The 1980 Regular Season Thread

[kaosfere]

Yeah, the CL has toughened up a lot even in the time I've been here. I'm pretty sure this team I have now would have given Alan a solid challenge for #1 in 72 or 74. As it is, I'm struggling for thirdish.

[Tasan]

I like muns, but I hate the 'Pooners......hate 'em.....on friggin autopilot....

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Alan T

As we've just passed the halfway mark of the season, a couple of notable streaks so far this year:

A. Lopez (LI) hitting streak snapped at 23 games. Tied for 9th longest

D. Marnane (ATL) currently has saved 35 consecutive save opportunities dating back to last season. 4th all time.

Wow, get the Lidge out!

[Alan T]

Any quick requests anyone has how a particular player is doing so far this year? Only like 1 or 2 requests each tops. Want to make it quick and then continue on

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Tasan

Colorado makes a showing, too bad we can't shake our horrible Mays and Junes I've come to always have.

Well, your June was very good here. But, yeah, April/May, not so much.

[kaosfere]

8 games against the 'Crackers in July. If I pound this month good, I have a chance at the top. If not, I'm going to be 3rd at best.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Any quick requests anyone has how a particular player is doing so far this year? Only like 1 or 2 requests each tops. Want to make it quick and then continue on

Is Matos pitching a lot out of the pen, and how is he doing?

[kaosfere]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Any quick requests anyone has how a particular player is doing so far this year? Only like 1 or 2 requests each tops. Want to make it quick and then continue on

Jonas Leis: Terrible, or no? He was a *huge* gamble/experiment for me.

[Anthony]

this league is definitely gonna need some playoffs. its only July and i've seen enough to log off for the nite. 17 games out of 1st? the rest of the season is a formality for Hartford. looks like the Violators will play .500 ball again, not finish in 1st and get a crappy draft pick that the AI will use to draft another OF with. i don't want to be a curmedgeon, but i'm gonna need to see a little more than this to hold my attention. i've been in the league for about 4 years and this is the way its played out every year (except last when i shit the bed).

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by kaosfere

8 games against the 'Crackers in July. If I pound this month good, I have a chance at the top. If not, I'm going to be 3rd at best.

Not sure I would trust the in game schedule. Alan probably had to change it a lot.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Is Matos pitching a lot out of the pen, and how is he doing?

Juan Matos - 6 games, 13.2 IP, 0-0 1.98 ERA 0 Sv

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by kaosfere

Jonas Leis: Terrible, or no? He was a *huge* gamble/experiment for me.

Jonas Leis - 17 games started, 107.2 IP, 4-7 3.18 ERA ----> 1.94 Run support per game.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Anthony

this league is definitely gonna need some playoffs. its only July and i've seen enough to log off for the nite. 17 games out of 1st? the rest of the season is a formality for Hartford. looks like the Violators will play .500 ball again, not finish in 1st and get a crappy draft pick that the AI will use to draft another OF with. i don't want to be a curmedgeon, but i'm gonna need to see a little more than this to hold my attention. i've been in the league for about 4 years and this is the way its played out every year (except last when i shit the bed).

Now here's a question for the league: Is Hartford's dominance bad for FOOL?

And strange factoid, is they're still clearly behind Valdosta in terms of dynasty rankings.

[kaosfere]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Not sure I would trust the in game schedule. Alan probably had to change it a lot.

Oh, right. D'oh!

I'll just sit here and hope the left column goes up, then.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Juan Matos - 6 games, 13.2 IP, 0-0 1.98 ERA 0 Sv

And to think--he could be starting for someone right now.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Not sure I would trust the in game schedule. Alan probably had to change it a lot.

I kept the schedule in tact, i did not want to mess up anyone who plans strategy around it. I just had to schedule every game for Brooklyn by hand.

[Alan T]

ok, lets continue the season

[Chief Rum]

Ducks win! Ducks win! Ducks finally win!

Sorry, got the game on.

[kaosfere]

Originally Posted by Alan T

1.94 Run support per game.

I swear. If I could ever actually get a GOOD offense...

