1987 BBW Replay (Day 2) - Opening Day for Other Teams

It's day two for the season, while there is opening days in Anaheim, Minnesota, Atlanta and at Wrigley & Shea.

The Seattle Mariners spoiled the California Angels' home opener with home runs by Scott Bradley (solo HR) & Jim Presley (two-run HR during the 7th). The Mariners' Harold Reynolds added a triple, run & stolen base, while Alvin Davis batted 2-for-4 with 2 doubles. Mark Langston (1-0, 1,23 ERA) earned the win, striking out 11 batters through 7 innings of work, allowing 6 hits & 2 walks. California's Johnny Ray provided the only offense, batting 3-for-4, which included a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the 1st.  Mike Witt earned the loss (0-1, 5.14 ERA) Seattle's Jerry Reed earned the Save, while Seattle won 4-1.

The Oakland Athletics came into the Metrodome, and walked out with a 6-1 road victory over the Minnesota Twins. Oakland's Dave Stewart, acquired from the Phillies last season, continues his progress & transition as a starting pitcher by striking out 11 Twinkies in his season debut. Stewart (1-0, 1.23 ERA) allowed 5 hits, 2 walks & 1 run through 7 1/3 innings. Oakland outfielder added a two-run homer, scoring twice with a stolen base, while veteran shortstop Alfredo Griffin batted 2-for-4, which included an RBI single, two runs & a steal. Frank Viola (0-1, 4.91) earned the loss, while Kirby Puckett batted 2-for-4, scoring once. Dennis Eckersley (who entered the 8th with a 4-1 lead) earned the save.

The St. Louis Cardinals - Chicago Cubs rivalry kicks off the 1987 season at Wrigley Field. The Cubs would win in a low-scoring affair, 3-2. Jerry Mumphrey's two-run single gave Chicago a 2-1 lead during the bottom of the 3rd. Leon Durham's solo home run during the 5th inning would give the Cubs extra insurance toward the win. Rick Sutcliffe (1-0, 2.84, 6 K) would earn the win, while Joe Magrane (0-1, 3.86) earned the loss. The Cards' Willie McGee had a 2-for-4 day which included a double, RBI & run. Frank DiPino would earn the save.

The Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves battled it out for 12 innings, which involved 38 players combined from both teams that appeared in this close, heavily-strategized game. The Braves' Dale Murphy knocked in 3 RBI on 3 different hit, which one of the hits was a solo home run for the slugger. The Phillies' Juan Samuel batted 3-for-5 with a solo HR, 3 runs, walk & steal. New addition Lance Parrish, the former Detroit All-Star catcher homered in his first at-bat as a Phillie. Mike Schmidt recorded no hits, but added 2 RBI on a walk & sac fly. Schmidt was walked 3 times (2 intentional walks). The Phillies' reliever Steve Bedrosian got the win (1-0, 0.00 ERA), while Charlie Puleo (0-1, 2.25 ERA) got the loss.

The New York Mets, the defending 1986 World Champions, won their season-opener with a walk-off single by Keith Hernandez in the 12th inning. Lenny Dykstra (who was the winning run) batted 3-for-6, which included a solo HR, double & two runs. The Pittsburgh Pirates' catcher Mike LaVaillere knocked in both of the Pirates' only runs on two different hits. LaVaillere's 2nd RBI single scored in the game-tying run that forced extras. Pirates started Rick Reuschel pitched really well by striking out 9 Mets hitters, allowing 7 hits, 1 run & 3 walks. Mets win, 3-2.

1987 BBW Replay - Opening Day

The 1987 MLB Season was a special season. The Milwaukee Brewers jumped out to a 13-0 record to make MLB history, The Detroit Tigers 5 games down caught the Toronto Blue Jays with 9 days remaining in the season. The San Francisco Giants gave their fans the most excitement they had in 25 years, and Mark McGwire shattered the MLB rookie season home run mark with 49 HR's in what is considered a juiced ball season for the Majors. Andre Dawson and George Bell also had nearly 50 HR's.

