View Full Version : 1975 Team Previews
Ill post mine later tonight after work. As always looking forward to reading em
kaosfere
09-12-2008, 12:02 PM
I'm working on one between bouts of reading/watching about Ike.
Looks like Tasan is in the target area. I was wondering if anyone here was. I've got friends in Houston who have headed out of town for an undetermined amount of time.
Good luck to you, Tasan. Fortunately, it looks like those inland may not be too hard hit because of the relatively low wind velocity, but the massive surge this storm is building could be devastating to those right on the coast. A good chunk of Galveston is already in trouble.
kaosfere
09-12-2008, 01:32 PM
Toronto Osprey 1975 Season Preview
1973: 64-90 (.416), 6th place CL
1974: 74-80 (.481), 6th place CL
Toronto fell victim to some bad luck in 1974, finishing 7 games below their expected record and failing to break .500 in spite of some expectations that they would be able to. The team showed excellent pitching, finishing #1 or #2 in the CL in almost all categories, and great power hitting, with the top three homerun spots in the CL all belonging to Toronto sluggers. The team's biggest failing was in contact hitting, which led to a FOOL-low .223 team batting average.
For 1975, the team have renamed themselves and have restructured their lineup in an attempt to bring in more reliable set-up hitters while keeping the power and dominant pitching in place. Let's break things down position by position.
Pitching
Last year's pitching was, as mentioned, the indisputed highlight of the season. Four pitchers were in the top 10 in the CL in ERA, including Anthony Zijm, with a second-best 1.61, accompied by a 0.96 WHIP. All four of these pitchers return this year.
The starting rotation will be spearheaded by Artie Wiley, an all-star starter from last year who looks poised to have an explosive season. Also returning will be the Japanese trio of Sachi Yamada, who allowed only 1 run in 4 games started in spring training, Maresuke Saito, and Hirokazu Nakamura. Replacing last year's #5 Tom Williams is 25 year old Brady Bates, who makes his big-league debut after two years at AAA Ottawa.
The relief corps features returning monsters Anthony Zijm and 21 year old Logan Finley, who together posted a 1.53 ERA in 170.1 IP. Joining them will be returner Jacob Singleton, along with newcomers Ricardo Mendoza and Wade Bennett. Mendoza and Bennett both tore up spring training, each with an ERA of less than 1.4, and earned their shot at the big time.
Last year's lead closer Francisco Padilla returns, and will be supported by Pepe Urbina.
The Lineup
The bulk of last year's lineup carries over this year, with none of the big hitters leaving. The changes that have been made will hopefully bring the team batting average up to league levels, and give the pitching the run support they thoroughly deserve.
At catcher, 1974 starter Dirk Fritz is replaced by Patrick Hamilton, who spent two years in AAA after being the backup catcher in 1972. Fritz switches to the backup and defensive specialist roles.
Last year's first base starter John Bruce also falls to a backup position, as veteran Ben Gibbs brings his reliable bat back to the lineup for 1975. Second base will be held down by new pickup Elmer Meyer, and last year's all-star third baseman Andrew Lujan returns to that position. Also returning is last year's shortstop Doug Graves.
In the outfield, 1974 Rookie of the Year Ron Lord will return at left, and hopefully bring his bat along with him. Gold Glove centerfielder David Dunham also returns to his position. Dunham struggled in spring training, but the Osprey will be relying on his defensive prowess to hold down the center and are hoping he picks up his offense.
Right field, a persistant problem for the past several years, is looking much better this year. Patrick Catron was traded to Toronto from Valdosta in the off-season, and will be taking the start at right. Catron, who also has a solid glove, posted a .936 OPS and 50.1 VORP in Valdosta's AAA orginzation last year, and kept that pace up through Toronto's spring training. Hopes are high that he will provide the missing piece for their outfield.
Summary and Predictions
They key pieces from last year return for Toronto this year. All the marquee pitchers and sluggers are back, and seem to be on pace for good performance this year. Here are the key points to keep an eye on:
Will the pitching repeat its exemplary performance?
