Joy in Mudville: A "Friendly" Baseball League Beginning in 1970

[Joy in Mudville]

Texas Rangers 09-01-1973 Minor League System Report

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Orlando Jayhawks ML Triple A - AAA - 57-73, .438

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Batters Name Age Pos Contact Power Eye/Discipline Speed Defense AVG HR RBI Suggestion Jim French 32 C 6 4 7 7 15 .274 4 32 Not ready for Triple A Ed Stroud 33 CF 6 6 11 20 - .223 6 44 Probably overmatched at Triple A Rick Stelmaszek 24 C 7 7 12 1 3 .263 11 50 Curt Motton 32 LF 7 9 12 5 7 .246 9 66 Probably overmatched at Triple A Frank Duffy 26 SS 9 6 8 10 13 .283 8 46 Ready for Major League Level Pitchers Name Age Role Stuff Control Movement Rec ERA IP HA BB K Suggestion Cisco Carlos 32 P 1 8 13 5-1 5.56 22.2 27 15 5 Frank Snook 24 P 3 3 9 0-0 .00 1.0 0 2 0 Probably overmatched at Triple A Geoff Zahn 27 P 6 16 17 0-1 4.85 13.0 18 2 7 Ready for Major League Level Dave Leonhard 32 P 7 9 13 0-0 .00 0.0 0 0 0 Possibly ready for Major League Level Casey Cox 32 P 8 10 15 1-0 .00 3.2 2 1 4 Ready for Major League Level Tom Phoebus 31 P 10 8 13 0-0 5.40 3.1 3 1 2 Possibly ready for Major League Level Jim Shellenback 29 P 8 11 11 0-0 6.75 4.0 3 3 3 Possibly ready for Major League Level

Tacoma Whips ML Double A - AA - 59-61, .492	[IMG]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/HP_Administrator/My%20Documents/Sports%20Interactive/OOTP%20Baseball%202007/data/saved_games/Joy%20in%20Mudville.lg/news/html/images/Tacoma_Whips.png[/IMG]
Batters Name Age Pos Contact Power Eye/Discipline Speed Defense AVG HR RBI Suggestion Johnny Jeter 28 CF 9 8 6 9 20 .338 2 9 Possibly ready for Triple A Dick Billings 30 C 9 4 8 4 15 .319 3 54 Pitchers Name Age Role Stuff Control Movement Rec ERA IP HA BB K Suggestion

Santa Ana Antlions ML Single A - A - 56-64, .467

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Batters Name Age Pos Contact Power Eye/Discipline Speed Defense AVG HR RBI Suggestion Dave Schneck 24 CF 7 9 11 8 14 .293 14 86 Possibly ready for Triple A Alan Bannister 21 CF 10 2 11 10 8 .302 4 19 Possibly ready for Double A Morris Nettles 21 CF 9 1 10 17 3 .335 4 30 Ready for Major League Level Pitchers Name Age Role Stuff Control Movement Rec ERA IP HA BB K Suggestion Bill Travers 20 P 3 6 12 1-0 8.53 6.1 10 5 5 Possibly ready for Major League Level Don Rose 26 P 12 10 8 1-1 1.89 19.0 19 0 15 Ready for Major League Level Manny Muniz 25 P 8 9 13 0-0 .00 8.0 4 0 3 Possibly ready for Major League Level

[Joy in Mudville]

With right-hander Barry Lersch struggling mightily this season, the Philadelphia Phillies have abandoned their use of the five-man rotation for the September stretch run.

The Phillies, just two games behind first-place Pittsburgh in the Joy in Mudville National League East, have moved Lersch to the bullpen. Lersch, 28, had won 26 games two straight years. However, this season Lersch is 1-5 in 28 starts. Although his ERA is a respectable 2.64, the Denver native hasn't had the endurance to last deep in games this summer.

Thus, Philadelphia's rotation will comprise of right-handers Rick Wise (21-7), Steve Stone (14-8), Pat Dobson (14-9) and left-hander Woodie Fryman (6-8).

Trading Block
Although the trading deadline has passed, Cleveland management is reportedly shopping minor league infielder Frank Taveras. The asking price is said to be a quality pitcher.

Taveras, 23, was the 50th overall pick in the 1970 amateur draft. He is viewed as tradeable with the highly touted Robin Yount in place at short stop for the Indians.

San Diego Rising
An influx of youthful talent seems to have spurred the San Diego Padres' play. Recent draftees such as Dan Driessen, George Brett, Jim Rice and George Hendrick has the Padres on the rise.

San Diego posted its first winning month since May when it went 14-13 in August. The stretch included a six-game winning streak highlighted by series sweeps of New York and St. Louis.

30-Loss Season?
Atlanta Brave pitcher Phil Niekro has lost a JIM-record 29 games this season. One wonders if Braves' manangement will move the right-handed knuckleballer to the bullpen as a means of avoiding a 30-loss season.