For me, it was the first real season that I actually followed closely. The 1986 Postseason pulled me in, while it was the 1987 season that I was officially all-in. The 1987 Topps Baseball Cards were also the first set that I bought packs of cards on a regular basis. Seeing Lance Parrish's 87' Topps card was odd, knowing that he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was probably the first Tigers star that reminded me of the cruelty of free agency, the first Tigers star that made me realize that our heroes can go to other teams. Of course, rookie Matt Nokes would help us forget the loss of Parrish, as Nokes had an excellent rookie year which helped the Tigers win the division.

I was 10 years old when the season started, and when I was turning 11 on October 28th, I feel it should have been my Tigers winning the whole thing, than the (I hate to say it) fluky Minnesota Twins. The Twins had a Pythagorean record of 79-83, and came from a division in which no team truly had a real championship identity. Meanwhile, the A.L. East had four teams with 89+ wins. Most of the American League's best hitters also came out of the East with Alan Trammell, George Bell, Wade Boggs, Paul Molitor & Don Mattingly having huge years. 

Our teacher rolled the TV into the classroom for us to watch Game #162 between the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers at Tigers Stadium. Frank Tanana was fantastic, while it was Larry Herndon's solo HR, the game's only run that helped us break the hearts of Blue Jays fans. The previous two games were also 1-run victories over the Jays... Talk about close!

Doyle Alexander was 9-0 with a 1.53 ERA for us, after we acquired him from Atlanta. Those final weeks of the season, the excitement around Alexander was the most excitement Tiger fans had around a pitcher since Denny McLain and Mark Fidrych. He was like a God in Motown down that stretch. 

We also took advantage of signing Bill Madlock, who was considered washed up by the Los Angeles Dodgers and released. The former 4-time N.L. Batting Champion Madlock was only batting .180 through 21 games for L.A. when they released him. Tigers signed him on June 4th, and he would go on to bat .279 with 14 HR & 50 RBI through 87 games. I was really bummed that he retired after the season.

So this was one of the reasons I bought the 1987 digital data file from APBA, and why this is one of the seasons that I am playing in the BBW (APBA Baseball for Windows) format.

So here is what happened on opening day in the 1987 APBA Replay...

The day experienced 3 walk-off wins (all in extras), starting with the Boston Red Sox at the Milwaukee Brewers...

The Brewers' pinch-hitter Bill Schroeder hit a walk-off single, while Paul Molitor collected 4 hits (2 doubles), Glenn Braggs batted 2-4 with 2 RBI & Mike Felder batted 2-4 with an RBI triple. The Red Sox' Dave Henderson batted 2-for-2 with a solo HR (2 runs), while Boston backstop Marc Sullivan, who came into the game with a lifetime .200 batting average, had a two-run single that momentarily gave Boston a 3-1 lead. Milwaukee wins 4-3 in the 10th on Schroeder's hit.

By the way, we are doing actual transactions for this, so Henderson, Don Baylor & Bill Buckner are still with the Red Sox at the moment.

The Houston Astros win with a walk-off hit by Billy Hatcher at the Astrodome over the Dodgers. Billy (like Molitor in Milwaukee) also had 4 hits, which included a double, RBI & 2 runs. Rookie Gerald Young had a fantastic debut, batting 2-for-5 with 2 stolen bases. It helped that the Astros had Nolan Ryan on the mound, who got the no-decision, pitching 9 solid innings, allowing no earned runs on 4 hits, to go along with his 7 strikeouts and 2 walks. The Dodgers' Franklin Stubbs momentarily tied the game with a two-run homer early on in the game, while Dodgers starter Orel Hershiser allowed 2 earned runs with 4 K's through 9 innings. Reliever Alejandro Pena was credited with the loss, allowing 2 hits & the winning run in no innings. 

