The Pacific Coast League

[OmahaReynolds]

After perusing through the "Retro Logos and Uniforms" thread in the mods forum and seeing some of txranger's awesome work, I decided to start a game set in the Pacific Coast League. I always thought the PCL was a cool league and I think it will be fun to have a universe where the PCL is a stand-alone league.

Settings: 20-man rosters, 20-man reserves. Rosters expand to 25 on September 1st. Ratings are on a 2-8 scale with 20-80 overall/potential scores. Trade difficulty is hard, drug suspensions are turned off. The six-team league will play a 150 game schedule with no spring training. The top four teams make the postseason, with the #4 seed playing the #1 seed, and the #3 seed playing the #2 seed in a best-of-seven Pacific Coast Semifinal Series. The two winners advance to the best-of-seven Pacific Cup Series. I wanted the exitement of having playoffs even though the league only contains six teams. Reserve roster rules are in effect and there is no free agency.

New Players: There is no amateur draft, so I had to figure out a way to add new players to the universe in the offseason. The way it works is that every November 1st (and January 1st of 1903 only), I create 30 players aged 18-21 that are 50% developed. I sort them by potential rating. Then I create an array of numbers based on the total of every teams market size. For example, Los Angeles has a market size of 5 so they get numbers 1-5. Oakland has a market size of 4 so they get numbers 6-9, and so on. After each team gets their numbers I start going down the list of players, starting with the highest potential. I use a random number generator to get a number in the array, and whichever team's number comes up gets the player. Each team gets 5 players.

League Evolution: I'll be following the real-life evolution of the PCL kind of loosely, mostly just sticking with the teams that were long time fixtures in the league. I won't be contracting to 4 teams in 1907 like the real PCL.

I'll be taking control of the Sacramento Senators (for now).

[OmahaReynolds]

The Pacific Coast League
1903 Preview

The Pacific Coast League will begin it's inaugural season on April 6th, 1903. Six teams will compete over a 150-game season and fight to be the winners of the first Pacific Cup. The following teams will be running in the 1903 campaign:

Los Angeles Angels
Oakland Oaks
Portland Beavers
Sacramento Senators
San Francisco Seals
Seattle Siwashes

[Hendu Style]

Looking forward to this. Go Seals!

[OmahaReynolds]

Los Angeles Angels

Projected Finish: 1st (96-54, .640)
Payroll: $33,170 (1st)
Ballpark: Chutes Park, 5000

Manager: Ross McKean

Projected Lineup

1. RF Frank Peaslee, 24. Peaslee's got a quick bat and quick legs. At 24, he could be manning the Angels' leadoff spot for a long time.
2. 3B Glenn Abell, 28. Nice glove for the hot corner but average bat skills.
3. SS Hugh Blankenship, 25. The star of the Los Angeles lineup could be one of the game's best.
4. 2B Jason Wallace, 29. A power bat with speed on the basepaths and a slick glove mans the keystone position.
5. LF Cameron Turner, 32. Turner adds a disciplined approach and a veteran presence to the team.
6. CF Dave Glasser, 28. It's defense first at center field for the Angels.
7. C Stanford Triggs, 22. Triggs has a good arm behind the plate but needs to develop his catcher instincts.
8. 1B Greg Kellam, 29. Kellam can also man all three outfield positions and has a good set of wheels.

Projected Rotation

1. Ian Smithson, 27. Three plus pitches - a fastball, curveball, and changeup - together with great control and a workhorse mentality make Smithson one of the best pitchers in the PCL.
2. Dan Dow, 32. He's got 4 good pitches and is a leader in the clubhouse.
3. Zachary Moore, 31. In the bottom half of the Los Angeles rotation, the weaknesses reveal themselves.
4. Ed Palmer, 37. The aging southpaw looks to have control and stamina issues.



Left to Right: Frank Peaslee, Hugh Blankenship, Ian Smithson

With a potent offense and great pitching from Smithson and Dow, the Angels are easily the favorites for the 1903 season. Keeping Smithson healthy will be a priority, as the rest of the rotation might not be able to shoulder the season without him.

