Worst to First - The Sequel

[NYY #23]

The Expos finished strong with an 18-11 month as we met our goal of having our first winning season, going 83-79. I definitely feel like we are heading in the right direction, and we've got some key players to continue to build around.

[ShagVT]

Losing your ace SP for a full year is tough. Very strange to see Rickey Henderson batting #3 - I guess that's just the computer manager making those decisions, but doesn't it make you wish you could "suggest" to the GM that maybe he should lead off?

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by ShagVT

Losing your ace SP for a full year is tough. Very strange to see Rickey Henderson batting #3 - I guess that's just the computer manager making those decisions, but doesn't it make you wish you could "suggest" to the GM that maybe he should lead off?

Yes, I think that is going to definitely hurt next year. Hopefully we'll be able to build on this year (at least a little) without him. It is definitely strange to see Rickey Henderson batting #3. That's all the computer manager. That definitely would be a good suggestion, lock a player to a certain spot of the batting order. I just want to meddle a little bit, not completely.

[NYY #23]

The Angels defeated the Pirates in the World Series in seven games, while we can take a look year 2 of my Expos' tenure:

Montreal Expos - 57-105 (.352) 31 GB
1978 - Montreal Expos 57-105 (.352) 31 GB (Season Score - 1)
1979 - Montreal Expos 83-79 (.512) 11 GB (Season Score - 43)


The Expos were picking 16th in the draft and selected third baseman Hubie Brooks with our top pick. We rounded out the draft by selecting the following players:

MR Rod Scurry
MR John Butcher
MR Neil Allen
RF Chris Bourjos
LF Gary Cooper

The Expos have some money to play with, so we'll be able to sign all of our draft picks, and will be looking for upgrades in centerfield, first base, shortstop, and maybe another starting pitcher.

We won't be going after the first tier of free agents, but I'll be looking for short term deals.

[NYY #23]

The Expos came to terms with CF Larry Hisle on a 3 year $1,470,000 contract. Last year Hisle hit .274 with 23 home runs, 86 RBI, and 24 stolen bases. I think his addition gives us a solid outfield of Rickey Henderon, Hisle, and Billy Sample. Hisle was a type B free agent.

It won't be the strongest defensive outfield, but they should be able to get the job done.

We are still in negotiations with three players to improve first base, shortstop, and also to give us some rotation depth.

[NYY #23]

With a two year $600,000 contract the Expos welcomed shortstop Dave Concepcion to the team. Last year Concepcion hit .273 with 8 home runs, 69 RBI, and 83 runs scored. He should provide an upgrade both offensively and defensively to the shortstop position.

[NYY #23]

The Expos announced the signing of two free agents today, bringing aboard 1B/3B Steve Ontiveros on a three year $930,000 contract. Last year Ontiveros hit .281 with a .368 OBP.

On a one year $310,000 deal the Expos brought aboard Jim Hughes to serve as our fifth starter. Last year Hughes was 13-12 with a 3.98 ERA in 242 innings.

I'm pretty happy with our team heading into 1980. I feel like we were able to plug our big holes with free agents on short term contracts. Nobody was signed to a deal longer than 3 years, so that should leave us with plenty of financial flexibility.

[NYY #23]

As we prepared to wrap up spring training we got some bad news when Steve Ontiveros went down with an injury that caused him to miss 3-4 months. We didn't really have a good internal option, so we agreed to terms with free agent Miguel Dilone on a one year $118,000 deal. While Dilone can fill in at first base, he is also a capable outfielder as well, so I'm hoping he'll be valuable after Ontiveros returns as well.

We've started out the season hot, going 12-4. Our pitching is leading the way, allowing the fewest runs in the league. Our offense has started slow, but I think they should heat up as well.

I have been very surprised with the play of Dave Concepcion, who is hitting .365 early in the season.

[NYY #23]

The Expos cooled down in May after going 15-13 for the month, but the Expos remain in first place, holding a narrow 1 game lead over the Cardinals.

Hubie Brooks captured the Rookie of the Month after hitting .336 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 14 RBI, and 15 runs scored.

[NYY #23]

The Cardinals were hot while the Expos were not this month as the Cardinals opened up a 5 game lead in the NL East.

We suffered a big injury when Lance Parrish went down for 6 weeks, forcing us to turn over our catching duties to a pair of backup catchers.

The Expos agreed to terms with second baseman Duane Kuiper on a one year $90,000 deal. I'm hoping he'll be able to provide some improved defense at second base, and can platoon with Steve Staggs.

Hubie Brooks captured his third straight Rookie of the Month Award after hitting .322 with 3 home runs for the month.