The last walk-off came in San Francisco, as the San Francisco Giants won 5-4 through 11 innings over the San Diego Padres. Giants' catcher Bob Brenly gave the Giants a 3-1 lead with a three-run HR during the 3rd inning. The Padres' catcher Benito Santiago matched Brenly with a three-run blast of his own, to tie the game, 4-4 during the 6th inning. The game went to extras and veteran 3B Chris Speier (who came in for Chris Brown a few innings back) would deliver the game-winning hit off Padres' Greg Booker.

Other Games...

Charlie Hough pitches a complete game against the Baltimore Orioles, allowing only 5 hits and no earned runs (1 run) as the Texas Rangers win easily, 7-1. The Rangers' Scott Fletcher batted 3-for-5 with 2 RBI & the Rangers' Jerry Browne batted 2-for-4 with 2 doubles, an RBI, while swiping a base. Mike Boddicker (0-1, 5.40 ERA) gets the loss.

Don Mattingly's three-run home run off the Tigers' Jack Morris (0-1, 3.86) would be the difference as the New York Yankees come into Tiger Stadium with a 3-1 win. The Yankees Dennis Rasmussen (1-0, 1.23 ERA) earns the win, while the Tigers' Alan Trammell batted 2-for-4 with an RBI in a losing effort.

The Kansas City Royals had to earn their win in a difficult way, as the Royals' starting pitcher Bret Saberhagen hurt himself on the first pitch. Kansas City 'benched' their rotation prior to the game, and had to call on Steve Farr to basically start the game. Farr would go on to pitch an excellent game, pitching 6 innings, allowing 5 hits, and only 2 runs & a walk -- while striking out 7 Chicago White Sox hitters. The Royals' George Brett hit a two-run homer in the 3rd. The White Sox eventually tied the game, but it was the Royals' Frank White (2-for-4) who would hit the go-ahead, winning single during the 8th. The White Sox' Carlton Fisk batted 2-for-3 with a double & RBI in the loss.

The Toronto Blue Jays were too much for the Cleveland Indians, winning big, 12-3. The Blue Jays' trio of outfield stars, Lloyd Moseby, Jesse Barfield & George Bell all played major factors. Moseby was the game's biggest star, batting 3-for-5 with a HR, 3 ribbies, 2 runs & a stolen base. Barfield also hit a home run, while batting 3-for-4 with 4 RBI (which included a sac fly) & 2 runs. Bell drew a walk, while hitting a two-run homer in the 1st inning. Jimmy Key (1-0, 3.38) earned the win, allowing only 1 run through his first 8 innings. The Indians' Cory Snyder collected 3 hits, which included a double, while it wasn't a good day for Tom Candiotti (0-1, 13.50 ERA).

Last, but not least... The Montreal Expos, despite 3 errors in the field, win 7-2 over the Cincinnati Reds, on a solid complete by Pascual Perez. Perez allowed 6 hits, 2 runs (none earned) & 3 walks, while striking out 6 batters. The Expos' Mitch Webster batted 3-for-5 with 2 RBI, while Montreal's 9th hitter in the lineup Reid Nichols batted 2-4 with a two-run HR (2 runs). The Reds' Buddy Bell batted 2-for-4 with a RBI & run scored, while Reds starter Bill Gullickson (0-1, 10.80) earned the loss.

That concludes opening day for the 1987.

Deadball-14's Opening Day: 1919 Reds at 1906 Cubs

 

At Chicago / West Side Grounds

The 1919 Cincinnati Reds will face off against the 1906 Chicago Cubs at the West Side Grounds. The Cubs' rotation may be scary good, but the Reds' rotation is definitely not too shabby. The Reds will need to scrape out some lucky hits to keep up with the Cubs lineup, and to beat out their tough infield. The Reds send Dutch Ruether to face 'Three-Finger' Brown in a game which should be about the pitching.

