OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

Moriarty9 · 12-07-2008, 10:48 PM

This dynasty begins with a 1997 real-roster file, simulated throughout the season up until the expansion draft for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Before we begin the new chapter in baseball's expansion era history, a quick recap of the completely hands-off simulated 1997 season.

The Seattle Mariners and Florida Marlins put together the best records in baseball, each going 99-63 to win their respective divisions. The Mariners won the American League West, beating out the Wild Card-winning Oakland Athletics (95-67) by 4 games. The Marlins took the National League East, beating out the 97-65 Atlanta Braves, who subsequently won the Wild Card.
The New York Yankees, 90-72, won the AL East while the 85-77 Minnesota Twins took home the AL Central crown. In the Senior Circuit, the 89-73 Houston Astros won the NL Central and the 87-75 Los Angeles Dodgers claimed the NL West title.

In the divisional series, the Marlins swept the Dodgers and the Braves swept the Astros. The Twins edged out the Mariners, 3-2, in the best of five series while the Yankees topped the A's, 3-1.
The Twins won the American League pennant by defeating the Yankees 4-games-to-1 in the ALCS while the Braves topped the Marlins in six games.
Atlanta and Minnesota battled back-and-forth in the World Series before the Braves won the deciding Game 7 to become champions.

The big news in 1997 was Tony Gwynn becoming the first hitter since Ted Williams in 1941 to hit .400. Gwynn hit .403, collecting 224 hits for the San Diego Padres. Despite his enormous accomplishment, it was Brad Fullmer of the Montreal Expos who won the National League MVP award. Fullmer hit .388 with 29 home runs and 115 runs scored in 149 games. The 23-year-old also won the Rookie of the Year award, becoming the first rookie to win both awards since Fred Lynn of the 1975 Boston Red Sox.
John Smoltz of the Braves took home the NL Cy Young, going 21-9 with a 2.38 ERA and 244 strikeouts in 35 starts.
In the American League, it was a couple ballplayers from Seattle taking home some important hardware. Ken Griffey Jr. won the AL MVP while Jeff Fassero took home the AL Cy Young. Griffey hit .338 with 216 hits, 51 home runs, 146 RBI and scoring 136 runs in 157 games. The southpaw Fassero posted a 20-5 record with a 3.18 ERA, striking out 210 batters in 33 starts.
Detroit's Frank Catalanotto, 24, was named Rookie of the Year after hitting .327 with 41 doubles, nine triples, 16 home runs, 69 RBI and scoring 103 runs in 153 games with the Tigers.

12-07-2008, 10:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,855 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond This dynasty begins with a 1997 real-roster file, simulated throughout the season up until the expansion draft for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Before we begin the new chapter in baseball's expansion era history, a quick recap of the completely hands-off simulated 1997 season. The Seattle Mariners and Florida Marlins put together the best records in baseball, each going 99-63 to win their respective divisions. The Mariners won the American League West, beating out the Wild Card-winning Oakland Athletics (95-67) by 4 games. The Marlins took the National League East, beating out the 97-65 Atlanta Braves, who subsequently won the Wild Card. The New York Yankees, 90-72, won the AL East while the 85-77 Minnesota Twins took home the AL Central crown. In the Senior Circuit, the 89-73 Houston Astros won the NL Central and the 87-75 Los Angeles Dodgers claimed the NL West title. In the divisional series, the Marlins swept the Dodgers and the Braves swept the Astros. The Twins edged out the Mariners, 3-2, in the best of five series while the Yankees topped the A's, 3-1. The Twins won the American League pennant by defeating the Yankees 4-games-to-1 in the ALCS while the Braves topped the Marlins in six games. Atlanta and Minnesota battled back-and-forth in the World Series before the Braves won the deciding Game 7 to become champions. The big news in 1997 was Tony Gwynn becoming the first hitter since Ted Williams in 1941 to hit .400. Gwynn hit .403, collecting 224 hits for the San Diego Padres. Despite his enormous accomplishment, it was Brad Fullmer of the Montreal Expos who won the National League MVP award. Fullmer hit .388 with 29 home runs and 115 runs scored in 149 games. The 23-year-old also won the Rookie of the Year award, becoming the first rookie to win both awards since Fred Lynn of the 1975 Boston Red Sox. John Smoltz of the Braves took home the NL Cy Young, going 21-9 with a 2.38 ERA and 244 strikeouts in 35 starts. In the American League, it was a couple ballplayers from Seattle taking home some important hardware. Ken Griffey Jr. won the AL MVP while Jeff Fassero took home the AL Cy Young. Griffey hit .338 with 216 hits, 51 home runs, 146 RBI and scoring 136 runs in 157 games. The southpaw Fassero posted a 20-5 record with a 3.18 ERA, striking out 210 batters in 33 starts. Detroit's Frank Catalanotto, 24, was named Rookie of the Year after hitting .327 with 41 doubles, nine triples, 16 home runs, 69 RBI and scoring 103 runs in 153 games with the Tigers.