Webrian's Dick Howser Challenge

[so49as]

Game 144 – September 16
2 – Seattle
4 – Royals

WP – Bret Saberhagen (17-11)
LP – Rick Mahler (5-4)
SV – Dan Quisenberry (29)

Saberhagen pitched a good game. 7 innings, scattered 9 hits, struck out 8 and walked nobody. If he wins out his scheduled games, he'll win 20. Farr struck out 3 in the 8th to bridge the gap to Quisenberry.

8 starters collected hits with only Royster wearing the collar. Wilson, Orta, Brett, and White got the RBI's.

With the expanded rosters, I'm not letting Royster linger into late innings in the field. I'll let him play until about the 6th inning, and then begin swapping in either Biancalana, Concepcion, or Lenny Faedo. Using suitable outfield pinch hitters to keep the stale bats in the bin.



Game 145 – September 17
1 – Seattle
8 – Royals

WP – Danny Jackson (8-5)
LP – Jed Murray (2-1)

We rolled on Jed Murray, 7 runs on 9 hits in 5.2 innings. Royster was again the only Royal to not get a hit. Cooper went 3-4 with 3 RBI's including a solo home run.

Jackson, still suffering some back tightness, went 7 innings, giving up only 1 run on 6 hits. He struc out 6. Gura and Cone pitched the 8th and 9th. Cone, with a WHIP of 4.20, only gave up 1 walk.





Game 146 – September 18
6 – Seattle
8 – Royals

WP – Al Holland (4-6)
LP – Ed Nunez (3-9)

1 out in the bottom of the 9th, down by 1, and I thought the game was done. But Daryl Motley ripped a 3-0 pitch into the left field seats.

Bud Black started but they just got to him. 7 innings, 6 runs, (1 unearned thanks to a Jerry Royster's 26th error), 1 walk and 7 K's. Cooper got 3 hits, White 2 hits including his 17th homer in the 5th. And Motley went 2-3 with 4 RBI's including the 3 run shot to win the game.


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Slipped into 4th place, but Texas swept the Twins so we stay 7 games out of first.

September Records:
11 – 6: Chicago
11 – 6: Texas
10 – 6: Oakland
10 – 7: Kansas City
7 – 9: Seattle
5 – 13: Minnesota
1 – 15: California (12 game losing streak to start the month!

77 – 69: Texas
73 – 71: Chicago
71 – 76: Minnesota
70 – 76: Kansas City

Texas's magic number to eliminate us is 10. (If I did my math correctly)

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My record 70-76; 4th; 7 games behind Texas
Real Life: 82-64; 1st; Tied with California

Real life lost 4 to the Mariners

[so49as]

Motley's walk off Home Run

[so49as]

I've also promoted Dennis Leonard to the Majors. Injured in real life, I'm in challenge mode and couldn't add the injury, so I stuck him in the minors and locked him down until September.

In 5 minor league starts, He was 0-3 with an ERA of 6.14, and 17 walks to 6 strike outs.

3 against the Twins who are trending down, but have a 6-1 record against me this year.

[so49as]

Game 147 – September 20
3 – Minnesota
9 – Royals

WP – Charlie Leibrandt (16-10)
LP – Frank Viola (17-12)

The Twins took a 3-2 lead in the 6th on a Gorman Thomas 2-run home run, but we responded more than in kind. 8 Royals came to the plate and 4 scored. Hal McRae hit a 3-run home run, and Cecil Cooper had an RBI triple. Then in the 7th, we brought 9 to the plate, scoring 3. McRae had an RBI double, and Cowens, a 2-run single.

McRae went 3-4 with 4 RBI's on the day. Brett scored 3 runs. Leibrandt went 7 innings giving up 7 hits and 3 runs, striking out 4.

We scored 5 on the Frank Viola, the Minnesota ace.

Unfortunately, we did lose Frank White to an injury. Awaiting word from the medical team.



Game 148 – September 21
6 – Minnesota
5 – Royals

WP – Ricky Horton (1-0)
LP – Bret Saberhagen (17-12)
SV – Ron Davis (23)

There were angry words at the computer for this one. Should have walked Hrbek with first base open, but I didn't and he hit a 2-run homer in the top of the 8th to put the Twins up for good.