Bottom of the 2nd

Leadoff triple by Cubs' first baseman/manager Frank Chance. Harry Steinfeldt would knock in Chance with an RBI single, a liner over the Reds' Morrie Rath at second base. Joe Tinker lays down a sacrifice bunt to move Steinfeldt over to second. One out, Johnny Evers at the plate, he hits this one down the right field line, it's caught by Neale, Steinfeldt tags up, the throw, and he's safe, just getting under the tag at third. The Reds' Dutch Ruether ends up walking the Cubbies' ace Mordecai Brown, nothing good usually comes out of a situation when you end up walking your counterpart. Bases loaded, two outs, for Jimmy Slagle. Slagle drills it, it's deep, it's fair, and it's caught by the Reds' Greasy Neale. Cubs 1, Reds 0

Both lineups are quite for a few innings until...

Top of the 7th

The Reds' Heinie Groh beats out a infield single to kick off the inning. Edd Roush would hit a liner past a diving Joe Tinker, advancing Groh to third. No outs with runners on the corners for Reds catcher Ivey Wingo, the pitch, and the ball rolls from under the Cubs' Johnny Kling behind home plate (Passed Ball), Groh scores, and Roush moves up to second. Wingo bounces one to the mound, Brown knocks it down, but only has a play at first, one down, but the runner moves up to third. Jake Daubert lines one to the pitcher, caught for out number two. The last two plays will be big if 'Three-Finger' can get out of this inning. The Reds' Greasy Neale steps up to the plate, he makes no contact -- The throw from Kling to third, and Roush is caught trying to steal third! 

But this one is all knotted up at 1-1 as we head to the 7-inning stretch.

Top of the 8th

Greasy Neale just beats out a single, as he tries to give the Reds a spark. LF Rube Bressler is up to the plate, strike, but there goes Neale, Kling's throw is too late, Neale has robbed second. Bressler strikes out against Brown for out number one. Reds pitcher Dutch Ruether hits a shot at Evers, Evers waves at it, it's by him, Neale rounds third, Schulte is up with it, the throw, but Neale is in standing. Reds take a 2-1 lead here late in this one. 

Bottom of the 8th

Top of the order for the Cubbies, but nothing happens as they go down 1-2-3 on fly balls to the outfield. Time is running out for Chicago. 

Top of the 9th

With one out, and Edd Roush on second (after a single & a steal), Ivey Wingo hits a deep fly to right, Roush tags up only to be thrown out at third on amazing throw from right fielder Frank Schulte.

Bottom of the 9th

The Reds' Dutch Ruether needs to get past Frank Chance, Harry Steinfeldt, and Joe Tinker. Ruether appeared to have struck out Chance, when Chance started jumping up and down, but wait, the Umpire says the ball hit him in the hand, but he seems to be okay as he wanders down to first. One on, no outs, Steinfeldt with a swinging bunt, squibs the ball to the left side, Groh comes up to field it, guns it to first, and they get him at first, while Chance moves on down to second. One out, tying run at second, Joe Tinker up at the plate. Tinker puts down a bunt pose, Ruether spins toward second, throws it to shortstop Larry Kopf, and they picked off Chance at second. It's all up to Tinker to make something happen, no wait... Chance calls from the dugout, they will have 'Circus Solly' Hofman come to the plate, while Tinker goes down to sit on the bench. Solly raps it back to the mound, Ruether is up with it, the throw to first and this one's over. 

The Reds win, 2-1.

Dutch did it on both ends for the Reds this afternoon, only allowing 1 run on the mound, while hitting the go-ahead & eventual winning run to give the Reds, the 2-1 edge. The Cubs' Mordecai 'Three-Finger' Brown gets the loss in an honorable effort in which he yielded only 1 earned run and 6 hits in 9 innings, plus 3 strikeouts. 