[Chief Rum]

Wow, in addition to the TOR games, I play 4 vs BAL, 3 vs WYO and 4 vs NYH. Lots of big games there.

[kaosfere]

Leis is going to league minimums for the next 2 years. I'll definitely take a 3.18ERA inning-eater for that price.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Now here's a question for the league: Is Hartford's dominance bad for FOOL?

And strange factoid, is they're still clearly behind Valdosta in terms of dynasty rankings.

it's good cuz they're the standard everyone has to beat. its bad cuz if they're gonna take 1st every season then what's the point of me stuggling to get in as many exports as a i can? and especially since muns missed an export and the team is riding on auto pilot? i don't think anyone is saying they want to win every year. just a different team in 1st every now and then wouldn't hurt no one. if there was a wild card or something at least i'd have something else to shoot for, at least then i could care less if 1st place was automatically Hartford's cuz at least coming in 2nd place would mean something. right now 2nd place means the same as last place.

actually, scratch that. in this current setup 2nd place is worse than last place cuz at least last place gets the better draft pick.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Now here's a question for the league: Is Hartford's dominance bad for FOOL?

And strange factoid, is they're still clearly behind Valdosta in terms of dynasty rankings.

No.

The only reason St. Louis was a bad dynasty was because the team was composed before the majority of the people who joined in '64 were around. So it was like an unfair advantage to have that much talent comprised together. The dynasties we have besides them -- Valdosta, Colorado and Hartford -- were all home grown and built with specific plans in mind. muns had a strategy and he went 16 seasons without a playoff appearance and had the longest tenure here of anyone (gstelmack left before he had a chance to break his streak) who never had a postseason appearance.

So...when he had that fire sale and got rid of all of those guys, he did a hell of a job using the system in place to build a team that would dominate. It was pure genius, especially assembling the pitching. He made bold moves, brazen signings of prospects that none of us were willing to sink money into and frankly, his work has paid off.

They do need a few more titles to get into the ranks of say, Colorado as the dominant team of the RL. But make no mistake, they still have the goods to win in that league for another half decade or more. So...yeah, I think when it's all said and done, 'Pooner nation will be truly one of the names that rolls off the tongue in terms of league dynasties to emulate.

I just tip my cap to what he managed to do. Alan in Valdosta, Chief in Colorado and me in..well...you know, everywhere.

It's a matter of reading the way the trends are going, coming up with a gameplan to build a franchise around that and then making your move when your time comes. It's a great thing. There are SO many different ways to win here, that it makes it exciting and no season is the same as the last one.

[kaosfere]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

There are SO many different ways to win here, that it makes it exciting and no season is the same as the last one.

And there are so many of them.

[Alan T]

July 15th - Rich Lang (BKN) got his 2000th career hit
July 19th - Hideaki Tanaka (RG) got his 3000th career hit
July 21st - Weston Steward (BKN) throws a no hitter vs Rio Grande
July 27th - Brendon Hutchensson (NYH) strikes out 15 vs Atlanta

[kaosfere]

Man, I'm nervous for this month.

[Young Drachma]

That said, I can't see us lasting another decade without playoffs. People invest a lot of time trying to get their teams together, etc., and so, we need to probably have a system that allows them a "reward" for that participation. I say, at least a wild card would be good. Going further might be a bit much, but..it's probably time to discuss it for a few years down the road once the financial changes get comfortable for folks. 3-5 years at the most.

A best of seven series and keep the Classic best of nine. I think that interest increases when there are playoffs, even if it's "random" or a "crapshoot." And really, I don't think there is anything fraudulent about 2nd place teams in our leagues, because the talent is so deep. And I'd say one playoff sim for the whole shebang, no stopping for each round or anything.

It'd make Sunday nights more interesting, that's for sure.

[Tasan]

Originally Posted by kaosfere

Man, I'm nervous for this month.