Biancalana, subbing for White, and Royster made back to back errors in the 6th that led to a Gary Gaetti grand slam.

Ugh


Game 149 – September 22
1 – Minnesota
0 – Royals

WP – Ron Davis (5-8)
LP – Dan Quisenberry (2-7)
13 Innings

Mike Smithson pitched like a near ace and held bats silent. So did Mark Gubicza. Both pitchers threw complete game shutouts, but neither went the distance and we lost. Smithson – 10 innings, 5 hits, 4 walks, 1 K. Gubicza – 9 innings, 5 hits, 7 walks.

With 2 outs in the top of the 13th, Kirby Puckett singled and Mark Salas followed with an RBI double to right.

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Frank White was diagnosed with a herniated disc in his back. Out 2 months.

It's the bottom of the ninth and the fat lady's warming up. Down 8 games with 13 left and in 4th place.

Texas's magic number to eliminate us is 7. (If I did my math correctly)

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My record 71-78; 4th; 8 games behind Texas
Real Life: 84-65; 2nd; 1 game behind California

[so49as]

Game 150 – September 24
7 – Royals
13 – Seattle

WP – Roy Thomas (4-4)
LP – Steve Farr (2-2)
SV – Bill Swift (2)

This one got out of hand when I should have pulled Farr, but I optimistically thought he could get the switch hitting Spike Owen out. He doubled to make the score 7-6, and then the Mariners went on to pile on 6 more against Farr and the September callup bunch of of Ferreira and LaCoss. Dennis Leonard struck out the only batter he faced in his Major League action since May 1983.

On the plus side, Cowens had 3 RBI's and Orta went 3-4 with a solo home run. Brett had his 43rd double, and Willie Wilson his 5th home run.

That might be all we're playing for now, personal achievements. We're 7.5 behind Texas and their number on us is 5.


Game 151 – September 25
3 – Royals
12 – Seattle

WP – Matt Young (19-5)
LP – Charlie Leibrandt (16-11)

Leibrandt didn't have it and gave up 9 over 4 innings. Cone pitched well for 3.1, but ended up walking 6 and the 3 final runs were tagged to him. Cecil Cooper went 4-4

After today's loss we're back in 5th place, 8.5 behind Texas and their number on us is 3. Mathematically possible, but logistically impossible!



Game 152 – September 26
3 – Royals
4 – Seattle
12 Innings

WP – Bill Swift (4-1)
LP – Steve Farr (2-3)

Up 3-2 in the 9th, thanks to a Cecil Cooper 3-run home run, Quisenberry couldn't hold the lead, and then exited the game in the 10th. Steve Farr gave up the game-winning home run to Phil Bradley in the 12th.

Saberhagen struck out 10 in 6.2 innings.




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Texas's magic number to eliminate us is 2. (If I did my math correctly)

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My record 71-81; 5th; 8. games behind Texas
Real Life: 86-66; 1st; Tied with California

[so49as]

Game 153 – September 27
3 – Royals
4 – Minnesota

WP – Mike Smithson (12-11)
LP – Mark Gubicza (9-12)
SV – Ron Davis (24)

An early George Brett homer gave us a 3-run lead, but the Twins pecked away.

Our 82nd loss, so no above 500 record, and we'll have to win out, with Texas losing out to force a playoff game.

Quisenberry has a partial tear of his labrum. Hopefully he'll be back healthy by spring training.


Game 154 – September 28
1 – Royals
3 – Minnesota

WP – Ken Schrom (10-9)
LP – Bret Saberhagen (17-12)
SV – Ron Davis (25)

All we could muster was a Dave Collins solo home run, and with game 154, we are officially eliminated.



Game 155 – September 29
2 – Royals
3 – Minnesota

WP – Alan Sontag (8-13)
LP – Bud Black (8-13)

Late inning runs sunk us again. Black cruised through 7, scattering 3 hits, but Sontag had pitched well too. We plated a run when George Brett scored on a Pat Sheridan single.

In the bottom of the 8th though, a walk, double and Roy Smalley home run plated the Twins' 3 runs.




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George Brett is 5th on the active career slugging percentage leaders with a slugging percentage of .503.
This year he's up a tick at .530.