Deadball-14's Opening Day: 1915 Red Sox at 1902 Pirates

 
At Pittsburgh / Forbes Field

The 1915 Boston Red Sox come into Pittsburgh to play the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates. Ernie Shore (Grade 20-YZ) toes the rubber for Boston, while he will face Jack Chesbro (Grade 19-Y). 

Top of the 1st

Harry Hooper leads off the game with a triple off Chesbro. Chesbro would end up walking Larry Gardner, putting runners on the corners. Boston first baseman Dick Hoblitzel hits an RBI single up the middle to drive in Hooper. Hoblitzel was picked up off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds, midway through 1914, and now finds himself getting the majority of the starts for this Red Sox team. Gardner gets careless and is picked off at second, thanks to a wonderful throw by Pittsburgh's backstop Harry Smith. Two outs, Hoblitzel tries to steal second and is thrown out. The Red Sox score one run, but shot themselves in the foots, because the early lead could have been bigger. 

Bottom of the 1st

Ginger Beaumont leads the inning off with a single to right. Beaumont steals second base. A couple batters later, Beaumont would score from second base on a RBI single by Tommy Leach. The play would cost Boston not only a run, but a catcher, as Beaumont ran over catcher Chet Thomas. Early reports from the Boston clubhouse is that Thomas may be out for awhile, it certainly didn't look good (Forrest Cady came in to replace Thomas). Game tied, 1-1.

Bottom of the 2nd

Ernie Shore walks back-to-back hitters in Claude Richey and Wid Conroy, no outs. After Harry Smith flied to Speaker in right, Bucs pitcher Jack Chesbro lays down a perfect sacrifice to move the runners up to 2nd & 3rd. Two outs, Ginger Beaumont steps up to the plate, but flies out to Hooper in center. Score remains 1-1.

Top of the 3rd

Weak-hitting Everett Scott leads off the bottom half with a single to right. Chesbro would go on to walk the pitcher Shore, plus Harry Hooper (back-to-back walks). Bases loaded, no outs for 3B Larry Gardner. Gardner strokes it sharply to short, Conroy only has a play at first, gets him... but Scott scores from third, to make it 2-1 Boston. Pittsburgh intentionally walks Tris Speaker to face Hoblitzel. Hoblitzel flies to left center, Beaumont is there, the runners are tagging but will hold as they did not want to test Ginger's strong arm. Chesbro walks Duffy Lewis to score in another run, bases still loaded. The inning ends on a hard hit grounder to Richey at second, relaying it to first to finish the inning. Boston leads, 3-1.

Bottom of the 3rd

Honus Wagner hits a liner to center that skips under Harry Hooper's glove, luckily Tris Speaker came over quickly to back him up, as they hold Wagner to a double. Cleanup hitter Tommy Leach grounds one deep in the hole, Scott is over, long throw to first... Out! Wagner would advance to third. Ernie Shore strikes out Kitty Bransfield strikes out, leaving Wagner stranded.

Bottom of the 5th

Speedy Ginger Beaumont reaches on a error (E-6) by Scott. Fred Clarke follows through with a textbook hit-and-run. Runners on the corners, no outs, as Honus Wagner steps up to the plate. Wagner smacks this one, Duffy Lewis has his back to the fence, runs out of room... and this one is gone! Three-run blast by Wagner, and the Pirates suddenly have a 4-3 lead. The next batter, Leach hits one to the mound, over to first, for the 1st out. First Baseman Kitty Bransfield puts some wood to the ball, sending the ball to deep center. The ball hits the base of the wall, and Hooper is up with it, but Bransfield won't test Hooper's strong arm. Runner on 2nd, 1 out, Claude Richey steps up to the plate, but whiffs at it, two down. Wid Conroy smashes one to the gap in right center, Harry Hooper is over quickly, cuts it off, Bransfield is rounding third, running through a red light, the throw... and he's out! What a throw from Hooper, these Red Sox OF arms can be deadly, as Bransfield is gunned down at the plate.

