09-07-2008, 06:09 PM | #1 | |||
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
1974 FOOL Classic Thread
Valdosta Peanuts (98-56) Continental League Champions vs. Quad City Thunderstorms (90-64) Republic League Champions Here's the schedule: Quote:
|
|||
09-07-2008, 06:10 PM | #2 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Mass.
|
Good luck DC in this one. I think you have the better team on paper, so will be a challenge to try to overcome the odds.
|
09-07-2008, 06:21 PM | #3 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
Your team is formidable and clutch. They're playing hot these days, too. I have no illusions about our ability to triumph. I like our odds and I hope for a series that's epic as the others have been, but...I am reserving any excitement I might have about a champagne bath for the end of the night.
Best of luck to you. You're a hell of a GM. |
09-07-2008, 06:24 PM | #4 |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
|
Alan are we gonna see your thoughts on how you decided on moves this year.... I know you dont want DC to see em, but id be interested in reading them if you do it, say like 10 mins before the sim runs or something like that?
BTW- ill post my thoughts a little bit later on the series Last edited by muns : 09-07-2008 at 06:24 PM. |
09-07-2008, 06:29 PM | #5 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Mass.
|
Quote:
I probably won't be able to post them before this one as I have a sunday night EU3 game I'm starting to play again that will be running during the FOOL Classic. I'll be happy to talk about the moves I made after the Classic and why I made them though. I just have a few too many fatal flaws with this team that I think would be too exploitable if I give my thoughts ahead of time. I guess I would love to face a team like my team in the FOOL Classic because I think Valdosta is really beatable this season. (Even moreso than '67 when we also lost but in a close one). I made some strategic moves to try to hedge my bets against some of the possible exploits, but I'm not sure if it will be enough. I guess it depends on how good of a baseball-chess player DC is. I still have a few more moves I'm deciding on, and not sure which way i want to go.. but I'll likely figure it out in the next hour or two and get my final file uploaded in time hopefully |
|
09-07-2008, 06:41 PM | #6 |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
|
That works for me, Ive always like reading your thoughts on stuff. Looking forward to it
|
09-07-2008, 06:42 PM | #7 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
GM Notes ~ Quad City
PLANNING FOR THE SERIES
GM's Notebook '74 Classic You would think that after having been in this spot before that I'd be super experience and have all of the right things to say and do to win, right? Uh, no. My record proves that while I know what it takes to build a winner, actually winning is a whole different circumstance. My FOOL Classic record is a 2-4, though I think the '69 Series was so close that I should merit a half-win or wished it could've been best of 11 (for those who weren't here, I'll repeat it 'til I die. We lost 5-4 in Game 9 after 13 innings) But now I arrive here with a team of wide-eyed kids who largely have no playoff experience at all. So it's an interesting situation for me, having been experience and used to bringing teams of veteran players to this stage. Christian Larsen is a useful player, having been on title teams in Baltimore, St. Louis and Colorado and has been coaching guys on what to expect so they don't get jittery before the whole thing starts. In fact, Christian Larsen has been on a league championship team with every team in his career. What a distinction! We were together in '65 on that last St. Louis Terriers team and so, we go way back. I was just talking to him the other day about how crazy it is to be in this position nearly a decade later, just a few hundred miles from where it "all began" for us. But in reality...each time is a different experience and it's not easy to compare them from year to year. Rich Haas is the only other offensive starter who has playoff experience. On the pitching staff, Marvin Lott, Orlando Diaz, Doug Proctor and Jose Vargas are the playoff vets. Proctor has never won a playoff game, but comes up after spending the year in AAA to make the post-season roster (replacing Vincente Reyes) So in case you were wondering, this team is REALLY green. In setting up our lineups, we decided to go with consistency. There aren't many shifts from lefty to righty and in terms of the whole DH conundrum when playing in Valdosta, we didn't find it to be a huge problem since we have good depth on our squad and guys who normally play DH can also play positions. Bench players for the series include: Rich Haas, Pedro Mendez, George Baker (who was called up from Triple-A as a pinch hitter/runner), Noah Wakeling and converted outfielder to catcher Bill Hackwell. We're going with 11 pitchers, but debating about whether to insert a 5th pitcher into the rotation to go on an off-day in the middle of the series. We're lucky in the sense that we have two pitcher -- Gabriel Riggs and Pat Maddox -- who can start or relieve, giving up some flexibility in terms of how we deploy our arms in a series. They can also stop the bleeding in a game before it gets really out of hand, especially with an offense that has the ability to score packs of runs at time in a game. I like this team almost more than any of my others. We're young, deep and talented. We hit the ball hard, yet we have a deep bullpen with experienced pitchers who know how to win. I expect this to be a tough, grinding series and no outcome would surprise me at all. I'm just excited to be back. |
09-07-2008, 06:49 PM | #8 |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
|
Good read DC..... I thought your move of Noah Wakeling in the offseason was an interesting one..... you have made some moves throughout the seasons that i have found to be interesting including using starters as relievers and I like what you have been able to do with your team... Good luck to both you and Alan, should be another fun series
|
09-07-2008, 07:01 PM | #9 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
Wakeling won't be catching. I decided against that move just before the season started, even after I'd written my season preview. I was just a little nervous about it and also realized going into the season that we needed a better 4th outfielder than the kids I was relying on. So I bid on Riley Hollis and Aurelio Torres before the season started and left my team two players short for the final export and left two spots open for Catcher and DH starter, figuring that if I didn't get those guys, we'd be screwed this year anyway, so there wasn't any point in not trying to get them.
