SIM COMPLETE - 1984 - Regular Season 6

[Whale]

Well, after starting the season 5-13, the Whalers have gone 12-8 since, with another 3-3 week even after losing cleanup hitter Snyder for 2-3 months. We rank nearly last in all major statistical categories, but somehow finding a way to win. Perennial loser Bill Waller continues to surprise, with a 9 inning shutout performance to bring his recrod to 5-1 with a 3.25 ERA with only 3 HR's allowed (36 last season).

Recalde is looking to get a chance in the majors, possibly as soon as next SIM.
http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...ayer_2521.html

[Sully]

I have a feeling Philly will climb back into it. If they got that kind of pitching last year, they would've had the best record in the league. It's their offense holding them back this year. Nobody saw that coming after the numbers they put up in '83.

[Clay]

I have a feeling Philly will climb back into it. If they got that kind of pitching last year, they would've had the best record in the league. It's their offense holding them back this year. Nobody saw that coming after the numbers they put up in '83.

Oh yeah... that's why I'm calling them "missing"... because this team is not the team ANYONE expected to see.

[Jistic]

Actually three talent "boots". Herb Lefebre who was brought up as an emergency player with all of injuries just took a boost.

Also our young starters showing some really good promise. Would like to see how we play when/if we get a full team.

[Plastic]

2-4 sim. We are good at home, but pretty poor on the road. Maybe our new team fever is ending... the last 2 sims we have been on the losing side.

[Pat]

5-1 road sim. Swept Windy City and then went 2-1 against Batavia.

The Good:
-Catcher Jerry Fortin is red hot! He hit four homeruns this week. In split duties at catcher, he is on pace for 38 HRs.
-Third basemen Brody Whiteley continues to just rake. He is hitting .359, and while he doesn't walk much, he did hit two doubles and a homerun this week. That isn't a lot, but going into this sim, the guy had three extra base hits.
-Charlie O'Rogan has been my best SP this season. He pitched a no-hitter into the 5th inning against WC, finishing at 7.1 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 10 K.
-SP Joe Rodriguez has been inconsistent all year. Against Windy City he pitched a PERFECT GAME into the 9th inning, but after giving up a infield hit, he was pulled. Finished with 8.1 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 7 K, 17 groundballs, 1 flyball.
-After missing two starts, I get ace Romano Gonzalez back this sim.
-SP prospect, Cristian Ruiz (A), went from not being listed ever in my top ten prospects, to #6, behind #5 and 75th overall Jerry Stuart. I assume he is somewhere in the #101-#125 range. No talent bump, but we shall see what my scouts think after getting another look this week.

The Bad
-In spot-start duty, MR George Neilly gave up 6 R, 4 earned, in 4 IP to Batavia. As no surprise, that was the only loss this sim. He has been solid out of the pen, but I guess I can't count on him to start much.
-Joe Sierra and Dan Hogan make a combined $32 Million. Sierra is hitting .248, and Hogan is hitting .229. Money well spent.
-Remember when I said Joe Rodriguez was inconsistent? Following his near-perfect game, he didn't finish the 1st inning. Giving up 6 ER after recording only 2 outs. Pathetic.

The Ugly
-Bunch of injuries this sim. Lost starting 2B R.A. Grounds for 2 weeks to a dead arm. Then lost starting SS Jack Dynes for 2 weeks with a sprained ankle. Then starting LF Steve Bing got a 6 day strained hip muscle. Dynes will be out this whole week, Grounds will play the final two games, and Bing will sit with his day-to-day injury.
-Also, I lost #2 prospect LF Miguel Angel Padilla for 7 weeks with a strained Achilles.

Prospect Watch - The Catchers
-Even though catcher is probably my most stable position at the BLB level, I am deep throughout. I signed FA Jerry Fortin and he has been my best hitter all year. Former full-time starter Keita Uchiyama now only starts vs. leties, and pinch hits, but he is still having a very solid year. Even though he is unhappy about not starting, he is in a "Great" mood, because of how well he and the team are playing.
-At Triple-A I have defensive specialist, and last years title team defensive replacement/back-up, Ernesto Guillama. He is unhappy about not being in the BLB, but he is still hitting .324.
-In Double-A I have #30 overall prospect, Mike Murdock hitting .373 with a .952 OPS. Funny thing is, I always thought defense would of been his strong point. He is only 20, but he might be headed to Triple-A when the prospects get added in June.
-In Single-A I have my #7 and #8 top prospects, Scot Borkholder and Pepe Hernandez. Borkholder can't really play catcher worth a lick, but as a DH he is hitting .306. Hernandez is a great defender, but his bat has been even better as he is hitting .365.
-In short...the position is deep....anyone need a catcher?