[OmahaReynolds]

Oakland Oaks

Projected Finish: 3rd (79-71, .527)
Payroll: $31,470 (2nd)
Ballpark: Freeman's Park, 4000

Manager: Al Holsinger

Projected Lineup:

1. 3B Jered Reid, 24. A contact hitter with speed on the basepaths.
2. RF Dana Edenfield, 36. Veteran hitter with above-average bat skills.
3. SS Kurt Smith, 24. Future face of the franchise? This guy's the complete package.
4. 2B Ron Singer, 23. Singer, along with Smith give the Oaks two young middle infielders with tremendous offensive and defensive upside.
5. LF Dave Jaggers, 33. Power and average contact abilities.
6. 1B Mitch Barlow, 24. Barlow is slightly below average with the bat.
7. CF Nate Lawson, 32. He's speedy but his bat and defense are suspect.
8. C Scott Oates, 34. There are concern's about Oates' ability to get along with the rest of the team.

Projected Rotation

1. Kirby Smith, 27. Maybe the best pitch arsenal in the league.
2. Dan Ward, 26. Ward's pitch arsenal gives the Oaks a 2nd ace.
3. Ron Oleson, 29. Oleson has to rely on movement to get hitters out.
4. John Guidry, 24. A bullpen arm thrown into the rotation.


Left to Right: Kirby Smith, Kurt Smith, Ron Singer

Oakland has a well-balanced and young team that is set up for long-term success. They should be a perennial playoff team.

[joefromchicago]

Those uniforms are fantastic! Are they yours?

[OmahaReynolds]

Originally Posted by joefromchicago

Those uniforms are fantastic! Are they yours?

Nope! They are the work of txranger, who's been making some outstanding stuff over in the mods forum. The thread is called "Retro Logos and Uniforms" and the PCL stuff starts on page 119 or 120.

[OmahaReynolds]

Portland Beavers

Projected Finish: 4th (75-75, .500)
Payroll: $30,560 (5th)
Ballpark: Lucky Beavers Stadium

Manager: Waldo Daniels

Projected Lineup:

1. CF Terry Cowles, 31. Cowles is an above average, all around polished player with leadoff speed.
2. 3B Roger Lenihan, 22. Roger's a spray hitter with top-notch bunting skills who won't strike out too often.
3. 2B John Burley, 28. One of the games most disciplined hitters plays an average second base.
4. LF Lawrence Hutter, 26. He's a tough out and has a polished game.
5. SS Dave McCubbin, 32. McCubbin can play just about every position except catcher. He can also hit, which makes him all the more valuable.
6. 1B Gene Vincent, 36. Pure contact hitter with diminishing defense.
7. RF Cary Sass, 33. Sass doesn't have too much going for him aside from his rocket arm.
8. C Don Whatley, 33. Replacement level catcher.

Projected Rotation:

1. Donald Fetter, 32. Portland's ace has three elite off-speed pitched to compliment his less than stellar fastball.
2. Tim Wacker, 26. Wacker is built on stamina and command, which makes up for an average pitch arsenal.
3. Randy Long, 37. Like an older, worn-out version of Wacker.
4. Jonathan Troxel, 37. He's here to fill a spot.


Left to Right: Donald Fetter, John Burley, Lawrence Hutter

Portland has the foundations in place. They just need to trim the fat and add some younger pieces. Another hitter and pitcher could propel this team to the top.

[CatKnight]

Excellent setup! This looks like it's going to be fun!

(Edit: Saw you answered my question in the first post)

I'll be rooting for Oakland. Oaks is a fun name for a team from that city.

[OmahaReynolds]

Sacramento Senators

Projected Finish: 42-108 (6th)
Payroll: 27,400 (6th)
Ballpark: Oak Park Recreation Grounds

Manager: Nick Hassell

Projected Lineup:

1. 2B Joe Trice, 33. Below average but the best fit at leadoff.
2. LF Bill McLoughlin, 36. Defense-first aging corner outfielder.
3. CF Aaron Kinsley, 31. The only standout on a poor offensive team.
4. 1B Bill Maloney, 40. An average hitter.
5. RF Rick Reed, 34. Slightly below average.
6. C Eric Scudder, 25. Solid defensive catcher.
7. SS Tom Stinson, 36. Gonna be a long season.
8. 3B William George, 29. Good glove, little else.

Projected Rotation:

1. Victor Linton, 33. Good stamina but there are concerns about his stuff.
2. Gayle McCoy, 39. McCoy has good stuff but might have control problems.
3. Dennis Schrum, 26. He, uh, throws a forkball.
4. Paul Alleman, 29. Contact pitcher.