I moved Wakeling back to the outfield and he ended up as our fourth outfielder. Hollis and Torres took over at DH and Catcher respectively. Torres isn't very good and he's no Sam Harmon. But...Wakeling has long been a favorite player of mine, so when he was available, it worked out for us. I made ridiculous moves this year, as usual. Getting Doug Pitts was ridiculously stupid of me and might come to bite me in the ass in a few years. I released him before the season began. Though I taking a look at some of the other moves I made and I'm pretty proud of them overall. Though I've given up some really good players, I'm happy with our progress. Sam Godbout for Joe Morris was a masterstroke. It could've been an absolute failure and I even tried to get him back at one point, but I'm absolutely delighted to have made that deal when we did. While I'm sure if we'd kept the VL guys we ended up with that this team would've been very, very good...I'm quite pleased with how it worked out for us after the do-over. Those guys got dispersed around the league and we ended up with FOOL veterans like Yarbrough who I knew would produce under the right conditions and they have. This is probably the best team I've ever put together in terms of melding home-grown talent, with existing players and free agents. Even with my usual misstep, last minute reaction trades that I go "doh" about after the fact. That said, I haven't won a title since '64. '69 was a heartbreaker, so...I'm glad to be back..and I honestly forget what it's like to win one. Alan isn't gonna roll over, so I'm glad that if we had to do it, that I had to go up against the best to get it. I'm excited for this one. |
09-07-2008, 07:24 PM | #10 |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
|
Well I did have plans to write up a lil mini report, but that isnt gonna happen now...... I hate being on call.
Valdosta I think has the better Pitching. QC I think has the better Hitting. Should be a nice battle because of it. I actually have no idea who is going to win.... Usually id lean towards the team with the better pitching, however QC finished seecond in the RL pitching wise...... so who knows, heres hoping it goes 9 Looking forward to it!!! |
09-07-2008, 07:31 PM | #11 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Where Hip Hop lives
|
I still don't understand how Hollis was still available on Opening Day. I can't believe the league's lineups got that strong. He would have been on my team in a heartbeat.
__________________
. . I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready. |
09-07-2008, 07:35 PM | #12 |
H.S. Freshman Team
Join Date: Nov 2004
|
|
09-07-2008, 07:39 PM | #13 | |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
Quote:
He was asking for about $6.8 million for the year. I think that hampered a lot of team's ability to get him. I had to release Pitts to be able to make it work, but once I realized we were strong on the pitching side than I first thought, I decided that the extra offensive production might be worthwhile. It turned out to be a smart decision, I think. I don't think it put us over the top, but...I can't imagine it hurt. |
|
09-07-2008, 07:42 PM | #14 | |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
|
Quote:
It did hurt a lot of teams as I was one of them... I saw him there, and tried to clear as much cap as I could and offered him a 1 year deal with all I had left which was like 4.8 mil. It clearly was a gerat move and I didnt have enough cash to snag him. Great move by DC in my book Last edited by muns : 09-07-2008 at 07:43 PM. |
|
09-07-2008, 07:43 PM | #15 | |
H.S. Freshman Team
Join Date: Nov 2004
|
Quote:
I guess I don't understand how he got on your active roster for the beginning of the season. If we signed him after spring training (Friday night) then he would not be available for us non-commish owners to be on our active roster. Or has it been that if we sign a player at that stage, that you will put him on our active roster and all that? Last edited by graygoose12 : 09-07-2008 at 07:44 PM. |
|
09-07-2008, 07:46 PM | #16 | |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
Quote:
Yeah, that's the way it's been in the past. It's just not happened for a few years, because I'm guessing we've haven't had any guys in recent years good enough to get signed. But the way it worked was, I would only move them to your active roster if you left space open. If you didn't, I move them to the minors and keep simming. |
|
09-07-2008, 07:48 PM | #17 | |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
|
Quote:
Ive done it before BTW, so it has been done... I just wanted to throw this out there before anything goes off the deep end... |
|
09-07-2008, 07:48 PM | #18 |
H.S. Freshman Team
Join Date: Nov 2004
|
Sounds good, again just not something I really thought about happening too much. The only problem I have with this is as the commissioner you can make decisions for your roster based on whether or not you sign the player.
