1973 Season Thread

[catcher24]

All stats have been updated. Newsletter update later tonight.

[mwiggins]

Top 15 ERA+
1. Steve Rogers, Knights: 14-5, 132 IP, 165 ERA+
2. Jon Matlack, Spikes: 15-7, 192 IP, 162 ERA+
3. Fergie Jenkins, Legends: 16-7, 211 IP, 161 ERA+
4. Tom Seaver, Legends: 17-10, 239 IP, 156 ERA+
5. Bert Blyleven, Spikes: 17-10, 228 IP, 155 ERA+
6. Ron Schueler, Knights: 10-2, 150 IP, 154 ERA+
7. Andy Messersmith, Iron: 14-10, 223 IP, 143 ERA+
8. Jim Barr, Dust Bunnies: 13-5, 150 IP, 138 ERA+
9. Nolan Ryan, Badgers: 12-11, 233 IP, 138 ERA+
10. Don Sutton, Dust Bunnies: 13-9, 211 IP, 137 ERA+
11. Jim Bibby, Cloverleafs: 11-11, 185 IP, 136 ERA+
12. Rick Reuschel, Wranglers: 10-12, 175 IP, 132 ERA+
13. Louis Tiant, Diablos: 12-12, 197 IP, 132 ERA+
14. Bill Lee, Hard Cider: 16-6, 201 IP, 128 ERA+
15. Mel Stottlemyre, Diablos: 12-12, 182 IP, 127 ERA+

[mwiggins]

OPS+ Leaderboard
1. Hank Aaron, Iron (DH/LF): 192 OPS+, 90 RC, .300-37-102
2. Willie Stargell, Thunder (LF): 191 OPS+, 94.3 RC, .254-30-72
3. Reggie Jackson, Iron (RF): 170 OPS+, 101.8 RC, .312-24-90
4. Reggie Smith, Dust Bunnies (CF): 155 OPS+, 63 RC, .277-15-52
5. Tony Perez, Badgers (1B): 146 OPS+, 87.7 RC, .289-24-93
6. Johnny Grubb, Knights (LF/CF): 145 OPS+, 70.1 RC. .343-7-64
7. Willie McCovey, Spikes (1B): 142 OPS+, 63.8 RC, .218-23-75
8. Gene Tenace, Badgers (C): 141 OPS+, 77.7 RC, .276-17-51
9. Ron Fairly, Hard Cider (1B/DH): 139 OPS+, 75.5 RC, .304-13-63
10. Pete Rose, Wranglers (LF): 138 OPS+, 104.6 RC, .382-1-60
11. John Mayberry, Legends (DH/1B): 136 OPS+, 84.7 RC, .259-23-79
Bill Melton, Badgers (3B): 136 OPS+, 77.6 RC, .282-19-77
13. Joe Morgan, Iron (2B/DH): 134 OPS+, 86 RC, .275-19-69, 48 SB's
Sal Bando, Wranglers (3B): 134 OPS+, 93.3 RC, .302-22-104
15. Cesar Cedeno, Legends (CF): 133 OPS+, 77.4 RC, .319-13-73
16. Billy North, Spikes (RF/CF): 132 OPS+, 81.8 RC, .329-2-47, 62 SB's
17. Rod Carew, Hard Cider (2B): 131 OPS+, 92.3 RC, .340-4-75
18. Nate Colbert, Gamblers (1B): 129 OPS+, 84.5 RC, .297-24-81
Ted Simmons, Hard Cider (C): 129 OPS+, 82.8 RC, .322-8-73
Bobby Bonds, Spikes (RF): 129 OPS+, 67.7 RC, .228-26-65, 31 SB's

[catcher24]

7. Willie McCovey, Spikes (1B): 142 OPS+, 63.8 RC, .218-23-75

Guess that trade for Stretch worked out well for you, Mark.

[leecemark]

Originally Posted by catcher24

Jack, I don't think you can sign guys to multi-year deals once the season has begun. I could certainly be wrong (wouldn't be the first time nor will it be the last), but I believe anyone signed in season can only be taken for a 250K, 1 year (meaning remainder of season) deal. Mark can confirm that or correct me if I'm wrong.

