20th Century Tourney: Sweet 16 Matchups(Race to 40 Wins)

[woody5254]

Here are the sweet 16 pairings:

Seed Year Team
Matchup #1
1 1927 Yankees
16 1994 Reds
Matchup #2
8 1939 Yankees
9 1924 Giants
Matchup #3
4 1932 Yankees
13 1912 Giants
Matchup #4
5 1934 Tigers
12 1999 Braves
Matchup #5
6 1933 Yankees
11 1976 Reds
Matchup #6
3 1925 Tigers
14 1999 Red Sox
Matchup #7
7 1913 Red Sox
10 1924 Reds
Matchup #8
2 1931 Yankees
15 1999 Indians

Who do you think will win each series and how long will they go?

[woody5254]

I am going to run all 8 series concurrently and proceed a game at a time. I will give highlights for each game.

[Y0DA55]

Getting down to it... I'm pumped!

[Tiger Fan]

Come on Tigers. Let's see an all Detroit final, '34 vs '25.

[woody5254]

Matchup #1 Preview:

#1 1927 Yankees versus #16 1994 Reds:

1927 Yankees
Rotation(Actual Stats for 1927)
1. Waite Hoyt 22-7, 2.63
2. Herb Pennock 19-8, 3.00
3. George Pipgras 10-3 4.11

Lineup(Actual Stats for 1927)
1. Tony Lazzeri 18 HR, 102 RBI, .309 BA
2. Bob Meusel 8 HR, 103 RBI, .337 BA
3. Babe Ruth 60 HR, 164 RBI, .356 BA
4. Lou Gehrig 47 HR, 175 RBI, .373 BA
5. Earle Combs 6 HR, 64 RBI, .356 BA
6. Mark Koenig 3 HR, 62 RBI, .285 BA
7. Joe Dugan 2 HR, 43 RBI, .269 BA
8. Pat Collins 7 HR, 36 RBI, .275 BA

1994 Reds

Rotation(Actual Stats for 1994)
1. Jose Rijo 9-6, 3.08
2. Erik Hanson 5-5, 4.11
3. John Smiley 11-10, 3.86

Lineup(Actual Stats for 1994)
1. Deion Snaders 4 HR, 28 RBI, .283 BA
2. Tony Fernandez 8 HR, 50 RBI, .279 BA
3. Kevin Mitchell 30 HR, 77 RBI, .326 BA
4. Hal Morris 10 HR, 78 RBI, .335 BA
5. Bret Boone 12 HR, 68 RBI, .320 BA
6. Barry Larkin 9 HR, 52 RBI, .279 BA
7. Reggie Sanders 17 HR, 62 RBI, .262 BA
8. Eddie Taubensee 8 HR, 21 RBI, .283 BA

My Prediction: Too much firepower will overwhelm the Reds. Yankees will take this one 40-17.

Anybody else have a take on this one?

[seth70liz76]

I've said it before, I'll say it again, I'm going to pick Ruth/Gehrig Yanks every chance I get.

[Dagrims]

They exposed the 76 Reds last round as pretenders to the throne. Let's see another early lead by a Reds squad evaporate into an easy victory by the Yankees.

[woody5254]

Matchup #2 Preview:

#8 1939 Yankees vs #9 1924 Giants

1939 Yankees

Rotation(Actual Stats for 1939)
1. Marius Russo 8-3, 2.41
2. Red Ruffing 21-7, 2.93
3. Lefty Gomez 12-8, 3.41

Lineup(Actual Stats for 1939)
1. Charlie Keller 11 HR, 83 RBI, .334 BA
2. Red Rolfe 14 HR, 80 RBI, .329 BA
3. Joe DiMaggio 30 HR, 126 RBI, .381 BA
4. Bill Dickey 24 HR, 105 RBI, .305 BA
5. George Selkirk 21 HR, 101 RBI, .306 BA
6. Joe Gordon 28 HR, 111 RBI, .284 BA
7. Babe Dahlgren 15 HR, 89 RBI, .235 BA
8. Frank Crosetti 10 HR, 56 RBI, .233 BA

1924 Giants

Rotation(Actual Stats from 1924)
1. Hugh McQuillan 14-8, 2.69
2. Virgil Barnes 16-10, 3.06
3. Art Nehf 14-4, 3.62

Lineup(Actual Stats from 1924)
1. Heinie Groh 2 HR, 46 RBI, .281 BA
2. Frank Snyder 5 HR, 53 RBI, .302 BA
3. Ross Youngs 10 HR, 74 RBI, .356 BA
4. George Kelly 21 HR, 136 RBI, .324 BA
5. Frankie Frisch 7 HR, 69 RBI, .328 BA
6. Hack Wilson 10 HR, 57 RBI, .295 BA
7. Irish Meusel 6 HR, 102 RBI, .310 BA
8. Travis Jackson 11 HR, 76 RBI, .302 BA

My Prediction: I am going with the 1924 Giants in a nail biter 40-37. The weak bottom third of the Yankees order will make the difference.