|
09-07-2008, 07:52 PM | #19 | |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
Quote:
I could, but I wouldn't do that. It's not fair. I left two gaping holes in my lineup for them and if I didn't get them, the "If Starter is Tired" player would've played in their stead all year. I had my team setup to go with what I had and we would've just run two guys short had it not worked out. In '69, I accidentally had 24 players on the roster the whole year in Compton. We still won the RL that year, but I won it with 24 players. Last edited by Young Drachma : 09-07-2008 at 07:52 PM. |
|
09-07-2008, 07:53 PM | #20 |
H.S. Freshman Team
Join Date: Nov 2004
|
|
09-07-2008, 07:56 PM | #21 |
College Prospect
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Chicagoland
|
|
09-07-2008, 08:00 PM | #22 | |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
|
Quote:
Forgot to mention this... GOOD call on the checks and balances Goose... Always like it when guys are looking out for the league |
|
09-07-2008, 08:00 PM | #23 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
I gotta say. Classic Night is always the most exciting thing. It's like going on stage or something. The last hour before the Classic is always one of those moments where I'm pensive, anticipating something huge.
It's really crazy that a league can do this. This season of being back in the Classic makes me 1) appreciate it more and it also 2) makes me think that playoff expansion will be great for the league. That said, I'm focused on this season and what my boys will do. You get them all fired up and ready to go, but then you actually have to watch them perform...and man, that's quite the experience. |
09-07-2008, 08:18 PM | #24 | |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
|
Quote:
Im almost positive that ive read this somewhere, however Im talking with people with deals at the moment and instead of looking, im just posting. DC would you just look at doing a 2 team expansion instaed of 4 (wasnt the idea of expanding by 4 teams) I think that it might be good for the league to add 2 more guys, since we have 2 on the waiting list now right? However me being selfish, I built hartford from the ground up this time and I dont want to loose spects in and expansion draft beacuse I worked to hard on blowing this team up and getting those spects..... |
|
09-07-2008, 08:22 PM | #25 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
Yeah, I think 2-team expansion is actually better for the league over a four-team expansion. Especially if we can get some of those RWBL guys to consider joining. I dunno...we can put it to a vote after the season or something.
Last edited by Young Drachma : 09-07-2008 at 08:25 PM. |
09-07-2008, 08:35 PM | #26 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Where Hip Hop lives
|
Quote:
I think it has always been cool to send DC "if/then" conditionals for situations like these. It's what I would have done. I would have constructed my roster without Hollis. But I would have left explicit instructions with DC on what to do if Hollis were signed (drop Player X to AAA, put Hollis at 1B and at such and such spot in the RHP and LHP lineups, etc.). I don't think DC would have a problem with that, although I have never myself done something that extensive (most I ever did was throw contract offers at guys who would not go on my major league roster, and DC always just put them on the highest minor league roster with a spot open, so as I recall). And, let's face it, if I didn't have a problem with it, it's probably cool. I have a problem with everything.
__________________
. . I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready. |
|
09-07-2008, 08:37 PM | #27 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Where Hip Hop lives
|
Quote:
If we added four, I would probably consider re-joining for a shot at a build it up from the dumps franchise, if the league forgave me, that is. I would enjoy the challenge, and I have grown to suspect the major issue I had that had me resign is probably the last major issue we had waiting for us. Other than that, the league has largely run problem free for about five years now (and that was my main issue--the ongoing issues).
__________________
. . I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready. Last edited by Chief Rum : 09-07-2008 at 08:39 PM. |
|
09-07-2008, 08:40 PM | #28 | |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
Quote:
We'd expand tomorrow if you wanted to come back. I doubt few would disagree. Now someone find us a fourth owner!
__________________
Current dynasty: OOTP25 Blitz: RTS meets Moneyball |
|
09-07-2008, 08:49 PM | #29 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
I'll handle the 69-70s another time. I need to get my mind ready for this thing.
Last edited by Young Drachma : 09-07-2008 at 08:49 PM. |
09-07-2008, 08:50 PM | #30 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
I've exported. So if Alan has too...we'll get started and then I'll consummate trades and stuff after the Classic.
