1984 Detroit Tigers

[stevem810]

Originally Posted by BaseballMan

Nice pennant race. At times i thought you still had a chance and at other times i thought it was over. Even though you were not able to dominate the competition like the 84 Tigers, this pennant race was pretty good.

Yeah, my sentiments exactly. It's been an amazing conclusion to September with 4 teams still in the race. Some of these games, especially the one just concluded, are being decided on the difference between turning a DP and beating the throw for a force out, clearly the case in game 159.

[BaseballMan]

Well we're pulling for ya.
How bout posting box scores for the
last few games of teams still involved in the race if you have the time.

[stevem810]

Attachment 496820

[stevem810]

[stevem810]

G 161 Montefusco vs Rozema

Rozema gave the Tigers 5 innings of 1 hit shutout ball. O'Neal gave them 2 more innings of shutout ball. Bair 1 inning. If you are counting that adds up to 8. The Tigers had a 4-0 lead going into the 9th. Scherrer, Mason, and finally Willie Hernandez could not get the final out after the Yanks rallied for three runs as a 2 out single tied it. Going to the 10th Hernandez gave up another run and the Yanks had an improbable 5-4 win.

And, the Jays lost. Detroit would have been 1 out with 1 to play.

NYY 93-68
Tor 93-68
Bal 92-69
Det 91-70 ELIMINATED

G 162 Fontanent vs Morris

Jack got the L but only gave up 2 runs pitching on 3 days rest. He finished 17-14/ 3.98 ERA which was a pretty nice turnaround from those tough outings in the beginning of the season. The Yanks had incredible comebacks against Detroit and really earned their AL East title as the Jays lost again on the final day.

[stevem810]

[stevem810]

I simmed right through the post-season as my interest was only the Tiger games which turned out to be very exciting, even if a bit disappointing. However, the final month really upped the experience as all the moves required certainly taxed my managerial resources with so many critical moments.

For those curious the L.A. Dodgers defeated the White Sox to claim the World Series.

Thanks to all who followed along. It certainly added to the experience knowing that many of you were following the action.

After a brief break I'll ponder another full season to play. Of course, it will be in version 18, right?

[stevem810]

Just thinking out loud about what could come next...

The 2003, 43-119 version of the Tigers but it's doubtful I could take all the L's. Yet it would be a challenge to try and get the most out of that group

1915 American League Tigers...Red Sox with 20 year old Ruth won the pennant with a 101-50 record edging out Cobb and the Tigers 100-54.

1961 with the M&M boys. Tigers won 101 but were a distant second to those Yanks.

2006 Tigers...Such a good team all year through the playoffs and then watching them self destruct on Cardinal bunts made it almost too painful to watch. Maybe it could be different this time?

No shortage of baseball history makes it fun to ponder.

[BaseballMan]

1961 sounds interesting since most people just remember the Yankees that year. 1935 and 907 or 1908 might be good as well.
I like the 2003 the best. Yeah i know losses are tough to take and you want to win the Series but it might be more interesting than the great years as you try and find a lineup just to be competitive. It may be more rewarding to have Jeremy Bonderman go14-11 with the 03 Tigers than having Jack Morris win 20 with the 84 Tigers.
Certainly will be more challenging.

[stevem810]

Originally Posted by BaseballMan

1961 sounds interesting since most people just remember the Yankees that year. 1935 and 907 or 1908 might be good as well.
I like the 2003 the best. Yeah i know losses are tough to take and you want to win the Series but it might be more interesting than the great years as you try and find a lineup just to be competitive. It may be more rewarding to have Jeremy Bonderman go14-11 with the 03 Tigers than having Jack Morris win 20 with the 84 Tigers.
Certainly will be more challenging.

I actually did replay the 1908 simming without managing a team. After reading 'Crazy 08', a book written by Kait Murphy. (rated #21 on all time baseball books for a desert island...right behind Moneyball).

There is some pull to the 2003 replay. I recall attending the Tiger - Pirate game at Comerica with another long time Tiger fan friend and we would change seats every half inning and sit wherever we wanted as there were so few fans in attendance. We struck gold that day as the Tigers pulled off a rare W.

I'm thinking it over. Thanks for the idea(s).

correction: In researching the 2003 Tigers I realized it was actually 2002 that the above Pirate game was attended. That version won 55 games and lost 106.

[stevem810]

An interesting scenario might be:

Replay Tigers 2003 as manager only using line ups/injuries historically
Replay Mets 1961 as opposing manager only using line ups/injuries historically

The challenge being can Detroit out perform the NY team and thereby shed the 'worst' team tag they currently share.

Each day might look something like this:

April 1
tigers lose 3-1 to the Brewers. 0-1
mets lose 9-4 to the cubs. 0-1

April 2...etc.

edit: I'm ruling this one out. It's an interesting idea but not compelling enough for such a long season. Might be fun at some point to do a series between the two teams but for now it's strictly back burner material.

[webrian]

I had started a sim of the 1915 Tigers (I called them the "Ty-gers" for obvious reason) and that's a fun team to play with.

I'd highly recommend that sim.

[stevem810]

Originally Posted by webrian

I had started a sim of the 1915 Tigers (I called them the "Ty-gers" for obvious reason) and that's a fun team to play with.

I'd highly recommend that sim.

Cobb is such an intriguing player that I often ponder a scenario where he can be a central figure like that season (.369 BA w/ 96 steals).

[Dargone]

Great thread! I vote for the 1915 Tigers. That would be a fun team. Please, please, please