Will Lord and Lujan continue to be red hot?
Will Dunham find his bat, and did Meyer and Catron bring theirs?
Will Hamilton and Gibbs take advantage of their second shot at the starting lineup?These are a lot of questions, but as long as a few people step up, this could be a solid year for Toronto.
Prediction: 80-74, 4th place CL.
(Alternate prediction: 72-82, 6th place CL. I can't decide which.)
Nice read Kaosfere! I think the CL is gonna be a dog fight this year. Plenty of good teams over there now
Alan T
09-12-2008, 03:37 PM
Nice read Kaosfere! I think the CL is gonna be a dog fight this year. Plenty of good teams over there now
I agree, several teams I think can win it. Probably going to be the tightest contest yet.
Hartford Harpooners
1974 Record 79-75 good for 3rd place and 11 games back in the RL.
If the Motto for the Pooners last season was "we're back", this seasons Motto has to be AND we are expecting big things.
Is it going to happen??? PSN (Pooner Sports Network) anchors are predicting a 2nd or 3rd place finish again. Last season was the Pooners first winning season in 5 years and the young guys still dont know how to win yet. With defending RL Champs Quad City still being tough and can be argued that they improved in the offseason along with the surprise upstart team in Columbus last year and you cant ever forgot about the ever dangerous Colorado who flat out wont ever play that bad again EVER, and Boston the RL'S version of the real life Cubs, its no shocker that the Pooners arent being predicted to finish above third again. They are getting closer but still might be a year or 2 away.
Starting Pitching
The starters for the Pooners this year should be exciting. Clinton Minor, Doyle Adams and Rookie Phenom Dylan Robinson are all 25 and younger and should be around for a long time to make a fantastic 1,2,3, punch. Minor and Adams combined for 460 strikeouts last season and this season should be no different. Both made the all star game last season.
Bull Pen
The exact same guys are back that helped lead the RL in pitching and once again the pen Highlights the Closer Denny Hennessey who has ammassed 142 saves in his first 4 all star seasons.
C- Guy Kidd/ Devin Johnson. Johnson started last year as a rooke and didnt exacly set the world on fire, so the Pooners brought in Kidd to start this year. Dont count out Johnson as he is clearly the cather of the future, however just not this year, he will start every 5th game or so though.
1b- Warren little is back off his rookie campain that saw him hit .291, 28 bombs and 92 RBI'S. Backing him up and starting against lefty pitching is newly aquired Hector Miranda. Miranda carries a big bat and is hoping to provide that pop that the pooners lacked last season.
2nd- Carlton Watkins. One of the few guys that has been around for the past 3 seasons, Watkins provides that leadership for the Pooners young guys. His bat is needed as he hasnt hit under .290 or hit under 12 homers in the past 3 seasons. Backing him up is a long time Pooner that was brought back for the season in Jose Zamora. Zamora has the chance to make it into the "Harpooners Harbor" and hopes he can come up in big time situations in a relief role of 2nd and SS.
SS-Robinson Sanchez. The real weak spot the Pooners have is at the SS position. Sanchez was brought in last year to solidify that spot but did not deliver last year. The Pooners are hoping this year is his big year and if its not Zamora is right there to step in and take over.
3B- A big time trade in the offseason brought over 3 time all star and former MVP Arthur Summers. Summers should come over and be a huge asset in the middle of the Pooners lineup that lacked power last season. Summers has the potential to hit 25 bombs and is now hitting in a lefty friendly park.
LF- Mauro Suarez. Suarez at 24 is only 14 hits shy of 1,000. Flat out the guy can hit and is a huge Cog in the Pooners order. He hit .292 last year which was second worse in his short carrer. If he can get back to .320 the pooners would be flying high....