It's going to be a long 1903 for the Senators. Six of the starting lineup and half the rotation are over 30.

[OmahaReynolds]

San Francisco Seals

Projected Finish: 74-76 (6th)
Payroll: $31,320 (3rd)
Ballpark: Recreation Park

Manager: Jimmy White

Projected Lineup:
1. CF Ray Marti, 32. Speed and contact, defense and plate discipline an issue.
2. 2B Travis Wilson, 29. Outstanding defensive 2B.
3. LF Leslie Pettit, 23. Could be a .350 hitter.
4. C Curt Moll, 29. One of the team leaders.
5. 3B Ronald Barrett, 30. Solid power hitter.
6. RF Alan Flesher, 31. Good glove, below average bat.
7. 1B Charlie Johnson, 26. He's hitting 7th for a reason.
8. SS Steve Smiley, 33. Inconsistent all-around.

Projected Rotation:
1. Joe Cook, 28. One of the league's best.
2. Nelson Reid, 24. Has potential to become an ace.
3. Wilfred Graham, 32. Average number 3 guy.
4. Aaron Slavin, 36. Spot-starter material.

[OmahaReynolds]

Seattle Siwashes

Projected Finish: 86-64 (2nd)
Payroll: $31,290 (4th)
Ballpark: Recreation Park Base Ball Grounds

Manager: Aaron Pippin

Projected Lineup:
1. CF Wyatt Richards, 24. The perfect spark plug.
2. SS Bart Boden, 37. An average hitter and fielder.
3. 2B Tom Weldon, 23. Maybe a future hall-of-famer.
4. LF Henry McClelland, 31. Just a bit above average at the plate.
5. 1B Alan Bricker, 37. Good middle of the order hitter.
6. RF Earl Cole, 27. Slightly above average with outstanding defense.
7. 3B Ken Eicher, 27. A good 3B with average hitting ability.
8. C Jeff Farmer, 330. Solid defensive catcher.

Projected Rotation:
1. Shelby Bergeron, 30. Seattle's ace is a control pitcher with above-average stuff.
2. Trey Tran, 30. Tran is all about movement.
3. Russ Owen, 29. Well-rounded, a good number 3 option.
4. Bob McLemore, 27. An average joe.

[Big Six]

This looks like it will be a lot of fun. I'm going to get on board with the Siwashes. That nickname is just too good.

I'm guessing it's pronounced like "Sea-Washes," as in Seattle, Washington.

Anyway, I'm hoping Manager Pippin can bring the boys home in first place. I'll be (virtually) in the bleachers at the Recreation Park Base Ball Grounds, rooting them on.

[Westheim]

Go Beavers! You can finish ahead of those sorry Senators!

[OmahaReynolds]

April 13, 1903


Angels' Pitching Falters Out Of The Gate
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Angels opened their season on the road in Seattle, where P Ian Smithson allowed only two runs in a complete game performance, giving L.A. a win in their inaugural game. The series soon went downhill - Dan Dow gave up 8 runs in 9 frames in game two, but got a no-decision since the Angels lineup managed to score 8 runs of their own. Smithson came in to relieve Dow in the 10th and allowed an unearned run but was given the loss. The third game of the series saw Zachary Moore allow 6 runs in 6 innings. Back in Los Angeles the Angels held their home opener against Portland, and were swept, getting out-scored 14-7 in the series. L.A. starters have a 4.53 ERA after the season's first week. Some of the blame must rest on the offense. The team is hittinh .245, good for 5th in the league.

Kirby Smith Sets The Tone For The Oaks, Reed Lights Up Basepaths
OAKLAND, CA - 27-year-old hurler Kirby Smith displayed why he's the teams ace in Oakland's opening week. On his resume so far - two starts, two wins, two complete games. On top of that - a relief appearance resulting in a save, giving the young right hander a 2-0, 1.89 stat line to start the season. Smith wasn't the only bright spot this week. 3B Jered Reed, the Oaks' leadoff man, is hitting .346. More impressive are his 7 swipes in 7 attempts, which have added an extra spark to the Oakland offense.

Wacker Steps Up After Tough Opening Day Loss For Beavers
PORTLAND, OR - The Beavers were shaken after their opening day loss to the Oaks, but number two starter Tim Wacker held it together. He took the mound the next day at Lucky Beavers Stadium in front of nearly 4,000 spectators and shut down the Oaks, pitching a complete game and allowing only one run, striking out 7. Later in the week he gave another great performance in Los Angeles, putting his record at 2-0 and leaving ace Donald Fetters (1-1, 3.86) with a little less sense of job security.