Anybody else have a take on this series??

[woody5254]

Matchup #3 Preview

#4 1932 Yankees versus #13 1912 Giants

1932 Yankees

Rotation(Actual 1932 Stats)
1. Red Ruffing 18-7, 3.09
2. Johnny Allen 17-4, 3.70
3. Herb Pennock 9-5, 4.60

Lineup(Actual 1932 Stats)
1. Tony Lazzeri 15 HR, 113 RBI, .300 BA
2. Bill Dickey 15 HR, 84 RBI, .310 BA
3. Babe Ruth 41 HR, 137 RBI, .341 BA
4. Lou Gehrig 34 HR, 151 RBI, .349 BA
5. Earle Combs 9 HR, 65 RBI, .321 BA
6. Joe Sewell 11 HR, 68 RBI, .272 BA
7. Ben Chapman 10 HR, 107 RBI, .299 BA
8. Frank Crosetti 5 HR, 57 RBI, .241 BA

1912 Giants

Rotation(Actual 1912 Stats)
1. Christy Mathewson 23-12, 2.12
2. Red Ames 11-5, 2.46
3. Rube Marquad 26-11, 2.57

Lineup(Actual 1912 Stats)
1. Josh Devore 2 HR, 37 RBI, .275 BA
2. Red Murray 3 HR, 92 RBI, .277 BA
3. Larry Doyle 10 HR, 90 RBI, .330 BA
4. Fred Merkle 11 HR, 84 RBI, .309 BA
5. Chief Meyers 6 HR, 54 RBI, .358 BA
6. Buck Herzog 2 HR, 47 RBI, .263 BA
7. Fred Snodgrass 3 HR, 69 RBI, .269 BA
8. Art Fletcher 1 HR, 57 RBI, .282 BA

My prediction:
This is a classic monster lineup vs monster rotation. However the Yankees also have two Hall of Famers in their rotation as well. I say the Yankees pull it out in a close series...40-34.

Anyone else have a take on this series??

[DTF955]

Finally, it's easy enough to make out a bracket :-)
'27 Yankees rather easily and the '39 Yankees in a nailbiter (not as much great pitching on either but more on the '39 squad) will meet in one regional while the '34 Tigers will win in a mild upset and take on the '12 Giants, who will win something like 40-39 w/the clubs never more than 2 gmes apart. Mathewson, Marquard, etc. were awesome, and Ruth was getting older, etc.. The Giants will be the real Cinderella story, but the Tigers have surprisingly good pitching and I think can play small ball well enough with their bcombination of great players up the middle tht they can win. Hey, they nearly won my single elimination SI tourney, and I'm still picking them here.

'27 versus '39 Yankees will be another real nailbiter, in a race to 40 wins I have to consider what the '27 squad did the first few months before runing away with it; are they vulnerable? I think they might just be, so the '39 Yankees will take on the '34 Tigers in one set of the Final Four.

In the other, the '76 Reds and '33 Yankees are very similar teams, witht he Reds I think having just enough to beat them, as this is an older Ruth and they were on a downward spiral for...well, 3 years. They didn't win a pennant in 3 years, oh my, Steinbrenner would have a fit :-) I don't know who those Tigers have besides Cobb in '25 - oh, Heilemann, too, tat's right - but they are not worthy of that high a seed, the Red Sox will give them fits, and I think ultimately prevail in a race to 40; remember they have Pedro. However, the Reds will oust the REd Sox, I think, with a more balanced lineup and without Manny on the Sox. Cincy had a gret bullpen, too, after all, and I've heard people say this club may have been better than '75.

The '31 Yankees will play the '13 Red Sox in the other, as neither oppoent looks awe inspiring, though the Indians have to be a sentimental choice for me. Losing the the Yankees will be all too familiar to the Tribe, though - which had too little pitching. The Yankees, I think, will meet the Reds int he Final Four.

