Make Me a Lineup: Sgt. Dan returns the favor

Ask and you shall receive.  Dan Velderrain responded to my request for help and submitted this article.  Thanks, Dan!

-Tom

On November 16th of this year, many of our APBA friends will be gathering from all over, converging on the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois to compete in the Chicagoland APBA World Series Tournament. Regretfully, I will not be there, but my friend Thomas Nelshoppen is fortunate enough to be one of these APBA players making that journey. Thomas has chosen to play with the 1966 World Champion Baltimore Orioles.

Thomas actually contacted me a few days back and asked me to assist him in putting together a lineup that would help these Orioles be as successful in 2013 as they were back in 1966.

Initially I wanted to tell Thomas, “Hey Man, thanks, but these hands were meant for rollin’. “ I mean, I know there are several people out there who could probably put together a killer lineup, maybe even one that could win this whole tournament, but that’s not what I do…. I roll the dice, Baby!!!

The 66 Orioles actually hold a special place in my heart because they were the very first team to win the World Series in my lifetime. Initially the Orioles success was a bit painful because it came at the expense of my hometown, Los Angeles Dodgers. But like with everything in life, time helps heal the pain and shortly perception shifts from disappointment to respect and maybe even to, admiration.

Then as I paused for reflection, it occurred to me that the skipper of that Orioles team that won 97 games and swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in four straight games to capture the World Series in dominant fashion, was managed by Hank Bauer. What?!?!? Hank Bauer, the light hitting outfielder who played for the New York Yankees for more than 10 seasons in the 1940’s and 50’s???? Man, this guy wasn’t an Oriole… I mean how much could have he really been into what he was doing??? Then I started thinking back to 1966…. Now my recollection was a little fuzzy, but cut me some slack, the season started when I was only four months old and when the Orioles made that last out in Game 4 of the World Series, I was just shy of ten months old.

But some things you just can’t forget, I don’t care how young you are. Like American League MVP, Frank Robinson becoming the First Triple Crown Winner in ten years when Hank Bauer’s Yankee teammate, Mickey Mantle won it. If you like defense, then you will love the slick fielding Shortstop, Luis Aparicio and arguably the best defensive third baseman of All~Time, Brooks Robinson. These Orioles boast a starting rotation of one A and three B starters….. And I know I was only 10 months old, but I had a feeling about this Jim Palmer kid way back then. Anyway, it was at this exact moment when I said, “Hell Yes, I’ll make you a lineup… I look forward to the challenge and I know I can get those three extra wins to take this team to the Century Mark.

So a few days later I popped a couple of Coors’ Lights in the freezer because it is a scientific fact that iced cold beer actually clears the mind and allows the brain to work more efficiently…. Or at least that is what it feels like to me. I then broke out the 1966 Orioles and just held the cards in my hands and got a cursory look into exactly what I was working with here….. And I liked what I saw:

Andy Etchebarren ~ Catcher 7

I prefer to have an 8 or 9 behind the plate, but in this case a 7 is going to have to get the job done. Kind of a light hitter with 3 0s, 3 8s and 2 9s, but does have 10 1s in the second column.

Boog Powell ~ Firstbaseman 3

Another guy with a defensive rating that isn’t the best, but Boog is in there for his bat, make no mistake. Powell gives you a 1-1-6-7-7 on a single column card. He also has 4 8s and 2 9s.

Davey Johnson ~ Secondbaseman 8

Davey Johnson will provide some solid defense up the middle. Offensively he is a 0-0-7-7-7 with 3 8s and 2 9s.

Brooks Robinson ~ Thirdbaseman 6

This guy would be my Captain and is the Heart of this team and one of the big reasons why you would pick this team. First of all a 6 at 3B…. reminds me of Gary Gaetti and Scott Rolen.  You don’t see too many of these guys around. Offensively, Brooks is a 1-6-6-7-7 with 3 8s, 2 9s and 2 31s.

Luis Aparicio ~ SS 9

Luis is a speedy, solid Shortstop and solidifies the middle infield with Davey Johnson and makes the left side pretty much air tight as can be with Brooks Robinson. Luis gets a 0-6-7-7 with an 11, 10, 3 8s, 2 9s and 2 31s. Luis only has one way to get to the second column, but if you find it, there are 11 1s and all kinds of 2’s and 3’s…. You roll a 66 with Aparicio and let the excitement begin.

Paul Blair ~ Outfielder 3

Paul Blair is the swiftest of the Oriole Outfielders with a 3 and he has speed. Offensively Blair has a 0-0-0-0-7 card with 4 8s and 2 9s. Blair does have 4 11s in the second column along with 6 1’s a 2 and a whole bunch of 6s.

Frank Robinson ~ Outfielder 2

If Brooks Robinson is the Heart of this Orioles team then Frank Robinson is the Soul…. AL MVP and Triple Crown Winner is featuring a 1-1-0-0-0-7 card with 3 8s and 2 9s. Frank has 5 11s on the second column in addition to another 6 1s. If you can get this guy rolling, you are in good shape.

Russ Snyder ~ Outfielder 2

Russ Snyder is the guy I remember the least, however he has the second highest batting average on the team, behind MVP Frank Robinson. Russ has a 0-0-0-7-7-7 with 3 8s, 2 9s and 2 31s. Only 3 1s in the second column and is Fast.

Curtis Blefary ~ Designated Hitter

The Designated Hitter is a Luxury that the 1966 Orioles did not have. This team will have a little extra pop thanks to Blefary’s 1-5-5-7 card with 3 8s and 2 9s and also leads the team with 5 14s.

So now, how do we roll them out there to give the Orioles the best opportunity to score runs in this tournament? This is the way I would do it:

I was a bit conflicted here. I like to keep my speed guys at the top of the order. But I also subscribe to having my best hitter bat 3rd so he can be guaranteed to hit in the first inning and maybe even get an extra at bat. I toyed with leading off with Aparicio to get his speed and his 11 and 10 in the lead off spot but that would have pushed Frank back to the #4 spot and with Aparicio’s .311 OBP I felt he would be better off batting in the bottom of the order for this event.

I am happy with Frank, Boog and Brooks in the heart of the order and don’t forget about the DH Blefary lingering in the 6 spot to pick up all those scraps those guys leave behind.

I put Davey Johnson in front of Luis Aparicio because Blefary has more opportunity to be on second base when Luis comes to the plate with his 1-5-5 then Johnson does with his 0-0-7-7-7. With Aparicio’s 11 this could cause problems with the slow Blefary on second base. The Average speed of Davey Johnson would also get him thrown out, but his chances of doubling are slimmer as well.

Bottom line, if Hank Bauer would have used this line up in 1966 I think he would have seen the Orioles get those 100 Wins…. But tough to argue with his results….. Wow, 47 years ago…. Where does the time go???

by Dan Velderrain