Now that my Illini baseball team got mercilessly eliminated from Big Ten Tournament qualification, I have considerable more time for my 1966 NL replay. I got a few games in tonight.
I’m really glad that I decided to go with actual real life lineups and rotations at least for the time being. In past replays, I would simply take APBA’s suggested lineups and play the heck out them. When it came to rotations, I’d simply make a five man rotation and stay with that. Not realistic. Going with actual player usage may not be incredibly creative or imaginative but it forces me to get those “scrubs” in the game. Unless you’re replaying Leo Durocher’s Cubs of the late sixties, those players got rested once in a while.
I’ll also say that having bought the XC card set makes a big difference as it makes sure I have EVERY player that set foot on the field in 1966.
I touched on this before but following actual usage really makes me appreciate how real life managers (and general managers) make their decisions. Let’s face it, when we get the APBA cards, we know how they should perform. When real life managers assemble their players in the clubhouse on opening day, all they have to go on is past performance in previous years and in spring training.
Take Johnny Herrnstein for example. The 1966 Phillies began the season starting Herrnstein and batting him in the middle of the order. Phillies manager Gene Mauch didn’t have the luxury of looking at his APBA card. “Gee, Johnny, with your 66-7 and 51-13 we’re thinking you might not be a good fit for our lineup.”
[Note: I hit Herrnstein’s 66-7 twice tonight. Two singles. Yay.]
I could point to other examples. The Cubs seem to have a fascination with Ty Cline and Carl Warwick which soon subsided after they didn’t produce.
Despite all that, despite my wondering why in world are the Phillies playing this no good XC card in an rbi spot, I’m glad I am because it lends credence to my end goal of accuracy in the replay (not that accuracy has to be the goal of everybody’s replay. It might not be. That’s why I’m a big believer in establishing your goal for your replay).
Fortunately for the Phillies, they did see the light with Herrnstein. They dealt him to Chicago early in the ‘66 season so he’ll be the Cubs problem. Maybe Mauch was smarter than I thought.
I wholeheartedly agree. Like you mentioned, it forces you to use players who would otherwise ride the pine all season.
How are you using your relievers? I use a system based on average batters faced per appearance, so that when a reliever exceeds his average batters faced, he needs to rest the next day. In addition, no relief pitched can pitch 3 consecutive games.
Even so, I still find myself mostly sitting D relievers whenever possible.
I’ve considered maybe looking at each game and forcing myself to use those relievers that actually appeared first, before going to the others. With an exception that closers can come in at any time, since a team may be in position to win a game in the replay that they lost in real life.
I don’t really have a system in place for relief usage (yet). Every time I replay a game, I have the Baseball Reference boxscore of the game I’m replaying in front of me. Over time, I get a sense of how each team is using their bullpen.
Obviously, the closers are used to save games etc. I’m getting used to idea that relievers in the sixties can go more than one or two innings and legitimate starters can come in and relieve once in a while. Roles were so less specialized before the 80s.
D pitchers find their way into games for me. Nothing more satisfying than a D reliever defying the odds and putting in a good performance. :) Unfortunately, it’s usually in a mop-up role when they’re just eating up innings.
I agree with Thomas, a D-Pitcher is not necessarily a handicap. I just started the 1960 Season Replay. I mostly go for accuracy, but it’s really about decisions and you’re the MANAGER.
In the St. Louis vs. San Francisco Opener, two games. I decided to forego my usual starting rotation (I always use a 4-Man Rotation) of Jackons, Broglio, Simmons and Sadecki and instead pitched Bob Gibson (not one of his better years) and Ron Kline (a Pitcher for Pittsburgh, but was declining by the St. Louis got him). Result. Gibson pitched 6 Innings and got the No-Decision (Lindy McDaniel won the game) and Ron Kline went the distance and got the Win. I’ve never been afraid to take a chance. My rule is simple: I accept ERA’s under 4.00, even if it’s 3.99. If a Pitcher starts my game, and gives up the 4th run, he’s gone.
As far as my Relievers, my starting pitchers work on 3 days rest in a 4-Man Rotation(although a Baseball Game in reality takes 2-3 hours, it’s not like they didn’t have a 4th day); therefore, there’s no reason to work a reliever to death. They usually are not Starters, so I 1/2 the equation. Since they are not as strong, or are “too” strong, throwing much harder for a limited time, I allow 4 1/2 innings within a 4 day period, halving what I use for the Starters. It’s probably not perfect, but it keeps my from over using my Relievers and my Starters.
The biggest problem I’m having with the 1960 St. Louis Cardinals is that they have no real lead-off hitter. I got one that can’t hit, though he can steal bases when he gets on. And I got one that is too slow, but does have a high OBP, despite a .250+ batting average.
Perhaps someone on this thread can help me with this problem. I want to play an XC card that is more suitable as a lead-off Man, but the guy only had 3 AB. If I use him full time, I have to do two things: 1) forego some accuracy 2) one of my normal Outfielders is going to get platooned
Any ideas from you guys? How do I solve this problem? I’m open to all suggestions.
“Perhaps someone on this thread can help me with this problem. I want to play an XC card that is more suitable as a lead-off Man, but the guy only had 3 AB. If I use him full time, I have to do two things: 1) forego some accuracy 2) one of my normal Outfielders is going to get platooned”
Eric,
First of all, it’s your replay and if you want to use a 3 AB XC full time, go ahead. You set the parameters of your replay. If you’re willing to forego some statistical accuracy in order to have fun, knock yourself out.
Take ownership of your replay and establish what it is you want to get out of it. If it is accuracy, then no, playing an XC with little playing time wouldn’t make sense. But maybe you want to see what could have happened with a good on-base man in the leadoff spot for the team in question.
A lot of replayers have a lot of different motives for doing their replays.