Schrum's Shutout Overshadows By Oakland Sweep
SACRAMENTO, CA - Dennis Schrum had a chance to give his team a sweep against the Seals to start out the year, and he didn't disappoint. It wasn't the prettiest of complete-game shutouts - 6 hits, 2 walks and only one strikeout, but it got the job done. The Senators headed to Sacramento with a record of 3-0. When they arrived home their hopes were dashed as the Oaks managed to give them the sweep. CF Aaron Kinsley has managed to provide a large proportion of the team's offense. He's scored 5 runs and driven in 8, which accounts for over half of the team's 23 runs scored so far this season.

Seals Are Waiting For Bats To Heat Up
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The first week of the season for the Seals has revealed an ineffective lineup. Last in the league in hitting. Last in runs scored. Last in stolen bases. With the starting rotation compiling a league-leading 1.53 ERA, fans in San Francisco are hoping to hear the crack of the bat sooner than later. Things have started to turn around, though. After getting swept at home against Sacramento, the Seals hosted the Siwashes and managed to give them a good sweeping. The week ended with a nice game by P Nelson Reid in which he held Seattle to 3 hits and a run in an exciting 2-1 victory.

Rough Start For Bergeron, Rough Week For Seattle
SEATTLE, WA - Shelby Bergeron would probably love to forget his opening day start. After giving 9 hits and 4 runs to Los Angeles, Shelby was pulled in the 6th inning before his team lost the contest 6-2. The Siwashes managed to take two of three from the Angels, but their luck would run out after they headed north to San Francisco where they lost all three games in their series against the Seals. 2B Tom Weldon, hitting in the cleanup spot put up some numbers (.385, 3 2B, 3 3B). The Siwashes will stay in central California this week, playing Sacramento and Oakland.




Player of the Week: CF Aaron Kinsley, SAC
Kinsley had a tremendous week. In 28 at-bats he had 12 hits, 3 doubles, scored 5 times, drove in 8 and stole 4 bases.

[WTO]

I'm a Beavers' fan, and it's not because they're first in the league. Just liked their logo and their real-life minor league the short while it lasted.

[OmahaReynolds]

April 20th, 1903


The Beavers continue to roll along behind the strength of their starting rotation. Donald Fetters has been brilliant over the season's first two weeks, and since his opening day loss in which he gave up 6 runs in 7.1 innings, he's allowed only 1 run in his last three complete-game starts. Fetters also pitched two shutouts this week. The first was pure dominance: 6 hits, 1 walk, 11 strikeouts. He's not alone in the rotation either. The Beavers' rotation is posting a 2.38 ERA this season.

Behind the Beavers, the Oaks aren't too far behind and have the league's best offense. Their best hitter so far this year, 2B Ron Singer, is out with a fractured foot sufferered on the 15th and isn't expected to return until mid-May. Don't count out the Angels, who are working on crawling out of the cellar after winning series against the Oaks and Seals this week.

Player of the Week: SP Donald Fetters, Portland
18 IP, 2-0, 1 BB, 15 K, 2 CG, 2 SHO

[hfield007]

Hoping to see this go on awhile.

[OmahaReynolds]

Monday, 4/20/1903

Los Angeles 2, Sacramento 3 (14)
W: Gayle McKoy (3-2), L: Ian Smithson (2-3)
Smithson issued a bases-load walk in the bottom of the 14th to give the Senators a walk-off win.

Oakland 3, San Francisco 4
W: J.Cook (2-2) L: K.Smith (2-2)
HR- OAK: D.Jaggers (1) SF: R.Marti (2)
Seals 1B Charlie Johnson hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 9th.

Top Performers

Gayle McKoy, SAC
13.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 3 K, W

Ian Smithson, LA
12.2 IP, 13 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 13 K

Ray Merti, SF
2-4, HR, RBI, 2 R

[OmahaReynolds]

I'm going to be trying out different formats until I find the style that I like best.

I'm thinking about posting quick daily game and top performance recaps in addition to the weekly standings and leaderboards. I think having the quick recaps will give people the chance to closely follow a specific team if they want to.

Feel free to give me any suggestions.