Regardless, the Pirates have bounced back to take the lead thanks to Mr. Wagner... Pirates lead, 4-3.

Top of the 6th

With one out, Pittsburgh's pitcher Jack Chesbro allows his 7th walk to Cady. Everett Scott hits a hard grounder to deep first, Bransfield is up with it, but has no play.... Runners safe at 1st & 2nd. Two hits for Scott. Boston's ace, Ernie Shore lets Chesbro off the hook as he hit into a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning unscathed.

Bottom of the 6th

Pirates catcher Harry Smith kicks off the inning with a single to right. The Pirates skipper/player Clarke calls on Fred Crolius to pinch-run for Smith and for Al Davis to pinch-hit for Chesbro. Davis would hit one to deep second, they get the force at second (4-6), but Davis just beats it out the throw at first, 1 out. Ginger Beaumont excutes the hit-and-run, runners on the corners. Fred Clarke follows Beaumont's plate appearance by lining a hit to right, and scoring in Davis. It's now 5-3, Pittsburgh. Wagner hits one to short, but is out at first on a great play by Boston's Scott, runners move up, two outs. Tommy steps up to the plate, he already has a RBI single from earlier, let's see if he can tack on some more. The pitch from Shore, hits a clothesline to deep center, Harry Hooper puts his glove up, and he's out... It nearly went over his head. Inning over.

Top of the 7th

The Pirates send out lefty Ed Doheny to face Boston's left-handed bats, while Charlie Zimmer takes over catching duties for Smith. 

Doheny would strike out 3 batter in 2 1/3 innings. The Pirates would call on Sam Leever to face Boston's dangerous Del Gainer, who was in pinch-hitting for the pitcher. Leever would lock down the save on 2/3 innings pitched, as Pittsburgh comes back from a 3-1 deficit to win 5-3... On the strength of a Honus Wagner homer during the bottom of the 5th. 

The tip of the Pirates' lineup: Ginger Beaumont, Fred Clarke & Honus Wagner combined on 6-for-13 hitting and 4 RBI. 

The Deadball Greatest Teams League

I decided to do a 14-team Deadball league on BBW (APBA Baseball for Windows), involving the best deadball teams from my two World Series disks from the deadball period. From there, I tried to keep most teams with one team representing their franchise, but a few teams have a couple teams representing them.

• 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates
• 1903 Boston Americans
• 1904 New York Giants
• 1904 New York Highlanders
• 1906 Chicago Cubs
• 1909 Detroit Tigers
• 1911 Philadelphia Athletics
• 1912 New York Giants
• 1914 Boston Braves
• 1915 Boston Red Sox
• 1915 Philadelphia Phillies
• 1916 Brooklyn Robins
• 1917 Chicago White Sox
• 1919 Cincinnati Reds

I decided to go with two Giants teams, although some of the same pitchers, different position players. I went with the 1915 Boston Red Sox over the 1912 team, simply for Babe Ruth to pitch for the Red Sox. 1903 Boston Americans (although Red Sox) are quite different from 1915 team, plus their ace is Cy Young. 

If two teams play each other, and they have the same player, the player has to sit for both teams. 

AGBA Faces Changing Places

 

The APBA Galaxy Baseball Association (AGBA) witnessed some major deals prior to its Trade Deadline. Many of the teams decided to do their deals during the All-Star Break, to compete on even footing. There is still some time for some small deals to be made if needed.

Keep in mind, that we have to imagine that these owners don't see into the future, they have no crystal ball. They will be making moves on what they are feeling at the time. Plus the teams will make moves depending on their current team status.

So let's start with one of the big ones...

Transaction #0030

• Brooklyn Mets receive OF Bobby Bonds
• San Francisco Seals receive SP/RP Nolan Ryan

We all know that Nolan goes on to collect 5,000 strikeouts, while we all know that Bobby had the potential to be a possible Hall of Famer, but could never get past his personal demons. In the AGBA world, Nolan has been horrible on the mound for the Mets. 