--I don't think we have a rule specially dealing with that issue. Pretty sure I've signed guys to multi-year deals after the season started before though and I think others have as well.

[catcher24]

OK, sounds fine to me. I was under the impression we didn't do that, but I was wrong again...

[mwiggins]

Originally Posted by catcher24

Guess that trade for Stretch worked out well for you, Mark.

He's been sat against against LHP's a LOT this year due to his usage issues, so that's inflating his stats somewhat. But he's filled the "Jack Clark" role in my Whiteyball lineup pretty well so far.

Though if I'd have realized that Seaver would be that expensive, I'd have held onto that $12M and saved it for signing him last offseason. But luckily Matlack has way overperformed this year, somewhat making up for the loss of Seaver in my 1973 plans.

[catcher24]

He's been sat against against LHP's a LOT this year due to his usage issues, so that's inflating his stats somewhat. But he's filled the "Jack Clark" role in my Whiteyball lineup pretty well so far.

Believe it or not, McCovey always did very well for me against lefties. His career OBP vs lefties is .348, slugging .454 for an .802 OPS. Against right handers, those numbers are .390/.552/.942. As is to be expected, he does do better against righties, but he's certainly no pushover against the southpaws, either.

[leecemark]

--The Knights sweep the Spikes to run their wiinning streak to 10. Hasn't made much difference in the standings though. Next series will take us into September. For those still in playoff contention this is your last chance to call up players for playoff eligibility. Only those on your 25 man roster or the DL on September 1st will be eligible.
--Players with less than 100 PA or BF may only be called up if you place an injured player on the DL at the same time. Once we get into September rosters will expand and player with 50 PA/BF will be eligible.

[buppers]

Originally Posted by catcher24

OK, sounds fine to me. I was under the impression we didn't do that, but I was wrong again...

Guess you were right about being wrong

[leecemark]

--The Knights sweep the Gold Sox to run their winning streak to 13. Still 7 back of the Hard Cider for the bye, but a least its a little interesting now. At the other end, the Angels get swept by the Dust Bunnies to run their losing streak to 16. They are now 17 games worse than the next worst team in the league and have a good shot at recording the worst season in CKL history.
--The Spikes sweep the Iron tonight to pull into a tie for the Chadwick lead. The Legends sweep the Badgers to leap frog over both of them for the lead in the race for the bye.
--The Gamblers Davey Johnson is our first 40 HR man. Joe Morgan and Rod Carew both crack the 100 run barrier.
--We are into September now so you are free to call up additional players if you wish. Anybody with more than 50 PA/BF is eligible. The only downside is you'll be giving them a raise next year, assuming you keep them and they aren't on a multiyear deal.

[leecemark]

--The Knights activate franchise player Willie Mays. Willie has been serving as a minor league hitting instructor, but he's back for a farewell tour. Also called up is outfielder Ken Henderson, catcher Andy Etchebarren, thirdbaseman Ron Cey and pitcher Rich Folkers. The latter 4 have previously been up this year.

[catcher24]

The stats have been updated; highlights at 11 (well, probably closer to 7 EDT).

The Legends call up the following players: Enzo Hernandez, Ken Boswell, Joe Coleman, Tommie Agee, Alex Johnson, Joe Lahoud. None will given specific assignments at this time.

[mac195]

We'll bring up pitchers Albury, Diorio, Hudson and Konieczny.