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My record 71-84; 5th; 9.5 games behind Texas
Real Life: 86-69; 2nd; 1 game behind California

[so49as]

Game 156 – September 30
1 – California
4 – Royals

WP – Charlie Leibrandt (17-11)
LP – Ron Romanick (9-19)
SV – Scott Bankhead (1)

I was only planning on letting Leibrandt go long enough in the game to get his season ERA under 3, but extended it to 5 innings so he could get the win. But he was cruising so I figured I'd let him get the CG/SHO if possible. But Bob Grich launched a homer in the 7th. With his season ERA securely under 3, I pulled him in favor of Bankhead who struck out 5 in 2.1 innings and picked up his first career save.

Lots of players subbing in and getting starts this week.



Game 157 – October 1
2 – California
4 – Royals
10 Innings

WP – Steve Farr (3-3)
LP – Donnie Moore (2-9)

Al Cowens, starting in place of Dave Collins, hit a game-winning 2-run home run off Donnie Moore to capture our first win in what feels like weeks.

Saberhagen gave up 2 runs in 7.1, which like Leibrandt the day before, got his ERA under 3 for the season.

Starting in their place for their last turn in the rotation this season will be Dennis Leonard and Larry Gura. Gura has announced his retirement and it's unlikely that I'll retain Leonard in '86.



Game 158 – October 2
0 – California
2 – Royals

WP – Mark Gubicza (10-12)
LP – Kirk McCaskill (16-15)

No Quisenberry, no problem. Gubicza blanked the Angels on 5 hits. He struck out 7.

The offense didn't exactly light things up though, 8 hits but all split between 4 players. Orta had 3; Collins 2; Cooper 2; Wilson 1. Brett and Orta got the RBI's.



Game 1598 – October 3
2 – California
3 – Royals

WP – Danny Jackson (9-6)
LP – Jim Slaton (4-10)
SV – Steve Farr (3)

Onix Concepcion had a 2-run home run. His first since Spring Training.

Jackson gave up 5 hits in 8 innings with 1 run, 3 walks and 4 K's.

Uff. Only 13500 in attendance.

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Chicago and Texas ping-ponged between first and second, Texas currently has a 1 game lead.

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My record 75-84; 5th; 7 games behind Texas
Real Life: 89-70; 1st; 1 game ahead of California

[so49as]

Game 159 – October 3
2 – Oakland
1 – Royals
10 Innings

WP – Jay Howell (7-6)
LP – Steve Farr (3-4)

Crazy offense continues. Buddy Biancalana hit a solo home run.

Bud Black cruised into the 9th, but back to back doubles tied the game at 1. In the top of the 10th, the A's took the lead on a fielder's choice.




Game 160 – October 4
9 – Oakland
6 – Royals

WP – Jim Clancy (5-6)
LP – Dennis Leonard (0-1)

I gave Leonard the ceremonial start and wanted him to get through an inning, but 12 batters, 9 runs, 7 hits, and 3 walks, I couldn't let him get tagged any more.

5 relievers, most of the September call-up variety, kept us in the game. Mike LaCoss, David Cone, Mike Jones, Tony Ferreira, and Steve Farr pitched 8.1 innings, limiting the A's to 4 hits. The struck out 3, but walked 8.

I wholesale swapped the lineup at the top of the 7th and we ended up having 12 batters get hits. Orta had 3 RBI's

Texas and Detroit clinched.



Game 162 – October 5
7 – Oakland
4 – Royals

WP – Russell Kibler (11-8)
LP – Scott Bankhead (2-2)

I let Gura go 4 innings. He gave up 4 runs on 4 hits and struck out 2. Bankhead backed him up, pitching 4 innings, and striking out 9! But he gave up a 2-run home run to Mike Heath to put the A's up 6-4.

The offense was led by my starting DH's today. Orta went 1-4 but drove in 3 on a 7th inning home run. I let McRae roam left field for the final three innings in case the 40 year old wants to retire this offseason. He doubled in a run in the 7th and scored on Orta's home run.



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Detroit and Texas win the American League divisions. Like in real life, the Dodgers and Cardinals took the National League Division pennants.

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My record 75-87; 5th; 9 games behind Texas
Real Life: 91-71; 1st; 1 game ahead of California

[so49as]

Failure!