No lie. Another month like we had in June, and we're in it.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Alan T

July 15th - Rich Lang (BKN) got his 2000th career hit
July 19th - Hideaki Tanaka (RG) got his 3000th career hit
July 21st - Weston Steward (BKN) throws a no hitter vs Rio Grande
July 27th - Brendon Hutchensson (NYH) strikes out 15 vs Atlanta

3000th hit. That's...crazy. I remember when he was just a guy in New York who was behind the shadow of Spindola. Now? The best to have ever played the game.

[Alan T]

August 1st, 1980

Continental League Standings

Atlanta Firecrackers		66	48	.579	-	
Baltimore Gothams		59	55	.518	7.0	
Wyoming Buffalo Soliders	59	55	.518	7.0	
Toronto Osprey			58	55	.513	7.5	
New York Panthers		55	57	.491	10.0	
Brooklyn Brownstones		56	60	.483	11.0	
Rio Grande Roadrunners		51	61	.455	14.0	
Napa Valley Winemakers		51	64	.443	15.5	


Republic League Standings

Hartford Harpooners	77	36	.681	-	
Colorado Rancheros	60	53	.531	17.0	
Long Island Violators	58	55	.513	19.0	
San Diego Fathers	58	55	.513	19.0	
Chicago Black Sox	54	59	.478	23.0	
Columbus Crusaders	51	62	.451	26.0	
Compton Brothers	49	63	.438	27.5	
New Orleans Wrens	44	68	.393	32.5	

Atlanta has a magic number of 34
Hartford has a magic number of 25

[kaosfere]

Feh. Well... it's a tight race for second place. Someone could still close the gap, but Atlanta's holding well.

[Alan T]

August 1st stats leaders:

L. Crawford (LI) .333
J. Gonzalez (ATL) 27 HR
H. Matthews (CLB) 78 RBI

J. Aquino (HAR) 17 Wins
D. Hennessey (HAR) 39 saves
J. Aquino (HAR) 1.62 ERA

[Chief Rum]

I do think the way muns did it is going to be harder now. The excess cash he was able to put to good use signing prospects, because he wasn't spending up to the cap. And the VL dumped some of its best prospects into the pool while he was doing this. Since both of these advantages (excess cash, VL talent push) will now be gone, it will be much more difficult.

All that said, yes, he did suffer, and he did do a heck of a job in making moves and picking up the right prospects.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Alan T

July 27th - Brendon Hutchensson (NYH) strikes out 15 vs Atlanta

Heh...we're not hard to strike out.

It's pretty much the only offensive rating I practically ignore.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Atlanta has a magic number of 34
Hartford has a magic number of 25

lol..don't be jinxing me now!

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

No.

The only reason St. Louis was a bad dynasty was because the team was composed before the majority of the people who joined in '64 were around. So it was like an unfair advantage to have that much talent comprised together. The dynasties we have besides them -- Valdosta, Colorado and Hartford -- were all home grown and built with specific plans in mind. muns had a strategy and he went 16 seasons without a playoff appearance and had the longest tenure here of anyone (gstelmack left before he had a chance to break his streak) who never had a postseason appearance.

So...when he had that fire sale and got rid of all of those guys, he did a hell of a job using the system in place to build a team that would dominate. It was pure genius, especially assembling the pitching. He made bold moves, brazen signings of prospects that none of us were willing to sink money into and frankly, his work has paid off.

They do need a few more titles to get into the ranks of say, Colorado as the dominant team of the RL. But make no mistake, they still have the goods to win in that league for another half decade or more. So...yeah, I think when it's all said and done, 'Pooner nation will be truly one of the names that rolls off the tongue in terms of league dynasties to emulate.

I just tip my cap to what he managed to do. Alan in Valdosta, Chief in Colorado and me in..well...you know, everywhere.