A final four of '31 Yankees, '76 Red, and '39 Yankees and '34 Tigers. It figures at least one Yankees team will make the final, but I doubt 2 will. The REds, I think, will beat the Yankees - they may have some weaknesses, but they've had their slump. They will play the Yankees, who with a team like the '62 Giants that beat the Tigers int he final in SSI will overpower theTigers.

In the end, I think the '76 Reds can still be the tournament winners.

[woody5254]

Matchup #4 Preview

#5 1934 Tigers versus #12 1999 Braves

1934 Tigers

Rotation(Actual 1934 Stats)
1. Schoolboy Rowe 24-8, 3.45 ERA
2. Elden Auker 15-7, 3.42 ERA
3. Tommy Bridges 22-11, 3.67 ERA

Lineup(Actual 1934 Stats)
1. Jo-Jo White 0 HR, 44 RBI, .313 BA
2. Goose Goslin 13 HR, 100 RBI, .305 BA
3. Charlie Gehringer 11 HR, 127 RBI, .356 BA
4. Hank Greenberg 26 HR, 139 RBI, .339 BA
5. Mickey Cochrane 2 HR, 76 RBI, .320 BA
6. Marv Owen 8 HR, 96 RBI, .317 BA
7. Billy Rogell 3 HR, 100 RBI, .296 BA
8. Pete Fox 2 HR, 45 RBI, .285 BA


1999 Braves

Rotation(Actual 1999 Stats)
1. John Smoltz 11-8, 3.19 ERA
2. Kevin Millwood 18-7, 2.68 ERA
3. Greg Maddux 19-9, 3.57 ERA

Lineup(Actual 1999 Stats)
1. Brian Jordan 23 HR, 115 RBI, .283 BA
2. Gerald Williams 17 HR, 68 RBI, .275 BA
3. Chipper Jones 45 HR, 110 RBI, .319 BA
4. Ryan Klesko 21 HR, 80 RBI, .297 BA
5. Andruw Jones 26 HR, 84 RBI, .275 BA
6. Jose Hernandez 19 HR, 62 RBI, .266 BA
7. Bret Boone 20 HR, 63 RBI, .252 BA
8. Eddie Perez 7 HR, 30 RBI, .249 BA

My Prediction:
The pitching matches up well, but the Tigers have a ton of offense and will take this series rather easily, 40-28.

Anybody else have a take on this series??

[woody5254]

Originally Posted by DTF955

Finally, it's easy enough to make out a bracket :-)
'27 Yankees rather easily and the '39 Yankees in a nailbiter (not as much great pitching on either but more on the '39 squad) will meet in one regional while the '34 Tigers will win in a mild upset and take on the '12 Giants, who will win something like 40-39 w/the clubs never more than 2 gmes apart. Mathewson, Marquard, etc. were awesome, and Ruth was getting older, etc.. The Giants will be the real Cinderella story, but the Tigers have surprisingly good pitching and I think can play small ball well enough with their bcombination of great players up the middle tht they can win. Hey, they nearly won my single elimination SI tourney, and I'm still picking them here.

'27 versus '39 Yankees will be another real nailbiter, in a race to 40 wins I have to consider what the '27 squad did the first few months before runing away with it; are they vulnerable? I think they might just be, so the '39 Yankees will take on the '34 Tigers in one set of the Final Four.

In the other, the '76 Reds and '33 Yankees are very similar teams, witht he Reds I think having just enough to beat them, as this is an older Ruth and they were on a downward spiral for...well, 3 years. They didn't win a pennant in 3 years, oh my, Steinbrenner would have a fit :-) I don't know who those Tigers have besides Cobb in '25 - oh, Heilemann, too, tat's right - but they are not worthy of that high a seed, the Red Sox will give them fits, and I think ultimately prevail in a race to 40; remember they have Pedro. However, the Reds will oust the REd Sox, I think, with a more balanced lineup and without Manny on the Sox. Cincy had a gret bullpen, too, after all, and I've heard people say this club may have been better than '75.

The '31 Yankees will play the '13 Red Sox in the other, as neither oppoent looks awe inspiring, though the Indians have to be a sentimental choice for me. Losing the the Yankees will be all too familiar to the Tribe, though - which had too little pitching. The Yankees, I think, will meet the Reds int he Final Four.

