Summer of '78- A SBS (I hate Bucky Dent) Dynasty

[vtbub]

The year is 1978. The New York Yankees are defending their first World Championship in 15 seasons. The Boston Red Sox are trying to end a rather annoying 60 year drought. The state of Pennsylvania boasts two incredible ballclubs, Kansas City is America's underdog, while the Big Red Machine tries one last time to overtake Tommy Lasorda's Dodgers. Did I say that Baltimore and Milwakuee were on the rise too?

In reality, 1978 was one of the most exciting seasons in MLB history. For those too young, the Red Sox lost a 14 game lead over the Yankees after the All-Star break. They then forced a fateful one game playoff on Monday October 1st in Boston. The Yanks, who had battled everyone including themselves, beat Boston 5-3, powered by SS Bucky "bleepin'" Dent's bloop shot into the Monster in the 7th inning off Mike Torrez. Ron Guidry won an incredible 25 games that year, #2 starter Ed Figueroa won 20. The Yankee 1-2 pitchers went an astouding 45-8 in 1978. The Bronx Bombers were 100-63, the Bosox were 99-64.

Kansas City was the only easy clinching team, holding off Texas and California by five games, the most lopsided of all four races, COMBINED. The Phillies won their third straight NL East crown by 1.5 over Pittsburgh, who would win the 1979 World Series. The Dodgers held off the Reds by 2.5. Cincy would not be the same after that, Pete Rose who chased Joe Dimaggio's 56 game hit streak that summer, would depart for Philly in '79.

Jim Rice, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Reggie Jackson and others would put the fear of God into pitchers while Ron Guidry, Tommy John, Don Sutton, Steve Carlton and Tom Seaver would make more hitters mumble after striking them out. No wild cards, no nasty free agency, no diluted expansion pitching and hitting, no ESPN, no internet, just teams that fought, with everybody.

I was six that summer, watching that playoff on a black and white tv afterschool that afternoon was my first heartbreak. I rooted like hell for the Royals, and then the Dodgers in the playoffs, but the Yankees prevailed winning the 75th World Series in six games. I found myself recently over at the tabletop sports boards over
at Delphi. I had forgotten just how much fun I had at replaying history.

After looking at a number of big name company websites looking for a game that would accurately reproduce that season within reason, I dug out a copy of Strategic Baseball Simulator that was on my old computer, a DOS relic. For freeware, the game sims a decent game of baseball. It's much more accurate than OOTP and $50-90 cheaper then Strat, APBA or Diamond Mind, so that's the engine I'll use. The biggest cons are no injuries and teams that traded players are on both rosters.

I'm managing both the Yankees and the Sox. When they play, I'll run the home teams. With access to Retrosheet, I can see who Zimmer, Martin, and Lemon, the managers, used to pitch each game. I don't expect either team to pull away to much from each other, and when all is said and done, they both should be between 94-104 wins. The computer is running the rest of the show and periodically, I'll be peeking in on the other races.

I'll be trying to report the Sox-Yanks games as accurately as possible. 1978 reporters, announcers, radio stations will tell you day by day who won and how. It should be fun.

[vtbub]

1978 Preview:

Conventional Wisdom says:

AL East- Yanks/Boston/Baltimore/Detroit/Milwakuee/Cleveland/Toronto

Are the Yanks pitchers more overpowering then the Sox hitters? Guidry and Figeuroa pace a staff that features 2nd year phenon Jim Beattie and a pen that has Sparky Lyle and Goose Gossage. Boston counters with Jim Rice, 39 HR's in '77, Fred Lynn, George Scott and the vet Carl Yastremski. Bosox pitching has Dennis Eckersley and Mike Torrez, while the Bombers will surrond Reggie Jackson with Greg Nettles and Thurman Munson. If that wasn't enough in the division, Jim Palmer and 2nd year slugger Eddie Murray bring the O's into the mix. Detroit's young middle infield of Alan Trammel and rookie Lou Whitaker should give a hopefully healthy Mark Fidrych some help for the rebuilding Tigers. Milwakuee is counting on rookie Paul Molitor to mesh well with Robin Yount, Cecil Cooper, Don Money and Gorman Thomas and pound the ball. Cleveland and 2nd year Toronto hope to get momentum this year and be more competitive in 1979.