It's a matter of reading the way the trends are going, coming up with a gameplan to build a franchise around that and then making your move when your time comes. It's a great thing. There are SO many different ways to win here, that it makes it exciting and no season is the same as the last one.

this is faulty thinking/logic. in your scenario, a team needs to catch lighening in a bottle, assemble one great team with the best strategy and then they get to ride that team for a good decade of 1st place finishes. this league has only been around for 14 seasons, and already you have bascially 3 major franchises cuz 3 teams were able to do it right, thereby making a 1st place finish a foregone conclusion.

but....in real life the best team doesn't always win. if this were the case then the Pats wouldn't have lost to the Giants in last year's Super Bowl cuz the Pats had the best team ever. of course, the Giants weren't even the best team in the NFC playoffs, period. the point isn't to assemble a juggernaut for the regular season. the point is to assemble a team that can win in the playoffs. if championships were awarded to the best team on paper, there'd be no need to play out the season. there'd just be one major conference, all owners would look at each other's rosters and vote who has the best team and give that team the championship. but championships in baseball aren't won in April.

they're won in October.

[kaosfere]

If I'm not within 3 games by 1 September, I'm done.

[Alan T]

August 23rd - New York's Bob Morgan strikes out 15 vs Baltimore

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by kaosfere

Feh. Well... it's a tight race for second place. Someone could still close the gap, but Atlanta's holding well.

This month had me freaking out. But I won 17 games out of something like 26 games or so (All Star "break" still in schedule), so, yes, I held up really well.

But it's a long, long way from over. The year I beat gstelmack (the tie year), I had to make up similar ground in August and did.

[Tasan]

no offense muns, but I hate your team........................hate 'em.......

[Alan T]

September 1st, 1980

Continental League Standings

Atlanta Firecrackers		82	59	.582	-	
Baltimore Gothams		75	66	.532	7.0	
Toronto Osprey			73	67	.521	8.5	
Wyoming Buffalo Soliders	73	68	.518	9.0	
New York Panthers		67	73	.479	14.5	
Brooklyn Brownstones		69	77	.473	15.5	
Napa Valley Winemakers		66	77	.462	17.0	
Rio Grande Roadrunners		61	79	.436	20.5	


Republic League Standings

Hartford Harpooners	92	48	.657	-	
Colorado Rancheros	76	64	.543	16.0	
San Diego Fathers	72	68	.514	20.0	
Long Island Violators	70	70	.500	22.0	
Chicago Black Sox	67	73	.479	25.0	
Columbus Crusaders	66	74	.471	26.0	
Compton Brothers	65	75	.464	27.0	
New Orleans Wrens	52	88	.371	40.0

Hartford is the 1980 Republic League Champs!

Atlanta's magic number is 7. We will go to game by game coverage of Atlanta, Baltimore, Wyoming and Toronto

[Tasan]

Oh and this would be MUCH cooler if there were a 3 way race right now for the wildcard in the RL.

[Alan T]

September 1st, stats leaders


L. Abbott (ATL) .323
G. Baker (HAR) 33 HR
J. Gonzalez (ATL) 96 RBI

D. Robinson (HAR) 21 wins
D. Hennessey (HAR) 46 saves
J. Aquino (HAR) 1.87 ERA

[Tasan]

Originally Posted by Alan T

September 1st, stats leaders


D. Robinson (HAR) 21 wins
D. Hennessey (HAR) 46 saves
J. Aquino (HAR) 1.87 ERA

Does ANYONE not get how they are winning all the time? Those guys have been there all season, right?

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Anthony

this is faulty thinking/logic. in your scenario, a team needs to catch lighening in a bottle, assemble one great team with the best strategy and then they get to ride that team for a good decade of 1st place finishes. this league has only been around for 14 seasons, and already you have bascially 3 major franchises cuz 3 teams were able to do it right, thereby making a 1st place finish a foregone conclusion.

but....in real life the best team doesn't always win. if this were the case then the Pats wouldn't have lost to the Giants in last year's Super Bowl cuz the Pats had the best team ever. of course, the Giants weren't even the best team in the NFC playoffs, period. the point isn't to assemble a juggernaut for the regular season. the point is to assemble a team that can win in the playoffs. if championships were awarded to the best team on paper, there'd be no need to play out the season. there'd just be one major conference, all owners would look at each other's rosters and vote who has the best team and give that team the championship. but championships in baseball aren't won in April.

they're won in October.