A final four of '31 Yankees, '76 Red, and '39 Yankees and '34 Tigers. It figures at least one Yankees team will make the final, but I doubt 2 will. The REds, I think, will beat the Yankees - they may have some weaknesses, but they've had their slump. They will play the Yankees, who with a team like the '62 Giants that beat the Tigers int he final in SSI will overpower theTigers.

In the end, I think the '76 Reds can still be the tournament winners.

Wow DTF. Very nice writeup. We'll see how it plays out.

[seth70liz76]

I think the 99 Braves have this one in a very close one--40-38 or some such thing.

The '24 Giants should have no problem with the '39 Yanks (40-25), but the '12 Giants will be little trouble for the '32 Yankees (40-15). Again, I'm not picking against Ruth/Gehrig Yanks.

[jeheinz72]

I'm going with thr 99 Braves too, and the 99 Indians in a shocker

[woody5254]

Guys, blueturf was kind enough to create a little bracket contest for us. Head over and fill it out and we will see who makes out the best.

Sweet 16 Bracket

[woody5254]

Matchup #5 Preview

#6 1933 Yankees versus #11 1976 Reds

1933 Yankees

Rotation(Actual 1933 Stats)
1. Red Ruffing 9-14, 3.91
2. Johnny Allen 15-7, 4.39
3. George Pipgras 11-10, 3.90

Lineup(Actual 1933 Stats)
1. Ben Chapman 9 HR, 98 RBI, .312 BA
2. Earle Combs 5 HR, 64 RBI, .300 BA
3. Lou Gehrig 32 HR, 139 RBI, .334 BA
4. Babe Ruth 34 HR, 103 RBI, .301 BA
5. Bill Dickey 14 HR, 97 RBI, .318 BA
6. Tony Lazzeri 18 HR, 104 RBI, .294 BA
7. Joe Sewell 2 HR, 54 RBI, .273 BA
8. Frank Crosetti 9 HR, 60 RBI, .253 BA


1976 Reds

Rotation(Actual 1976 Stats)
1. Pat Zachry 14-7, 2.74
2. Fred Norman 12-7, 3.09
3. Gary Nolan 15-9, 3.46

Lineup(Actual 1976 Stats)
1. Cesar Geronimo 2 HR, 49 RBI, .307 BA
2. Pete Rose 10 HR, 63 RBI, .323 BA
3. Joe Morgan 27 HR, 111 RBI, .320 BA
4. George Foster 29 HR, 121 RBI, .306 BA
5. Ken Griffey, Sr. 6 HR, 74 RBI, .336 BA
6. Dave Concepcion 9 HR, 69 RBI, .281 BA
7. Tony Perez 19 HR, 91 RBI, .260 BA
8. Johnny Bench 16 HR, 74 RBI, .234 BA

My Prediction: It is a tight series throughout, but Ruth and Gehrig pull it out in the end 40-38.

Anybody else have a take on this series??

[woody5254]

Matchup #6 Preview

#3 1925 Tigers versus #14 1999 Red Sox

1925 Tigers

Rotation(Actual 1925 Tigers)
1. Dutch Leonard 11-4, 4.51
2. Lil Stoner 10-9, 4.26
3. Earl Whitehill 11-11, 4.66

Lineup(Actual 1925 Tigers)
1. Lu Blue 3 HR, 94 RBI, .306 BA
2. Frank O'Rourke 5 HR, 57 RBI, .293 BA
3. Ty Cobb 12 HR, 102 RBI, .378 BA
4. Harry Heilmann 13 HR, 134 RBI, .393 BA
5. Al Wingo 5 HR, 68 RBI, .370 BA
6. Johnny Bassler 0 HR, 52 RBI, .279 BA
7. Les Burke 0 HR, 24 RBI, .289 BA
8. Jackie Tavener 0 HR, 47 RBI, .245 BA


1999 Red Sox

Rotation(Actual 1999 Stats)
1. Pedro Martinez 23-4, 2.07 ERA
2. Bret Saberhagen 10-6, 2.95 ERA
3. Pat Rapp 6-7, 4.12 ERA

Lineup(Actual 1999 Stats)
1. Jose Offerman 8 HR, 69 RBI, .294 BA
2. Mike Stanley 19 HR, 72 RBI, .281 BA
3. Nomar Garciaparra 27 HR, 104 RBI, .357 BA
4. Brian Daubach 21 HR, 73 RBI, .294 BA
5. Butch Huskey 22 HR, 77 RBI, .282 BA
6. Troy O'Leary 28 HR, 103 RBI, .280 BA
7. John Valentin 12 HR, 70 RBI, .253 BA
8. Darren Lewis 2 HR, 40 RBI, .240 BA

My Prediction:
Pedro will dominate the series, but he only pitches every 3rd game. The other two-thirds of Boston's rotation will be dominated by Cobb and Co. The 1925 Tigers will pull it out in a close series 40-32.