Next Week
-Finish off the road trip in Carolina. It will be my #4, #5 and #1 vs. his #1, #2, #3. With three starters out of the lineup for this sim, it won't be easy. Then, I finally get a homestand, but it is against Los Alamos. I'm not expecting a good sim, just hopefully no more injuries.

[Lintyfresh85]

The Good, Bad and the Ugly huh?

Good
-Elieis Vizcarra. Period. Kid was a 22 year old RP in AA coming into the season. Before spring training, he shot into the top 70 prospects of the BLB... no talent bump. Decided to give him a shot in camp. Tore it up. Decide to let him stay with the big team as a RP. Goes insane and dominates. Since I hadn't really paid attention to him in the past, I was surprised to see he had a 5 endurance from my top scout. I figure... what the hell, give the kid a shot.

First start:
W 3-1: 6.1IP, 2H, 1R, 4BB, 9K's.

So now he's getting a spot in the rotation full time. Did I mention he was a 15th rounder from the 80 draft?

His stats now look like this. 1-0, 1SV, 1.82ERA, 29.2IP, 10H, 6R, 30K/13BB, 0.78WHIP, .127BABIP.

I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Is Avery or Graham about to fall off completely? Knowing my luck... I'm sure they will.

- Bullpen: 21.2IP, 2 runs. Solid work.

Bad
- Starting pitching outside of Vizcarra, 0-5 for the week.

Ugly
- Offense, .187 for the week. 17 runs scored. Doesn't matter how good the pitching is... with that type of hitting... I'm doomed to fail.

[Z]

We haven't showed up yet. We will soon. Our offensive numbers in May are up. We're getting there.

[Z]

Monday, May 14th, 1984
Freedom fired hitting coach D. Duggan.

[Pat]

At this pace, Henry Stafford is getting paid $3,500,000 per hit.

[Delandis]

Does anyone know if outfield performance(or lack thereof) effect performance at the plate? I ask because Tandy was tearing it up early but now since I moved him to 2nd(from 3rd) he seems to be sucking wind at the plate.

[spot]

I've noticed that playing a guy out of position affects his offense. If he isn't rated at 2B then it could be a problem but if he just isn't that good I don't think it has an affect.

[Delandis]

I've noticed that playing a guy out of position affects his offense. If he isn't rated at 2B then it could be a problem but if he just isn't that good I don't think it has an affect.

Tandy is rated at 2B=4, but 5 at 3B. I moved him to 2B to make room for Rogado(Diesel) and he's been playing like trash ever since.

[Pat]

Tandy is rated at 2B=4, but 5 at 3B. I moved him to 2B to make room for Rogado(Diesel) and he's been playing like trash ever since.

Prior to this season Tandy is a career .260 hitter with .780 OPS, and that includes his first five years being in the hitters league. Last year, at 33, he hit .245 with a .735 OPS. You didn't really think a 34-year-old was going to all of a sudden hit .311 with a 1.025 OPS for the whole season...right?

I remember last year when Skerik signed Tandy to that HUGE contract, I think Tandy hit four homeruns that first week of the season (like this year) and Skerik was praising his signing. (Now, I could be wrong but I think I remember that.) Tandy is a streaky hitter. I have one on my team Dan Hogan. Anyone with that much power potential, lower contact, and high strikeout rate, is going to be streaky.

While we are on the topic of overachievers, I would be very surprised if Nick Latham continues this pace. He has never had a season over .317 average, .950 OPS, and 29 HRs. He is currently hitting .348 (60 points over his career), with a 1.114 OPS (250 over his career), and he already has 11 homeruns. Now, I'm not saying that that Latham can't have a good season, but I would be shocked if he stays even near this pace. The guy is 37-years-old.

But to answer your question, no, I don't believe that fielding performance matters how a hitter plays at the plate. I have tried to teach numerous players new positions, that they have "2" current ratings at, and they continue to tear it up at the plate despite fielding poorly.

In short, Rogado is not to blame. He has actually played pretty well. Currently hitting .246, with a .679 OPS, three doubles and homer in his first 60 ABs. Plus, 100% fielding at 3B.

[Delandis]

In short, Rogado is not to blame. He has actually played pretty well. Currently hitting .246, with a .679 OPS, three doubles and homer in his first 60 ABs. Plus, 100% fielding at 3B.

We'll see. Especially since I've moved him back to 3rd.