Briefly the other divisions:

AL West- KC/Texas/Minnesota/California/Oakland/Chicago/Seattle

KC should defend again, Texas hopes that Jon Matlack and Fergie Jenkins can win 40 between the two.

NL East- Philly/Pittsburgh/St. Louis/Chicago/Montreal/Mets

Philly and Pittsburgh are the only two teams with a credible shot. Both teams can hit, Schmidt vs Parker/Stargell. Philly, behind Carlton should hold off the Pirate pitching led by Reuss and Kison

NL West- LA/Cincy/Houston/Atlanta/San Francisco/San Diego

The Big Red Machine is aging and doesn't have the depth on the mound that the Dodgers have led by Don Sutton. Expect Dodger rookie Bob Welch to have a good season.

[vtbub]

Friday April 7th, 1978

It’s 5:20 here on 103WBZ and with sports, Bob Lobel,

Thanks Bruce,

Francisco Barrios scattered five hits as the Chicago White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox 7-2 at Comisky Park Friday afternoon. The BoSox squandered a 2 run early as Mike Torrez struggled through 6 and a third innings. Torrez allowed nine hits and walked four as he struggled in the afternoon sun, giving up five earned runs. Dick Drago surrendered two runs over the last inning and two thirds.

The Southsiders struck for four runs in the fifth and then three more in the seventh. Thad Bosley paced the Chisox going 2 for 5 with a double and two rbi. Carl Yastremski led Boston's offense with a two run single in the first. The two teams play again tomorrow afrternoon at 2:05 in Chicago.

~78 Boston AB R H B W K 78 Chicago AB R H B W K
4 Remy 4 0 1 0 0 1 Errors: 0 Molinaro 5 0 1 0 0 0 Errors:
6 Burleson 3 0 0 0 1 0 Remy (1) 7 Bosley 5 1 2 2 0 0 Orta (1)
8 Lynn 4 1 1 0 0 1 LOB: 7 8 Lemon 4 1 1 0 1 1 Johnson (1)
7 Rice 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 Colbern 4 1 2 0 1 1 Doubles:
2 Fisk 3 0 0 0 1 1 5 Soderholm 2 0 0 1 0 1 Orta (1)
0 Yastrzemski 3 0 1 2 1 0 4 Orta 5 1 1 1 0 0 Johnson (1)
9 Evans 4 0 0 0 0 2 9 Washington 3 1 1 1 2 0 Bosley (1)
3 Scott 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 Johnson 3 1 1 1 2 0 Double Play: 1
5 Hobson 4 0 0 0 0 1 6 Kessinger 4 1 2 1 0 0 LOB: 13

~Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
Torrez L(0-1) 6 1/3 9 5 5 4 2 Barrios W(1-0) 9 5 2 2 3 6
Drago 1 2/3 2 2 2 2 1

HBP:
Torrez(Soderholm)
Drago(Soderholm)

R H E
78 Boston 200 000 000 2 5 1
78 Chicago 000 040 30- 7 11 2



AL East Standings

Boston 0-1
Yankees 0-0

Milwakuee and Toronto 1-0

[vtbub]

Saturday April 8th, 1978

SOX- Eckersley (0-0) CWS- Stone (0-0) 2:05 WSBK
NYY- Guidry (0-0) TEX- Matlack (0-0) 2:20 NBC

On a more music weekend here at 68/WRKO, here’s Dale Dorman with sports.

The Boston Red Sox bounced back from a horrible opening day and bounced the White Sox, 8-1. Dennis Eckersley went the route in his Red Sox debut, striking out five, including the side in the ninth, while giving up eight hits. Steve Stone takes the loss, eight earned runs in six and two-thirds innings. Yaz, George Scott, and Garry Hoffman all drove in two runs, while Jim Rice went three for four with a double. Chet Lemon's homer was the highlight for Chicago.