[NYY #23]

The Expos suffered through our second straight losing month going 13-15 for the month. With Lance Parrish returning from injury, centerfielder Larry Hisle went down with injury for the year.

The Expos sent three to the All-Star game including closer Joe Sambito, 3B Hubie Brooks, and RF Billy Sample.

[ShagVT]

Could you at least bump up Rickey's base stealing likelihood? How's he doing in that, since it doesn't show up on the default stats?

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by ShagVT

Could you at least bump up Rickey's base stealing likelihood? How's he doing in that, since it doesn't show up on the default stats?

That I am able to do, and have done. His 'Stealing Bases' strategy is set all the way to frequently. He's definitely running more, with 55 stolen bases and 35 caught stealing. He had 100 and 26 in 1980 in real life, so it looks like he'll get less stolen bases, and he already has more caught stealing.

[NYY #23]

A losing month in August has the Expos falling to .500 for the year. My high hopes for this year may have been unrealistic in season three, but I do like the team. I think injuries helped to do us in this year, as we've currently got 5 players on the DL.

But injuries aren't the only reason. We've had players such as Bob Welch go 17-4 with a 2.84 ERA last year, and 10-8 with a 3.48 ERA this year. Rickey Henderson hitting .251. We've got a young team though, so I'm not too worried. Hopefully we'll be able to add through the draft and come back strong next year.

Hubie Brooks hit safely in 23 straight games this month before his hitting streak ended.

[NYY #23]

With 4 games still remaining on the schedule, the Expos remain even at 79-79.

Our owner expects us to have a winning record, but we're close at least. We've currently got 7 players either on the disabled list, or dealing with injuries. I'm thinking back to 1979 and the team was relatively injury free. If we can win our last four games we'll equal last season's record though.

Next stop, amateur draft and a season wrap-up.

[NYY #23]

The Expos finished the year with an 82-80 record, good for our second straight winning season, and second in history. Not a terrible year, but not what I was expecting either.



Montreal Expos - 57-105 (.352) 31 GB
1978 - Montreal Expos 57-105 (.352) 31 GB (Season Score - 1)
1979 - Montreal Expos 83-79 (.512) 11 GB (Season Score - 43)
1980 - Montreal Expos 82-80 (.506) 14 GB (Season Score - 22)

The Expos drafted 13th this year, and went with the best available player, centerfielder Dave Henderson. That isn't a position that I needed, but that could mean Larry Hisle's tenure in Montreal is coming to an end.

In the supplemental round we selected first baseman Dave Hostetler. Relievers Steve Bedrosian and Steve Fireovid came next, followed by catcher Dan Firova and first baseman Gene Krug.

[NYY #23]

First up we needed a new bench coach and pitching coach as both of their contracts expired. Buddy Pritchard was hired as our new bench coach, while Carl Boles was hired as our new pitching coach.

We received our arbitration verdicts, and won 7 cases, and lost 6:

Lance Parrish - $184,025 (player)
Steve Staggs - $140,000 (team)
Joe Sambito - $275,000 (player)
Paul Thormodsgard - $100,000 (team)
Dave Frost - $191,250 (player)
Tony Scott - $100,000 (team)
Randy Tate - $152,950 (player)
Tommy Boggs - $226,575 (player)
Floyd Bannister - $99,000 (team)
Billy Sample - $210,000 (team)
Ray Knight - $100,000 (team)
Mark Lemongello - $100,000 (team)
Bob Welch - $196,650 (player)

And finally the big news -

We traded centerfielder Larry Hisle, SP Paul Thormodsgard, and MR John Butcher to the New York Yankees for starting pitcher Tom Seaver. While Seaver is 35 years old he was 17-11 last year, and hopefully can provide a veteran influence to our young staff.

[NYY #23]

Getting ready for the new season I wanted to try and get some last minute value from free agents who were willing to take a little bit less in exchange for a job.

We made a run at SS Ivan de Jesus, but he held out for a little more money than I was comfortable giving, and brought aboard 2B Larry Lintz on a one year $120,000 deal. Lintz had a bad year last year in Baltimore, hitting just .200. I'm hoping he can put up numbers closer to .250/.364/.284 like he did in California the year before. Lintz is a speedster though, holding the all-time single season stolen base record with 124, although last year was a down year with 70. At a minimum we better lead the league in steals.

We did receive a compensation pick for Jim Hughes signing with the Orioles, a supplemental draft pick in the first round.

[NYY #23]

A short month, but a 10-8 start put the Expos in a second place tie, 1 game behind Philadelphia.

[NYY #23]

The National League East certainly has been interesting as all teams are separated by 1 1/2 games. The Expos are tied for last, but we need to break out of our slump.

I'm hoping for a hot June, or else I may need to make a couple deals in July.