CF- Ken Sugahara/ Zane Easson. Ken was a cast off of the Compton Brothers a few years back and has steadily improved into a good player. In fact he improved so much he prompted GM MUNS to trade away 5 minor league Outfielders to fill other holes. Hartford is expecting big things from Sugahara this year. Easson is back again this year and will be starting againt lefty pitchers and is still hoping to improve those ratings. He hit .307 last year in 140 AB'S. Hartford is hoping he can do the same this year.
RF-Fernando Spindola. Spindola was brought in to provide more power to the lineup, and hartford is hoping he can bring some of his big stick that has hit 384 homers. His average the past 2 years has taken a hit as he has gotten older but the Pooners feel he is worth the Gamble.
Playing against lefty's is another Long time Great and future Hall of Famer Roy Richardson. Roy has come back home after 7 seasons away from the Harbor and is looking forward to padding those HOF stats. His 2,220 some hits and his legs make him a nice fit into the crowded outfield in Hartford.
DH- Warren Lewis. Lewis like Zamora, and Richardson decided to come back home this year as well and will be hitting atop of the Pooners lineup. With a lifetime OPS of 802 Hartford is excited to have him back.
Outlook.
Hartford has had some heartbreaks in the early 60's and is hoping that this team wont be a repeat performance. The goal is to always finish in first but still think they are a year or 2 away. If improvements to the Starting pitching take place this year and the young Position players play well and Improve the way they should, they should be in hunt, but they arent expecting to be the last team standing. Looking for a second place finish this year.
Young Drachma
09-12-2008, 07:38 PM
CHICAGO THUNDERSTORMS
1974: 90-64, 1st RL
The rebuilding project that began in 1970 when Dark Cloud left the defending RL Champion Compton Brothers -- a team he ushered into the league -- for the struggle Chicago Comets, was completed last year when the fledging Quad City Thunderstorms, the team that emerged from the ashes of those Comets, took their first RL pennant in franchise history.
Now, they're back to claim the title they feel they left on the mantle. And this time, they're doing it back in the city they began in. In an attempt to get the Chicago television market to notice the ballclub, the T-Storms are calling themselves the Chicago Thunderstorms in the Quad Cities.
"In order to survive in a competitive marketplace, we have to be in a city where a team like ours can thrive. We believe that Chicago will give us that platform. We were there before, but now we're better than ever."
"We get more questions about where Quad City is, than we do about our awesome ballclub. We decided we needed to simplify the matter," said team spokesman George "Kip" Hansen.
BATTING
The majority of last year's team is back again. New additions include Ricardo Gonzales a hard-hitting outfielder who spent last season in Texas. The T-Storms are hoping he'll shore up the offensive effort after hitting .279 with 16 HRs and 43 RBI last year in 219 ABs for the Travelers.
PITCHING
The big changes came on this side of the ball. A team with an already improved pitching staff added big names in Benny Myers who spent the past four years in Compton. A guy who has deep roots with DC from their days in St. Louis, he's won 167 games in his career and has a strong K/BB ratio.
Another throwback to the St. Louis days who actually played with DC in both Compton and here in the Quad Cities was Pete McKeane who is back for his second tour of duty. He won 26 games over the past two years in Baltimore and at 35-years old, doesn't seem to be interested in slowing down.
These two veterans give the T-Storms a more experienced flavor to their rotation than in past years, but that might be the missing link to the team's title hopes.
By all accounts, the T-Storms improved an already impressive attack from last year. Anything less than a league pennant and a date with the CL champion would be a disappointment.
"We feel like this is the culmination of our journey to success. It began here and we feel like it ought to end here, too."
We shall see soon, if it's true.
Our new logo:
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc113/Dynasty_DC/Chargers29.png
Now, they're back to claim the title they feel they left on the mantle. And this time, they're doing it back in the city they began in. In an attempt to get the Chicago television market to notice the ballclub, the T-Storms are calling themselves the Chicago Thunderstorms in the Quad Cities.
I like it. Neat concept!