~78 Boston AB R H B W K 78 Chicago AB R H B W K
4 Remy 4 0 0 0 0 1 Doubles: 0 Molinaro 2 0 1 0 2 0 Errors:
6 Burleson 5 1 1 0 0 1 Rice (1) 9 Bosley 3 0 1 0 0 0 Kessinger (1)
0 Rice 4 1 3 1 1 0 Fisk (1) Torres 1 0 1 0 0 0 Doubles:
5 Hobson 5 0 0 0 0 1 Double Play: 3 8 Lemon 4 1 1 1 0 0 Orta (2)
8 Lynn 3 2 0 0 2 0 LOB: 10 2 Nordhagen 4 0 1 0 0 0 Home Runs:
2 Fisk 4 2 2 1 1 0 4 Orta 3 0 1 0 1 0 Lemon (1)
7 Yastrzemski 5 1 3 2 0 0 7 Garr 4 0 1 0 0 0 Stolen Bases:
3 Scott 3 0 1 2 2 1 3 Johnson 4 0 0 0 0 2 Molinaro (1)
9 Hancock 5 1 2 2 0 1 5 Pryor 4 0 1 0 0 2 Bosley (1)
6 Kessinger 4 0 1 0 0 1 Double Play: 1
LOB: 8

~Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
Eckersley W(1-0) 9 9 1 1 3 5 Stone L(0-1) 6 2/3 9 8 8 5 4
Hinton 2 1/3 3 0 0 1 1

R H E
78 Boston 000 012 500 8 12 0
78 Chicago 100 000 000 1 9 1



5:45 on NewsRadio 88 WCBS, Yanks opener and other sports, here’s Werner Wolff:

The New York Yankees began their defense of their title by squeaking out an opening night win over Texas, 2-1. Pinch hitter Al Oliver hit a sharp grounder stabbed by Greg Nettles with the bases loaded. Nettles quickly went around the horn preserving the game for starter Ron Guidry, who departed earlier in the ninth. Former Met, Jon Matlack, was on the losing end of a pitchers duel, going the distance, scattering seven hits. The Bombers scored in the third on a Mickey Rivers sac fly and on a Chambliss single in the fourth. Juan Beniquez delighted the Texas crowd with a solo blast in the third.

~78 NewYork AB R H B W K 78 Texas AB R H B W K
4 Randolph 4 0 3 0 0 0 Triples: 4 Wills 4 0 1 0 0 2 Errors:
8 Rivers 3 0 0 1 0 0 Piniella (1) 6 Campaneris 3 0 1 0 0 0 Mason (1)
2 Munson 4 0 0 0 0 0 Caught Stealing: Mason 1 0 0 0 0 1 Doubles:
5 Nettles 4 0 0 0 0 0 Randolph 2 (2) 9 Bonds 3 0 0 0 1 0 Bevacqua (1)
9 Jackson 4 0 1 0 0 0 Double Play: 3 7 Zisk 4 0 2 0 0 0 Home Runs:
7 Piniella 4 1 1 0 0 1 LOB: 4 Lowenstein 0 0 0 0 0 0 Beniquez (1)
3 Chambliss 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 Sundberg 4 0 1 0 0 0 LOB: 6
0 Spencer 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 Gray 3 0 0 0 0 1
6 Dent 2 0 0 0 0 0 Thompson 0 0 0 0 1 0
8 Beniquez 3 1 1 1 0 1
Oliver 1 0 0 0 0 0
3 Hargrove 2 0 0 0 1 0
5 Bevacqua 2 0 1 0 0 0

~Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
Guidry W(1-0) 8 1/3 6 1 1 2 5 Matlack L(0-1) 9 7 2 2 0 1
Gossage S(1) 0 2/3 1 0 0 1 0

R H E
78 NewYork 001 100 000 2 7 0
78 Texas 001 000 000 1 7 1

AL East Standings

Yankees 1-0
Boston 1-1 .5 gb

[vtbub]

Sunday April 9th

SOX- Lee (0-0) CWS- Kravec (0-0) 2:05 WSBK
NYY- Figueroa (0-0)TEX- Jenkins (0-0) 2:05 WPIX


Sunday sports here at WBZ….Here’s Bob Lobel..