Last edited by Young Drachma : 09-07-2008 at 08:50 PM. |
09-07-2008, 08:52 PM | #31 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Mass.
|
Quote:
Ok just exported. |
|
09-07-2008, 08:54 PM | #32 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
Good luck, Alan. Here we go.
|
09-07-2008, 08:56 PM | #33 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
1974 FOOL CLASSIC
GAME 1: Valdosta 3, Quad City 2 Carlos Gonzalez went 8 innings and struck out 7 in the victory. Rodrigo Cruz went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI for Quad City in the loss. |
09-07-2008, 08:57 PM | #34 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
GAME 2: Valdosta 3, Quad City 0
Joel Garner went 7 innings and gave up just 2 hits in the 2-hit victory to give the Peanuts a 2-0 series lead. Floyd Yarbrough gave up 3 earned in eight innings of work, striking out six for the loss. |
09-07-2008, 08:58 PM | #35 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
GAME 3: Quad City 6, Valdosta 5
Harry Mason threw eight innings, giving up four earned and striking out ten. Riley Hollis went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI and 2 doubles to give the T-Storms their first-ever Classic victory and cut the series lead by Valdosta to 2-1 |
09-07-2008, 08:59 PM | #36 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
GAME 4: Valdosta 12, Quad City 7
Brian Sampson went 3-5 with 2 doubles and 5 RBI in the victory, giving Valdosta 3-1 series lead. |
09-07-2008, 09:00 PM | #37 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
GAME 5: Valdosta 2, Quad City 1 (10 innings)
Carlos Gonzalez went 7 2/3 innings giving up just 1 earned and striking out 9 to put the Peanuts on the doorstep of their 4th title in five years. Doug Proctor went 7 innings and gave up 1 earned and struck out five in the loss. |
09-07-2008, 09:02 PM | #38 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
GAME 6: Valdosta 3, Quad City 2
Joel Garner went 8 innings and struck out 9 to clinch the 4th title for the Peanuts in five years. Congrats Alan! Your team is a juggernaut. At least we got a game... |
09-07-2008, 09:02 PM | #39 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Where Hip Hop lives
|
Well, at least you have one more win so far than I got off of Alan's squad two years ago.
__________________
. . I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready. |
09-07-2008, 09:03 PM | #40 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Where Hip Hop lives
|
Congrats to Alan on another dominant season.
You only won cuz I wasn't running a team this year (j/k...)
__________________
. . I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready. |
09-07-2008, 09:03 PM | #41 |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
|
Wow, I didnt think that Valdosta would jump out like that. Nice Job Alan so far. Game 5 has to hurt DC.... really really bad... Might have been the moment of the series there. Looking forward to seeing how that Inning happened.
|
09-07-2008, 09:03 PM | #42 |
High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Ashville, OH
|
I exported about 9:55, but it doesn't look like DC got it in time, which sucks because my 5 star minor leaguer will now be an FA. Oh well..
|
09-07-2008, 09:05 PM | #43 |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
|
GEEZ..... Valdosta is a juggernaut... Alan your team is crazy.. What your doing I doubt we will be able to see for a long long time.... Or at least till Chief comes back into the league and gives it a go.
|
09-07-2008, 09:05 PM | #44 | |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
Quote:
Who is it? I'll make the offer if you PM me with what you offered him if it didn't go through.
__________________
Current dynasty: OOTP25 Blitz: RTS meets Moneyball |
|
09-07-2008, 09:06 PM | #45 | |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
Quote:
They always hurt. 0-3 in the Classic since '64. Oh well, at least this team is young and unlike Compton, I won't give them up with a chance to go back and defend my league title. We'll be back...he's got a squad over there that's unparalleled though. Seriously. I don't know how they do it, but man..do they do it.
__________________
Current dynasty: OOTP25 Blitz: RTS meets Moneyball |
|
09-07-2008, 09:07 PM | #46 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
1974 ALL-STAR GAME
Code:
|
09-07-2008, 09:08 PM | #47 |
College Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
|
Congratulations Alan!
|
09-07-2008, 09:08 PM | #48 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Where Hip Hop lives
|
Quote:
FAs aren't released until tomorrow's sim, I think.
__________________
. . I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready. |
|
09-07-2008, 09:09 PM | #49 |
H.S. Freshman Team
Join Date: Nov 2004
|
|
09-07-2008, 09:10 PM | #50 |
H.S. Freshman Team
Join Date: Nov 2004
|
HEY! That's what I said!
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
|
|