Atlanta has just 39 wins as a team this season. The Braves can look forward to the No. 1 overall pick in next season's amateur draft.

AL Getting More Offensive
The implementation of the designated hitter has had a proven effect on offense in the American League.

A year ago, New York's Bobby Murcer won the batting title with a .319 average. Heading into the final full month of the regular season, Kansas City outfielder Lou Piniella tops the league with a .337 average. In fact, four hitters have averages higher than Murcer's title-winning total of a year ago.

Power numbers are also up. A season ago, Dick Allen won both the home run (38) and RBI (118) crowns. This summer, Detroit teammates Norm Cash and Dave Kingman are tied for the AL lead with 32 homers. Amos Otis, the man traded to Baltimore for Allen, has already driven home 118 runs.

League scoring and ERA numbers are also up.

[Joy in Mudville]

With just over two weeks left in the Joy in Mudville season, the Philadelphia Phillies find themselves in an unusual position--first place.

While the Phillies have been hot, winning seven of their last 10 games, the Pittsburgh Pirates have not, losing seven of 10. The result is that the Phillies have gone a half game up on the Pirates in the National League East standings.

What's even more amazing for Philadelphia is that the Phillies have been without their top starting pitcher Rick Wise. The right-hander was sent to the disabled list in early September with back spasms. However, Wise (21-7) is expected to return in the next few days.

Pittsburgh has 15 games remaining on its schedule; Philadelphia has 14 contests left. The two teams will meet Sept. 25-27 in a three-game series in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates won the East in 1970 and '72. The Phillies finished second in both of those seasons.

Major League 1970 09-15-1973
Standings Report
American Standings
Eastern Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Baltimore Orioles 115 32 .782 - 119-28 -4 54-18 61-14 7-4 18-16 Clinched W1 8-2
New York Yankees 99 49 .669 16.5 101-47 -2 57-21 42-28 13-4 32-19 L1 8-2
Detroit Tigers 74 73 .503 41.0 76-71 -2 38-34 36-39 5-3 19-16 W1 5-5
Milwaukee Brewers 67 82 .450 49.0 64-85 3 41-34 26-48 7-15 24-31 L1 2-8
Boston Red Sox 59 90 .396 57.0 62-87 -3 34-40 25-50 9-14 26-29 L3 3-7
Cleveland Indians 54 96 .360 62.5 56-94 -2 26-48 28-48 6-9 17-26 W1 3-7
Western Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Texas Rangers 84 63 .571 - 82-65 2 39-34 45-29 5-5 30-20 8 W1 4-6
Oakland Athletics 76 71 .517 8.0 68-79 8 42-29 34-42 10-3 29-15 L1 6-4
Kansas City Royals 67 80 .456 17.0 68-79 -1 35-39 32-41 4-9 19-26 L7 2-8
California Angels 66 80 .452 17.5 55-91 11 31-41 35-39 9-6 27-26 W2 6-4
Minnesota Twins 65 81 .445 18.5 69-77 -4 38-38 27-43 5-8 17-29 W3 7-3
Chicago White Sox 59 88 .401 25.0 62-85 -3 29-45 30-43 9-9 19-24 L1 5-5

National Standings
Eastern Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Philadelphia Phillies 90 57 .612 - 84-63 6 52-24 38-33 7-6 23-15 16 W3 7-3
Pittsburgh Pirates 89 57 .610 .5 94-52 -5 51-22 38-35 9-7 23-21 L2 3-7
St. Louis Cardinals 74 73 .503 16.0 78-69 -4 40-33 34-40 11-5 22-24 W2 5-5
Chicago Cubs 64 83 .435 26.0 61-86 3 37-36 27-47 5-8 19-27 W2 6-4
New York Mets 64 84 .432 26.5 62-86 2 34-38 30-46 3-6 26-19 L3 3-7
Montreal Expos 55 92 .374 35.0 56-91 -1 33-41 22-51 7-7 22-27 L2 6-4
Western Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Houston Astros 102 47 .685 - 101-48 1 54-18 48-29 15-0 32-16 7 W1 6-4
Cincinnati Reds 93 54 .633 8.0 88-59 5 47-24 46-30 10-5 23-18 W1 7-3
Los Angeles Dodgers 80 69 .537 22.0 89-60 -9 43-31 37-38 6-9 21-25 L1 5-5
San Diego Padres 69 78 .469 32.0 66-81 3 39-38 30-40 4-7 29-32 L1 5-5
San Francisco Giants 61 85 .418 39.5 63-83 -2 29-46 32-39 4-10 22-23 W1 3-7
Atlanta Braves 44 106 .293 58.5 44-106 0 24-51 20-55 2-13 13-28 L2 4-6