Alan T
09-12-2008, 08:28 PM
Valdosta Peanuts
1974: 91-63 FOOL Champions
Last season's FOOL Champions were a far cry from the dominant juggernaut of the early 1970s, and had most people predicting them to possibly not even finish in the top 2 of the CL last season. The Peanuts tied for their 7th best season record in franchise history, but it was good enough to get them to the postseason. This year's version of the Peanuts add no big name players to the team either via free agency or trades and many wonder if a team already running on fumes will have enough gas to do it one more time.
This is the fifth season in a row that features the starting four of Carlos Gonzales, Whit O'Neal, Charles Wilson and Joel Garner. The foresome has become perhaps the single most dominant foursome in FOOL history. During the span of the four seasons together, they have combined for a 256-107 record (.705 winning percentage) and a 2.85 ERA over those four seasons together. To put that in some kind of historical perspective, in the entire history of FOOL, there have only been two pitchers that averaged better than a 70% winning percentage for their career. #1 Carlos Gonzales (.744) and #2 Joel Garner (.719).
The core of the line up is once again centered around 3B Rick Inman whom is one of only two players to have won the CL Hitter of the Year award three times. He is joined by 5 time all star RF Roberto Pagan whom is starting his 11th season in RF for the Valdosta Peanuts. The majority of the starting lineup will be the same this season for the peanuts with the only exception being at Left Field where a platoon of fellow 26 year olds Eric James and Mark Williams will be starting this season.
The remainder of the CL appears to be stronger this season, while the Peanuts have not changed much other than getting a year older. Although the rumors of the demise of the Peanuts occured one year too early last season, those predictions could very well end up true this season as the Peanuts find themselves struggling to stay in the top half of the talented CL.
DC that Logo is sweet as hell
magic_number
09-12-2008, 08:40 PM
Valdosta Peanuts
1974: 91-63 FOOL Champions
Last season's FOOL Champions were a far cry from the dominant juggernaut of the early 1970s, and had most people predicting them to possibly not even finish in the top 2 of the CL last season. The Peanuts tied for their 7th best season record in franchise history, but it was good enough to get them to the postseason. This year's version of the Peanuts add no big name players to the team either via free agency or trades and many wonder if a team already running on fumes will have enough gas to do it one more time.
This is the fifth season in a row that features the starting four of Carlos Gonzales, Whit O'Neal, Charles Wilson and Joel Garner. The foresome has become perhaps the single most dominant foursome in FOOL history. During the span of the four seasons together, they have combined for a 256-107 record (.705 winning percentage) and a 2.85 ERA over those four seasons together. To put that in some kind of historical perspective, in the entire history of FOOL, there have only been two pitchers that averaged better than a 70% winning percentage for their career. #1 Carlos Gonzales (.744) and #2 Joel Garner (.719).
The core of the line up is once again centered around 3B Rick Inman whom is one of only two players to have won the CL Hitter of the Year award three times. He is joined by 5 time all star RF Roberto Pagan whom is starting his 11th season in RF for the Valdosta Peanuts. The majority of the starting lineup will be the same this season for the peanuts with the only exception being at Left Field where a platoon of fellow 26 year olds Eric James and Mark Williams will be starting this season.
The remainder of the CL appears to be stronger this season, while the Peanuts have not changed much other than getting a year older. Although the rumors of the demise of the Peanuts occured one year too early last season, those predictions could very well end up true this season as the Peanuts find themselves struggling to stay in the top half of the talented CL.
Nice read, I like this stuff but hate typing... so no previews will ever come from my keyboard.
I'll just lurk around :popcorn:
This is the fifth season in a row that features the starting four of Carlos Gonzales, Whit O'Neal, Charles Wilson and Joel Garner. The foresome has become perhaps the single most dominant foursome in FOOL history. During the span of the four seasons together, they have combined for a 256-107 record (.705 winning percentage) and a 2.85 ERA over those four seasons together. To put that in some kind of historical perspective, in the entire history of FOOL, there have only been two pitchers that averaged better than a 70% winning percentage for their career. #1 Carlos Gonzales (.744) and #2 Joel Garner (.719).