Despite homers from Yaz, Fred Lynn and Dwight Evans, the Red Sox were dumped this afternoon again by the White Sox, 6-3. Bill Lee struggled mightily at times today. He surrenderd 11 hits in six plus innings, walking one and allowing six runs. Ken Kravec retired the first thirteen Sox hitters until Lynn homered to right. Kravec threw seven solid innings in earning his first win of the new season. Boston travels to Cleveland for a matinee with the Indians, first pitch at 1:05.

78 Boston AB R H B W K 78 Chicago AB R H B W K
4 Remy 4 0 1 0 1 1 Doubles: 0 Molinaro 5 0 2 1 0 0 Errors:
9 Evans 4 1 1 1 1 1 Hobson (1) 9 Bonds 5 0 0 1 0 0 Pryor (1)
7 Rice 4 0 0 0 0 1 Home Runs: 5 Soderholm 4 0 1 0 0 0 Doubles:
5 Hobson 4 0 1 0 0 1 Lynn (1) 3 Johnson 4 0 2 0 0 0 Kessinger (1)
8 Lynn 2 1 1 1 2 0 Yastrzemski (1) 7 Garr 4 0 1 0 0 0 Double Play: 1
2 Fisk 3 0 0 0 1 1 Evans (1) 2 Nahorodny 4 1 1 0 0 0 LOB: 8
3 Yastrzemski 4 1 1 1 0 0 Double Play: 2 4 Pryor 4 2 3 0 0 0
6 Burleson 4 0 1 0 0 1 LOB: 8 6 Kessinger 3 2 2 1 1 0
0 Brohamer 4 0 0 0 0 2 8 Spencer 4 1 3 1 0 0
Bosley 0 0 0 0 0 0

Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
Lee L(0-1) 6 11 6 4 1 0 Kravec W(1-0) 7 6 3 3 3 5
Stanley 2 4 0 0 0 0 Schueler S(1) 2 0 0 0 2 3

WP: Passed Ball:
Lee Nahorodny
Lee

R H E
78 Boston 000 021 000 3 6 0
78 Chicago 002 202 00- 6 15 1

6:15 on 1010 W-I-N-S, with a recap of the Yankee game heard earlier, once again Frank Messer;

Toby Harrah's two out single in the ninth gave Texas their first win of the year. Ferguson Jenkins went the distance, striking out seven, as the Rangers beat the Yankees 5-4. Kurt Bevqua and Gary Gray homered for Texas off loser Ed Figueroa. Thurman Munson and Lou Pinella drove in all four Yankee runs. The series concludes tomorrow night at 8:05.

~78 NewYork AB R H B W K 78 Texas AB R H B W K
4 Randolph 4 0 2 0 0 2 Triples: 4 Wills 5 0 1 0 0 1 Doubles:
9 White 4 0 0 0 0 0 Thomasson (1) 6 Harrah 4 1 1 1 1 0 Bonds (1)
0 Piniella 3 0 1 2 0 0 LOB: 5 9 Bonds 4 0 1 1 0 1 Zisk (1)
8 Blair 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 J.Ellis 4 0 1 0 0 0 Bevacqua (2)
5 Nettles 4 1 1 0 0 1 7 Zisk 4 0 1 0 0 1 Home Runs:
7 Thomasson 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 Gray 3 1 1 1 1 1 Bevacqua (1)
3 Chambliss 4 0 0 0 0 2 8 Thompson 3 1 0 0 1 0 Gray (1)
2 Munson 4 1 3 2 0 1 3 Hargrove 3 0 0 0 1 1 Stolen Bases:
6 Dent 4 1 1 0 0 0 5 Bevacqua 4 1 2 2 0 0 Wills (1)
Lowenstein 0 1 0 0 0 0 Harrah (1)
Thompson (1)
Double Play: 1
LOB: 6

~Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
Figueroa L(0-1) 8 2/3 8 5 5 4 5 Jenkins W(1-0) 9 9 4 4 0 7

HBP:
Jenkins(Piniella)

R H E
78 NewYork 000 010 021 4 9 0
78 Texas 000 030 011 5 8 0



AL East Standings

Yankees 1-1 .5 gb of BALT/TOR
Boston 1-2 1 gb

[vtbub]

Monday April 10th

SOX- Tiant (0-0) CLE- Paxton (0-0) 1:05 WSBK
NYY- Tidrow (0-0) TEX- Alexander (0-0) 8:05 WPIX

Bruce Bradleyyyyy…..103….WBZ….Ahh, New music from Andy Gibb, 4:45 here on ‘BZ, with sports and all the fun from Cleveland, here’s Bob Lobel..

Fred Lynn and Carlton Fisk hit back to back homers in the fourth as the Red Sox beat the Tribe 4-3. Luis Tiant survived giving up two shaky runs in the second to pitch eight innings of six hit ball. Bill Campbell, still recovering from shoulder problems last season, received the save. Gary Alexander homered and Wayne Cage doubled home runs in the second for Cleveland, but the back to back homers tied the game for Boston and when Lynn doubled to right in the eigth, Butch Hobson scored all the way from first base on a throwing error from Paul Dade.

~78 Boston AB R H B W K 78 Clevelan AB R H B W K
4 Remy 5 0 0 0 0 1 Errors: 9 Dade 4 0 0 0 0 1 Errors:
9 Evans 5 0 0 0 0 2 Hobson (1) 8 Manning 4 0 0 0 0 0 Dade (1)
7 Rice 3 0 1 0 1 0 Doubles: 3 Thornton 3 0 0 0 1 0 Doubles:
5 Hobson 4 2 2 0 0 0 Lynn (1) 2 Alexander 4 1 1 1 0 0 Grubb 2 (2)
8 Lynn 3 1 3 1 1 0 Home Runs: 7 Grubb 3 2 2 0 1 0 Cage (1)
2 Fisk 4 1 2 1 0 0 Lynn (2) 0 Cage 3 0 2 2 1 0 Home Runs:
3 Scott 2 0 1 1 1 0 Fisk (1) 5 Bell 4 0 1 0 0 0 Alexander (1)
0 Bailey 4 0 0 0 0 0 Caught Stealing: 6 Veryzer 3 0 0 0 0 0 Caught Stealing:
6 Burleson 3 0 0 0 1 0 Remy (1) 4 Kuiper 3 0 1 0 0 0 Cage (1)
Double Play: 2 LOB: 4
LOB: 7

~Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
Tiant W(1-0) 8 6 2 2 2 1 Paxton L(0-1) 8 9 4 3 3 2
Campbell S(1) 1 1 1 1 1 0 Clyde 1 0 0 0 1 1

R H E
78 Boston 000 201 010 4 9 1
78 Cleveland 020 000 001 3 7 1



99X...Charley Steiner tells us all about Arlington, Texas….

Texas looks to prove that their strong second place finish last season was not a fluke. That continued tonight in Arlington as they took their second in a row from the Yankees, 4-1. Doyle Alexander goes the distance, giving up eight hits while walking two. Alexander struck out four. Yankee starter Dick Tidrow went six and two thirds in the loss. He gave up a solo blast to Juan Beniquez while catcher John Ellis went two for four, driving in two. The Yankees will be glad to leave Texas, flying tonight to Milwakuee for tomorrow's game