Glancing at a few players it seems that most didn't play up to what they did in real life. But it's why you play the game!

The team finished with the 2nd best starters ERA at 3.52; the 5th best bullpen ERA at 4.01; the best FIP at 4.01; and the best pitching WAR at 25.2. Saberhagen led the AL with an 8.1 WAR.

But we were down in most of the offensive categories. 11th, 12th, or 13th in Runs, OBP, WAR, wOBA, and Home Runs. 4th in stolen bases thanks to Wilson and Collins who accounted for 70 of our 143.

George Brett finished with career highs in games (161) and doubles (46). He collected 201 hits, his most since '79. And he led the team with 24 home runs and 90 RBIs. Also, after not stealing a base in '83 or '84, he stole 11.

The offense probably sunk us. My lack of determining a definitive starting right fielder, and deploying a constant shuffle between 3 players didn't help. Pat Sheridan finished the season hitting .282 with a .737 OPS. Cowens and Motley fell into a similar area.

All together, the three shortstops I employed made 43 errors. And we made the fewest double plays in the American League. Only Royster could hit over 200 and he made the most errors.

Aside from the offense, the bullpen was a bit of a let down. The record of relief pitchers was 12-30. It will receive much needed attention this offseason. Although, Bankhead (if not starting) and Cone could fill much needed innings competently.

[so49as]

Final batting and pitching stats

[so49as]

In the ALCS, the Tigers beat the Rangers 4 games to 1. Lou Whitaker hit .444, and Kirk Gibson had 2 HR's and 6 RBI's.

In the NLCS, the Cardinals beat the Dodgers 4 games to 1. Willie McGee hit .500. Andy van Slyke hit .333 with 2 HR's and 6 RBI's. Jack Clark had 1 HR. The Cardinal pitching held the Dodgers to no home runs.


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The Cardinals go on to win the '85 World Series 4 games to 1. Andy Van Slyke was series MVP, hitting .368 with 5 RBI's.

[so49as]

One minor leaguer of the year award. Israel Sanchez won the Florida State League's reliever award.

He finished the season in the rotation with 4 starts, including 1 in the playoffs. He finished 8-12 with 29 saves. An ERA of 3.71 and 109 K's in 99.1 innings. The 29 saves was tops for the organization, tied with Quisenberry.

He does not appear on my top 20 prospect list.

Other minor league notables:
Melido Perez (SP - A/AA) - 16-3, 2.17 ERA, 146 K's. He is the #3 pitching prospect in the organization behind Cone and Bankhead.

Mike Loggins (LF - R) - .340, 10 HR's, 38 RBI's, 15 SB
Jere Longenecker (1B - A) - .309, 33, 104, 16 SB
Kevin Seitzer (RF - AA) - .308, 4, 49, 7 - Probably will move to first base next year. His arm lacks the necessary strength for the outfield.
Mike MacFarlane (C - R) - .311, 18, 63. Threw out 38% of attempted steals. He is the top catching prospect in the organization.

[so49as]

3 players retired.

Larry Gura (as previously noted) - 128-101, 14 saves (113-85 as a Royal). 3.71 ERA with 850 strikeouts.

John Wathan (announced during the playoffs) - .259, 22 HR, 266 RBI's. Mostly played as a backup, but started a majority of the games between 1980 and 1983. Rare speedster as a catcher, he stole 114 bases in his career

Greg Pryor - .255, 13 HR, 137 RBI. A backup for me, played for 4 years in Chicago with 2.5 as a starter.

[webrian]

What a ride.

I agree, it looks like the pitching fell a bit short of real-life and the hitting fell way short. The x-factor, I think, is the inability to get Lonnie Smith from the St. Louis Cardinals like KC did in real life. It was a steal for the Royals, galvanizing the top of the order and giving the team another valuable veteran with postseason experience to count on.

But OOTP just won't let that trade happen, unless you're willing to part with George Brett or somebody almost as valuable.

I've replayed the 1985 Royals numerous times and have never won the division. I did win 88 games in one SIM, but still fell several games short of Oakland. It was the best I've ever done by far.

You deserve a good season. It might be waiting for you in 1986. I'd be intrigued. But I'd also understand if you wanted to guide a stronger team for a change, as a palette-cleanser. I often chase the 1985 Royals with a dominant team like the 69 Orioles, 76 Reds, 86 Mets, 98 Yankees, just to have some actual fun again.