Id just like to say that right there blew my socks off!!!! That is a fantastic stat.....
That right there is exactly why this league is so much fun. I dont see anything else out there that compares.....
Nice write up Alan
Alan T
09-12-2008, 08:56 PM
Id just like to say that right there blew my socks off!!!! That is a fantastic stat.....
That right there is exactly why this league is so much fun. I dont see anything else out there that compares.....
Nice write up Alan
Sometimes I get too caught up in my "favorite" players, and don't spend enough time highlighting the careers of some of my other players, but Joel Garner is one of the best feel good stories I've seen in this league. When I signed him, he was just sitting out there in free agency and accepted a minor league contract as he was only a 1 star prospect, and nothing great. I liked some of his talent potentials though and figured I would take a flier on him and just dumped him in my minor leagues.
He ended up in AAA and suprisingly things ended up pretty well for him.. his predicted potential ended up being higher than expected and he suddenly ended up on the FOOL top 100 prospect list as one of the lower tier top 100 prospects. He After two semi-ok seasons in the minors, I decided to give him a shot at making the big league squad in spring training. The season was 1969 though, I was two years removed from a FOOL Classic appearance (and loss), and had just spent a bazillion dollars on Prado in the offseason. So any chance of an unknown rookie making the big leagues was virtually non-existant...
His Spring training was nothing short of remarkable though, and on a hunch I decided to give him a shot. Instead, going down to AAA was 5 year veteran Roy "Honkey" Turner, who ironically enough later in his career would go on to Atlanta and spread nasty rumors around their clubhouse about how I mistreat veterans. The rest however was history. Garner plugged along decently well for 2 seasons, before his third year in the big-league when he pulled off a 20-1 record with a 2.92 ERA which was good enough for the Pitcher of the Year award. That 1971 season is still the FOOL Record for best winning % for a season of any starting pitcher in history at .952.
Now at age 29, Garner likely only has 3 to 6 more productive seasons ahead of him, but with enough luck and decent aging, he could end up with 170+ wins, which to this day only 3 pitchers have ever done. Not bad at all for a former 1 star prospect that settled for a minor league contract.
Sometimes I get too caught up in my "favorite" players, and don't spend enough time highlighting the careers of some of my other players, but Joel Garner is one of the best feel good stories I've seen in this league. When I signed him, he was just sitting out there in free agency and accepted a minor league contract as he was only a 1 star prospect, and nothing great. I liked some of his talent potentials though and figured I would take a flier on him and just dumped him in my minor leagues.
He ended up in AAA and suprisingly things ended up pretty well for him.. his predicted potential ended up being higher than expected and he suddenly ended up on the FOOL top 100 prospect list as one of the lower tier top 100 prospects. He After two semi-ok seasons in the minors, I decided to give him a shot at making the big league squad in spring training. The season was 1969 though, I was two years removed from a FOOL Classic appearance (and loss), and had just spent a bazillion dollars on Prado in the offseason. So any chance of an unknown rookie making the big leagues was virtually non-existant...
His Spring training was nothing short of remarkable though, and on a hunch I decided to give him a shot. Instead, going down to AAA was 5 year veteran Roy "Honkey" Turner, who ironically enough later in his career would go on to Atlanta and spread nasty rumors around their clubhouse about how I mistreat veterans. The rest however was history. Garner plugged along decently well for 2 seasons, before his third year in the big-league when he pulled off a 20-1 record with a 2.92 ERA which was good enough for the Pitcher of the Year award. That 1971 season is still the FOOL Record for best winning % for a season of any starting pitcher in history at .952.
Now at age 29, Garner likely only has 3 to 6 more productive seasons ahead of him, but with enough luck and decent aging, he could end up with 170+ wins, which to this day only 3 pitchers have ever done. Not bad at all for a former 1 star prospect that settled for a minor league contract.
Just wow. I love it. Even better than the first one I read!!! Hope we have more stories like this in the future
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