I'm not sayiong I disagree, but given the numbers you have tossed out, consider that in the last 14 years of real life MLB, we have seen the Yankees, Red Sox and A's make very consistent long term runs, and the Braves continued their excellence that started before. The Angels have been very good since 2002. So three major franchises in 14 years doesn't seem to be to bad, especially when we haven't mentioned DC's teams, Ann Arbor's early success or the recent dominance of Baltimore.

It can happen, making the moves and getting it right at the right time, but I understand your frustration. I think I would be, too, if I were still in the RL (although knowing me, I would stubbornly take it as a challenge and prove I could catch him ).

The best news is, one season per week. muns won't be good forever, and forever is right around the corner.

[Alan T]

The September schedule for the 4 CL teams in the playoff hunt:

ATL:

1 @ WYO
3 @ BKN
3 @ BAL
3 vs BKN
3 vs NYH

BAL:

3 @ TOR
3 vs ATL
4 vs TOR
3 @ RG

TOR:

1 vs NYH
3 vs BAL
3 vs NVY
4 @ BAL
3 @ WYO

WYO:

1 vs ATL
3 vs RG
2 @ BKN
4 @ RG
3 vs TOR

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Anthony

this is faulty thinking/logic. in your scenario, a team needs to catch lighening in a bottle, assemble one great team with the best strategy and then they get to ride that team for a good decade of 1st place finishes. this league has only been around for 14 seasons, and already you have bascially 3 major franchises cuz 3 teams were able to do it right, thereby making a 1st place finish a foregone conclusion.

but....in real life the best team doesn't always win. if this were the case then the Pats wouldn't have lost to the Giants in last year's Super Bowl cuz the Pats had the best team ever. of course, the Giants weren't even the best team in the NFC playoffs, period. the point isn't to assemble a juggernaut for the regular season. the point is to assemble a team that can win in the playoffs. if championships were awarded to the best team on paper, there'd be no need to play out the season. there'd just be one major conference, all owners would look at each other's rosters and vote who has the best team and give that team the championship. but championships in baseball aren't won in April.

they're won in October.

The league has been around for 20 seasons.

And we don't have just 3 major franchises. Valdosta and St. Louis were massively dominant. One because it was the start of the league, the other in the last part of the year. Hartford is basically doing what Colorado did in the late 60s and early 70s.

The idea with an offseason league is to assemble a team, set a strategy and attempt to outwit the other teams. And that's what happens here. If people decide to change that and go with a scenario where the league ultimately turns into "two" seasons, the one that separates the wheat from the chaff, than that's the business of you folks who'll vote/decide.

But I was agreeing with you that a playoff would be a good thing from an interest perspective, so my logic isn't faulty. It's the whole problem of "founders intent" more than anything.

This thing has ultimately turned into something far more complicated and intensive than I ever imagined it would be.

That said, I think you'll have a hard time convincing a lot of the traditionalists who've been here a while that we need to go beyond the current playoff format that's worked well for us.

This whole dominant team situation hasn't been the norm, but the talent changes -- as Chief mentioned -- really are what we're experiencing here. It's a whole ebb and flow sort of deal. Natural, inevitable for any league, we just go through them faster.

That said, congrats to whoever ends up winning tonight and great work Alan for this yeoman's effort in your first season as Commish. You do great work.

[Tasan]

Who's running Wyoming right now? I've seen conflicting info on this.

[Alan T]

9/1:

Atlanta 3, Wyoming 1 (in 11)
Toronto 1, New York 0

Atlanta magic number @6, Baltimore 7.5 back

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Tasan

Does ANYONE not get how they are winning all the time? Those guys have been there all season, right?

I believe so, yes. Hennessy in saves and Aquino in ERA for sure. Aquini has actually been the guy in wins, so Robinson is new.

Despite, was it DC or Alan (?) saying recently that playoffs would be a bad thing, I actually wouldn't mind seeing a WC soon. We have too many competitive teams now to not seriously consider adding them.

I still wish we had divisional play, but that's probably just me (sorry, DC, I know what you said...)