The second place team in the NL tends to change daily, with the Astros, Reds and Pirates taking turns in the runner up position.

Willie Horton leads the AL with 22 home runs.

Harmon Killebrew continues to enjoy the change of scenery in Philadelphia, leading the NL with 18 home runs.

I mentioned Don Mincher of the Twins getting a chance to start again now that Killebrew is playing for the Phillies. Mincher has 14 home runs so far for the Twins.

[David Watts]

Would give anything to never see stuff involving pre-1900 stuff. Turns my stomach