You saw it through to the end and you're set up for an intriguing 1986. I can't wait to see what you do next, whatever it turns out to be.

[sprague]

Originally Posted by webrian

What a ride.

I agree, it looks like the pitching fell a bit short of real-life and the hitting fell way short. The x-factor, I think, is the inability to get Lonnie Smith from the St. Louis Cardinals like KC did in real life. It was a steal for the Royals, galvanizing the top of the order and giving the team another valuable veteran with postseason experience to count on.

But OOTP just won't let that trade happen, unless you're willing to part with George Brett or somebody almost as valuable.

I've replayed the 1985 Royals numerous times and have never won the division. I did win 88 games in one SIM, but still fell several games short of Oakland. It was the best I've ever done by far.

You deserve a good season. It might be waiting for you in 1986. I'd be intrigued. But I'd also understand if you wanted to guide a stronger team for a change, as a palette-cleanser. I often chase the 1985 Royals with a dominant team like the 69 Orioles, 76 Reds, 86 Mets, 98 Yankees, just to have some actual fun again.

You saw it through to the end and you're set up for an intriguing 1986. I can't wait to see what you do next, whatever it turns out to be.

Maybe you should try it again with actual historical transactions on to see if that makes a difference, using the lineups for everyone as they actually were.

[so49as]

I burned through the 1986 offseason during the Cardinals/Cubs game yesterday.

Glancing at BBRef, it doesn't look like Schuerholz and Kaufmann did much to change the makeup of the team, then again, they won the World Series.

My fictitious owner Chris Hays, while being a penny-pincher, left me with about $9m, and then granted me an additional $3m in February. I didn't go bat crap crazy with his money, but I didn't leave it all on the table.

[so49as]

Players gone from 1985 organization:

2B Luis Corcino (Trade)
LF Darryl Motley (Trade)
SP Dennis Leonard (FA)
LF Lynn Jones (FA)
C Pat Putnam (FA)
SP Mike LaCoss (FA)
RP Bob McClure (FA)
SS Jerry Royster (FA)
SS Lenny Faedo (Non-tendered)
SS Onix Concepcion (Non-tendered)
1B Steve Balboni (Non-tendered)
RP Mike Jones (Non-tendered)
2B Buddy Biancalana (Non-tendered)
SP John Davis (Trade)
C John Wathan (Retired)
3B Greg Pryor (Retired)
SP Larry Gura (Retried)

Those players accounted for a negative 4.7 WAR!

[so49as]

Minor free agent signings:

IF - Jim Anderson - Jim is a veteran backup infielder. He has a career BA of .216, and can catch in a pinch.
C - Alan Ashby - Signed as a backup for Jim Sundberg. He's been in Houston the last 7 years, and was a starter for about 3 or 4 of them. In 140 at bats last year, he hit .262 with 5 HRs and 17 RBIs. Poor defensively, but if he only starts 30 games in a year, that should be OK.

Coaching staff change:
I signed Buck Rodgers on as the bench coach. He managed the Expos last season to a 68-94 record.

[so49as]

I made one pre-arbitration filing trade, sending AA SP John Davis (10-6, 2.39 ERA) to Houston for LR Frank DiPino (3-2, 1.93). DiPino has this year and 1987 under arbitration until free agency.

DiPino pitched in 82 games last year, mostly as a lefty specialist. He struck out 34 in 37.1 innings, gave up 25 hits and 1 home run.

While I'll deploy him with the intent on facing mostly lefties, I won't limit him against right-handers.

Except for a month or so with Bob McClure, I only really had the one lefty in the pen. Al Holland. He keeps his role as setting up for Quisenberry.

[so49as]

With Mike Kingery knocking on the major league door after a season of AAA, I decided Darryl Motley was expendable. His defense was average at best and had a -2.2 ZR in 584 corner outfield innings.

California saw something they liked when I shopped him around and agreed to send minor league reliever Chuck Finley in return. Finley only pitched 13 innings in '85 in the Angels' minor leagues. He was 1-1 with 1 save and a 2.77 ERA - 15 K's and 2 walks. He'll start the season in AA as the Memphis closer.