Pitching
SP Lee
SP Medich
SP Gullet
SP Moret
SP McNally (skip)
Spot: McDaniel, May
Mop: May, Albury, Hudson, Konieczny
Long: Corbin, McDaniel, Monteagudo,
SU vs. RHP: Baney, Corbin, Monteagudo
SU vs. LHB: Jackson, Corbin, Monteagudo
CL vs. RHB: Beene, Diorio
CL vs. LHB: Jackson, Diorio

[mwiggins]

TOP 10 ERA+
1. Steve Rogers, Knights: 14-5, 132 IP, 166 ERA+
2. Jon Matlack, Spikes: 16-7, 201 IP, 164 ERA+
3. Ferguson Jenkins, Legends: 17-7, 218 IP, 162 ERA+
4. Bert Blyleven, Spikes: 18-10, 237 IP, 159 ERA+
5. Ron Schueler, Knights: 11-2, 156 IP, 157 ERA+
6. Tom Seaver, Legends: 18-10, 246 IP, 150 ERA+
7. Jim Bibby, Cloverleafs: 13-10, 203 IP, 143 ERA+
8. Jim Barr, Dust Bunnies: 13-5, 157 IP, 142 ERA+
9. Don Sutton, Dust Bunnies: 15-9, 228 IP, 139 ERA+
10. Nolan Ryan, Badgers: 12-12, 240 IP, 137 ERA+


Don Sutton in July & August: 9-1, 1.63 ERA, 5 shutouts.

[dust bunnies]

The Dust Bunnies wish to call up the following players:
Clarke Horace, Clines Gene, Espstein Mike, Gaston Cito, and Henninger Rick. Replace Eddie Bane with Henninger Rick throughout the pitching rotation. Give no specific assignment to the other call-ups.

[leecemark]

--Sutton has a decent chance to repeat as POM. He went 5-0, 1.64 with a 0.86 in 44 IP. Knights rookie Steve Rogers posted a dazzling 0.74 WHIP and a line of 4-1, 1.42, 38 IP. If you are looking for more IP then Tom Seaver might be your man - 4-2, 2.17, 0.85 WHIP in 50 IP. Sutton has worked his way into the CYA conversation, but probably needs to turn it up a notch on the workload and get the Bunnies to the playoffs to be a serious contender. He has been awesome in their surge into the playoff picture, ut is getting a few less opportunities than Seaver and Blyleven due to Pheonix use of a strict 5 man rotation.
--Lee May of the Shoeless Joes and Ted Sizemore of the Legends each batted .400 for August. Reggie Smith continued to power the Dust Bunnies with a .758! slugging percentage and topped the RC chart for the month. Despite his woefull performance with the Thunder to start the season he joins Sutton as the DB's candidates for postseason honors. Sal Bando drove home 25 runs for the Wranglers. He also scored 22 - good for a tie for 2nd in that category (Morgan 23 led the way). Bobby Bonds had 8 HR (tied with Zisk for #1) and 9 SB (3rd behind Baylor and North, at 11 and 10) for the month.

[J W]

Please call up Chris Short for the bullpen:

Spot starter: McDowell*
Mop up: McDowell*, Lange
Long man: Lange, McDowell*
LH set up: Short*, Mingori*
RH set up: Simpson
LH closer: Scherman*
RH closer: Griffin

[Sockeye]

The Angels will bring Ramon Hernandez off the DL and call up Roger Nelson from the minors.

Pitching Assignments
Rotation - 5 Man, Strict
SP1: Tommy John
SP2: Jim Lonborg
SP3: Jim Kaat
SP4: Jim Perry
SP5: Bill Stoneman

Closer: Ramon Hernandez
Set Up: Mike Marshall, Roger Nelson
Long Relief: Mike Marshall
Mopup: Steve Blass, Paul Lindblad

Strategy
Bunt For Hit: Less
Sacrifice Bunt: More
Squeeze Bunt: Normal
Hit and Run: More
Stealing: Less
Running: Normal
Taking Pitches: More
PH For Pitchers: Normal
PH For non Pitchers: Normal
PH For Platoon Partner: Normal
PH In Blowouts: More
Pitching Around: Normal
Intentional Walk: Normal
Pickoffs: Normal
Pitching Out: Normal
Using Relievers: Normal
Using Closers: Normal
Holding Runners: Normal
Infield In: Normal
Guard Lines: Normal

[Windy City Fan]

Sorry for the absence. Things just went super crazy for a bit. I'm back and ready to resume control of the Thunder. Thanks to whoever looked over the team while I was gone.