~78 NewYork AB R H B W K 78 Texas AB R H B W K
9 White 5 0 2 0 0 1 Errors: 4 Wills 4 1 1 0 0 1 Errors:
6 Dent 4 0 0 0 0 0 Doyle 2 (2) 5 Lowenstein 4 1 1 0 0 0 Hargrove (1)
0 Jackson 3 1 0 0 1 1 Doubles: 9 Bonds 3 1 2 0 1 0 Doubles:
8 Blair 3 0 2 0 1 0 Blair 2 (2) 2 J.Ellis 4 0 2 2 0 0 Oliver (1)
5 Nettles 4 0 1 0 0 0 LOB: 10 7 Oliver 3 0 1 1 1 0 Home Runs:
7 Piniella 3 0 0 1 0 0 Thompson 0 0 0 0 0 0 Beniquez (2)
3 Chambliss 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 Gray 4 0 0 0 0 1 Stolen Bases:
2 Munson 4 0 1 0 0 0 8 Beniquez 4 1 1 1 0 0 Wills (2)
4 Doyle 3 0 0 0 0 1 6 Harrah 4 0 0 0 0 1 LOB: 7
Thomasson 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 Hargrove 3 0 1 0 0 0

~Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
Tidrow L(0-1) 6 2/3 9 4 1 1 3 Alexander W(1-0) 9 8 1 1 2 4
Lyle 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 0

Passed Ball:
J.Ellis

R H E
78 NewYork 000 001 000 1 8 2
78 Texas 010 030 00- 4 9 1



AL East Standings

Sox 2-2 .5gb
Yankees 1-2 1gb

RL AL East Standings

Yankees 1-2 2 gb of Milwakuee
Sox 1-3 2.5 gb

[vtbub]

Tuesday April 11th

SOX-CLE Rain out

NYY- Gullett (0-0) MIL- Replogle (0-0) 8:05 WPIX


MARTIN, BOSS TANGO IN DALLAS

Dick Young
NY Post Staff Writer

The Bombers spent Tuesday night playing small ball, ruining Andy Replogle's ML debut, 6-1. Reggie Jackson's three for four night and Don Gullett scattering four hits in going the distance paced the defending champs as they looked much more focused then over the weekend in Texas. Replogle acted nervous out of the gate, allowing four runs before the Brewers got to bat. Gullett, who has battled shoulder problems, took a shutout into the bottom of the ninth before giving up a homer to Sal Bando.

Principal owner George Steinbrenner and Manager Billy Martin refused to answer questions before the game about a alleged confrontation Sunday night at the Dallas Hyatt Regency, where the Yankees stayed during their trip. The Dallas Morning News and New York Post have learned from multiple sources that Martin and Steinbrenner exchanged words after a ninth inning loss at the Hokey-Pokey bar. After several drinks, voices were raised regarding pitching use and both men left in a huff.

~78 NewYork AB R H B W K 78 Milwauke AB R H B W K
4 Randolph 5 1 2 0 0 0 Doubles: 4 Molitor 5 0 0 0 0 0 Errors:
8 Rivers 3 1 0 0 2 0 Piniella (1) 6 Yount 4 0 1 0 0 0 Lezcano (1)
9 Jackson 4 2 3 1 0 1 Spencer (1) 7 Hisle 4 0 0 0 0 0 Home Runs:
5 Nettles 3 0 1 1 0 0 Stolen Bases: 8 Thomas 3 0 0 0 1 1 Bando (1)
7 Piniella 4 1 1 0 0 0 Rivers (1) 2 Martinez 3 0 1 0 1 0 Double Play: 2
0 Spencer 4 1 2 1 0 0 LOB: 5 7 Oglivie 2 0 0 0 2 0 LOB: 9
3 Chambliss 4 0 1 1 0 0 9 Lezcano 4 0 1 0 0 1
2 Munson 4 0 2 1 0 0 3 Money 4 0 0 0 0 1
6 Dent 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 Bando 2 1 1 1 2 0

~Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
Gullett W(1-0) 9 4 1 1 6 3 Replogle L(0-1) 9 12 6 5 2 1

R H E
78 NewYork 400 001 100 6 12 0
78 Milwaukee 000 000 001 1 4 1



AL East Standings

Yanks 2-2
Sox 2-2
[CODE]

[Wolfpack]

Interesting. Over on the Delphi board, someone else using various board games replayed all the games of the Yanks and Red Sox from that season (I think left other teams and games as they were in real life) and ended up having the Yanks cruise to the division title rather than having any sort of Bucky *ing Dent episode to decide it.

[vtbub]

Should know by mid-May, game time, just how tight or not this will be.