Anybody else have a take on this series??

[woody5254]

Matchup #7 Preview

#7 1913 Red Sox versus #10 1924 Reds

1913 Red Sox

Rotation(Actual 1913 Red Sox)
1. Smokey Joe Wood 11-5, 2.29
2. Hugh Bedient 15-14, 2.78
3. Ray Collins 19-8, 2.63

Lineup(Actual 1913 Stats)
1. Clyde Engle 2 HR, 50 RBI, .289 BA
2. Larry Gardner 0 HR, 63 RBI, .281 BA
3. Tris Speaker 3 HR, 71 RBI, .363 BA
4. Harry Hooper 4 HR, 40 RBI, .288 BA
5. Duffy Lewis 0 HR, 98 RBI, .298 BA
6. Pinch Thomas 1 HR, 15 RBI, .286 BA
7. Steve Yerkes 1 HR, 48 RBI, .267 BA
8. Heinie Wagner 2 HR, 34 RBI, .227 BA


1924 Reds

Rotation(Actual 1924 Stats)
1. Dolf Luque 10-15, 3.16
2. Carl Mays 20-9, 3.15
3. Rube Benton 7-9, 2.77

Lineup(Actual 1924 Stats)
1. Rube Bressler 4 HR, 49 RBI, .347 BA
2. Babe Pinelli 0 HR, 70 RBI, .306 BA
3. George Harper 16 HR, 58 RBI, .291 BA
4. Edd Roush 3 HR, 72 RBI, .348 BA
5. Hughie Critz 3 HR, 35 RBI, .322 BA
6. Bubbles Hargrave 3 HR, 33 RBI, .301 BA
7. Jake Daubert 1 HR, 31 RBI, .281 BA
8. Ike Caveney 4 HR, 32 RBI, .273 BA


My Prediction:
This is the toughest of the matchups to predict. Neither team is loaded. I think Smokey Joe Wood will be huge throughout. Tris Speaker may be the best player on either side, so I will go with the 1913 Red Sox in another nail biter, 40-39.

Anyone else have a take on this series??

[woody5254]

Matchup #8 Preview

#2 1931 Yankees versus #15 1999 Indians

1931 Yankees

Rotation(Actual 1931 Stats)
1. Lefty Gomez 21-9, 2.67
2. Herb Pennock 11-6, 4.28
3. Red Ruffing 16-14, 4.41

Lineup(Actual 1931 Stats)
1. Ben Chapman 17 HR, 122 RBI, .315 BA
2. Bill Dickey 6 HR, 78 RBI, .327 BA
3. Babe Ruth 46 HR, 163 RBI, .373 BA
4. Lou Gehrig 46 HR, 184 RBI, .341 BA
5. Earle Combs 5 HR, 58 RBI, .318 BA
6. Joe Sewell 6 HR, 64 RBI, .302 BA
7. Lyn Lary 10 HR, 107 RBI, .280 BA
8. Tony Lazzeri 8 HR, 83 RBI, .267 BA


1999 Indians

Rotation(Actual 1999 Stats)
1. Bartolo Colon 18-5, 3.95
2. Charles Nagy 17-11, 4.95
3. Dave Burba 15-9, 4.25

Lineup(Actual 1999 Stats)
1. Kenny Lofton 7 HR, 39 RBI, .301 BA
2. Omar Vizquel 5 HR, 66 RBI, .333 BA
3. Manny Ramirez 44 HR, 165 RBI, .333 BA
4. Roberto Alomar 24 HR, 120 RBI, .320 BA
5. Jim Thome 33 HR, 108 RBI, .277 BA
6. Dave Justice 21 HR, 88 RBI, .287 BA
7. Travis Fryman 10 HR, 48 RBI, .255 BA
8. Einar Diaz 3 HR, 32 RBI, .281 BA

My Prediction: The powerful Indians lineup will give the Yankees mosters a run for their money. But they will come up short 40-31.

Anyone else have a take on this series??

[Matt from TN]

I would say the Yankees have decent odds at winning this thing :P