Send Frias down (if he's not already). Give Bevacqua all of his playing time.

[mwiggins]

Originally Posted by leecemark

--The Spikes sweep the Iron tonight to pull into a tie for the Chadwick lead.

Whatever else happens the rest of this season, I no longer have any regrets about trading for Bonds after his final AB last night in the final game of the series.

**************  Bottom of the 9th inning, Spikes batting
                Sharp pinch hitting for Lopes
 2-2  0 --- 00  Sharp lined a single to left center (X)
 2-2  0 1-- 21  North grounded out to third, Sharp to second (CBBX)
 2-2  1 -2- 30  Maddox was walked intentionally (IIII)
 2-2  1 12- 12  Bonds homered, Sharp scored, Maddox scored (BCFX)

Talk about two even teams. The first two games were both 2-1. The go-ahead run in the 1st was scored on a based loaded walk. And in the 2nd the Iron had the bases loaded with nobody out, but only managed 1 run, as well as having runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out in the 9th without scoring.

And then game 3 was 2-2 up until Bonds' walk off HR in the bottom of the 9th.

[mwiggins]

Originally Posted by leecemark

--Sutton has a decent chance to repeat as POM. He went 5-0, 1.64 with a 0.86 in 44 IP. Knights rookie Steve Rogers posted a dazzling 0.74 WHIP and a line of 4-1, 1.42, 38 IP. If you are looking for more IP then Tom Seaver might be your man - 4-2, 2.17, 0.85 WHIP in 50 IP. Sutton has worked his way into the CYA conversation, but probably needs to turn it up a notch on the workload and get the Bunnies to the playoffs to be a serious contender. He has been awesome in their surge into the playoff picture, ut is getting a few less opportunities than Seaver and Blyleven due to Pheonix use of a strict 5 man rotation.

Actually, Blyleven won POM for July.

Seaver's going to have more innings than any of the top contenders, if he stays healthly, but no enough to have much of an advantage over Sutton (or Blyleven) IMO. Sutton's had a few less starts, but he's been a major workhorse this year. He's 4th in IP, 1st in Shutouts, 4th in BF/Game, 2nd in Complete Games, and 6th in Total Batters Faced.

If Sutton continues to pitch the way he has in the past couple of months, it won't matter that Seaver has a few more starts. His current pace would put him finishing at about 21-10 with 295 IP, 10+ shutouts, and an ERA+ around 155. And he'd be leading the league in WHIP and K/BB as well.

But that's a pretty tall order, so it's probably going to come down to Seaver, Jenkins, Blyleven, or Matlack. My money right now would be on Jenkins.

[catcher24]

The Wranglers will call up John Boccabella, Ken Forsch, Woodie Fryman, Steve Hovley, Harmon Killebrew, Vicente Romo, Frank Snook, and Bobby Tolan.

[catcher24]

Sorry about no highlights yet, too. Won't be until tomorrow AM now. Busier than I thought I would be this evening and didn't get to it.

[leecemark]

--The Knights have their winning streak halted at 14, but take 2 of 3 from the Wranglers. With the Hard Cider rather unexpectedly getting broomed by the Gold Sox the gap in the bye race is now down to 5. The Bunies tightened up the WC race too, getting to within 2.
--The Spikes squandered the ground they picked up with their sweep of the Iron yesterday - getting swept by the Thunder. The Iron beat up on the Skipjacks to go 3 back up in the division race. With the Legends winning 2 of 3 they also reclaim the lead for the bye.
--Tom Seaver got the win for the Legends tonight, while Blyleven shared in the Spikes off night. Tom Terrific is our first 19 game winner and, for the moment, the leader in the CYA race (at least in this voters eyes). Steve Rogers ran hs record to 15-5 and is tied for the ERA lead. He is probably the best pitcher thus far, but won't manage enough innings to figure in the final voting. Actually he won't even be in the ERA race at the end - unless I'm willing to go over usage anyway. 125% only gets him to 167 IP .