Diamond JIM Notes: Baltimore clinched its fourth consecutive American League East title Sept. 14 with a 2-1 victory over New York. Orioles' right-hander Nolan Ryan struck out a JIM-record 17 batters and Steve Garvey won the game in the bottom of the ninth with a home run off the Yankees' Fritz Peterson. Ryan's 17 Ks bested teammate Tom Seaver's 16 last season. Ryan also broke Seaver's single-season record of 329 Ks. Ryan has 340 to date . . . The Orioles lost All-Stars Bobby Grich and Ken Holtzman to injuries. Both should return in time for the playoffs . . . Boston lost All-Star outfielder Carl Yastrzemski and slugger Reggie Smith to late-season injuries . . . Baltimore's Steve Garvey and Cincinnati's Ken Griffey each had five-hit games . . . Houston is a remarkable 15-0 in extra-inning games this year.

MAGIC NUMBERS
Houston Astros 7
Texas Rangers 8
Philadelphia Phillies 16

[Joy in Mudville]

Major League 1970 09-15-1973 League Stats Page

American League Batting Leaderboards Batting AVG L. Piniella KCA .339 A. Otis BAL .328 W. Crawford TEX .328 C. Chambliss TEX .327 J. Grubb BAL .324 On-Base PCT W. Crawford TEX .418 C. Yastrzemski BOS .417 D. Evans BAL .404 J. Grubb BAL .401 B. North BAL .401 Slugging PCT N. Cash DET .538 D. Kingman DET .518 A. Otis BAL .514 B. Grich BAL .512 W. Crawford TEX .505 On-Base + Slugging W. Crawford TEX .923 N. Cash DET .911 B. Grich BAL .909 A. Otis BAL .896 J. Grubb BAL .878 VORP W. Crawford TEX 71.6 A. Otis BAL 66.5 J. Grubb BAL 62.4 B. Grich BAL 59.9 D. Baylor TEX 52.3 Runs Created W. Crawford TEX 119.6 A. Otis BAL 118.5 J. Grubb BAL 114.4 K. Singleton BAL 107.6 D. Allen KCA 107.1 Runs Created / 27 outs W. Crawford TEX 8.59 C. Yastrzemski BOS 7.47 A. Otis BAL 7.39 N. Cash DET 7.24 B. Grich BAL 7.08 Isolated Power D. Kingman DET .279 N. Cash DET .256 D. Allen KCA .217 B. Grich BAL .213 M. Schmidt CLE .207 Games B. Bell ML4 149 J. Briggs ML4 149 T. Conigliaro BOS 149 M. Hegan ML4 149 D. Schofield BOS 149 At-Bats A. Johnson CAL 604 J. Grubb BAL 598 D. Winfield ML4 598 B. Bell ML4 597 A. Otis BAL 592 Runs B. North BAL 124 K. Singleton BAL 109 J. Grubb BAL 106 A. Otis BAL 99 D. Allen KCA 97 Hits J. Grubb BAL 194 A. Otis BAL 194 L. Piniella KCA 183 S. Garvey BAL 179 D. Baylor TEX 177 Total Bases A. Otis BAL 304 J. Grubb BAL 285 D. Allen KCA 278 S. Garvey BAL 275 D. Baylor TEX 272 Singles J. Grubb BAL 136 C. Chambliss TEX 134 B. North BAL 134 J. Orta CAL 131 L. Piniella KCA 129 Doubles L. Piniella KCA 43 A. Otis BAL 42 M. Rivers CAL 41 B. Murcer NYA 40 J. Grubb BAL 37 Triples J. Kenney NYA 11 J. Lahoud BOS 11 B. North BAL 11 J. Briggs ML4 10 B. Grich BAL 10 Home Runs D. Kingman DET 34 N. Cash DET 33 D. Allen KCA 30 M. Schmidt CLE 30 J. Burroughs CLE 28 Runs Batted In A. Otis BAL 123 S. Garvey BAL 113 J. Grubb BAL 107 D. Allen KCA 104 K. Singleton BAL 101 Stolen Bases B. North BAL 78 D. Nelson TEX 55 J. Kenney NYA 45 D. Baylor TEX 37 J. Briggs ML4 33 Bases-On-Balls D. Evans BAL 135 C. Yastrzemski BOS 106 K. Singleton BAL 99 B. North BAL 95 R. Smith BOS 92 Intentional Walks D. Allen KCA 15 M. Epstein CHA 13 J. Orta CAL 13 W. Crawford TEX 12 E. Kirkpatrick KCA 12 Hit-By-Pitch D. Sims CLE 13 B. Grich BAL 11 B. McBride OAK 10 M. Schmidt CLE 10 M. Epstein CHA 9 Strikeouts D. Winfield ML4 158 M. Schmidt CLE 146