Ryan was 0-4 with a 13.25 ERA in only 18.1 innings and 4 starts (he had one bullpen appearance). Although Nolan had 17 strikeouts, he had no pitching control, allowing 17 walks and 33 hits. Ryan had an astronomical 2.727 WHIP -- Nearly 3 baserunners per inning! 

Some people may read this and think that the Mets should have given Ryan more time, but time is the essence, especially during a 72-game season. The Mets needed at least another hitter to add to their weak hitting lineup, and had to pull the trigger to acquire Bonds.

Sure, in this weird universe of players playing from three different eras, we did have the chance of Bobby coming up to the Seals, and playing with his son Barry. Although this Bobby would be 6 years younger (22 in 1968) than his son Barry (who is 28 in 1993)... Think of it as a Baseball Heaven or weird Baseball Twilight Zone dimension or heck... Field of Dreams.

In this world, the San Francisco Seals were trying to keep Bobby out until September, so that his full regular season salary wouldn't have been activated. The Seals have more than enough players on their team, and outfield, that they could afford to do this. As the season went on though, Bobby started to voice his frustrations at the minor league level, on his desire to play now on the big league club. 

It's actual a good move for both franchises moving forward. Bonds would give this lineup some power right away. Brooklyn is one of the few AGBA teams, that doesn't have a slugger with at least 10 home runs; Brandon Nimmo currently leads the team with 7 home runs. 

Adding Ryan to the staff, should only be a bonus for the Seals. The Seals are obviously investing in his long-term future and believe that they can turn this guy around. Ryan would join a pitching staff that already has Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry and Ray Sadecki. The Seals were using a 4-man rotation, with the before-mentioned being the top 3 slots in the rotation, while John Burkett and Madison Bumgarner split the 4th slot, working every other outing (Once every 8 games). The Seals (19-18-1), a preseason darling are hoping to play much better in the second half.

Despite giving away an athlete such as Bobby Bonds, the Seals feel that they were able to get Ryan while his stock was low. Ryan for this season at least, may still work out of the pen. 

Transaction #0031

• Florida Rockets receive OF Kevin Pillar, 1B/DH Rowdy Tellez & P Sean Reid-Foley [NC]
• Toronto Reds receive 3B Miguel Andujar and RP Drew Rucinski [NC]

The Florida Rockets trading away one of their better lineup pieces is not a surprise, with the struggling Rockets selling. The Toronto Reds will have more stability (and another option) at third base, which could keep Paul Molitor at first base and John Olerud at DH. 1B/OF Rhys Hoskins has struggled for the Reds, and adding Miguel Andujar to an already great top half of the lineup, may help the bottom-half of the lineup at having a better flow. 

The three eras are 1968, 1993 & 2018. Andujar had a big season for the Yankees in 2018, and has produced with this card during his AGBA Season -- batting .278 with 7 HR & 26 RBI for the Rockets, while his HR & RBI numbers were 2nd on the team. 

The Reds are buying, building on their recent winning momentum, trying to make a serious postseason push. The Rockets also traded prospect RP Matt Turner to Philadelphia for $500,000 in cash, while taking chances on SP Doc Gooden (who was bad for the New York Knights) and SP Kyle Freeland to help shore up their pitching problems now.

Transaction #0034

• Atlanta Firebirds receive DH/3B/2B Chip Hale
• New York Knights receive OF Mike Lum, plus $720,000 in cash.

The New York Knights took advantage of getting some out of nothing. It's not to say, that Chip Hale's 1993 card in nothing, which would be a great addition on Atlanta's bench. The Knights acquire a prospect in outfielder Mike Lum, plus cash to work with towards next year's roster. Hale was one of the Knights more productive bats earlier this season, until he cooled off in recent weeks. 

Atlanta was rumored to be possibly parting with OF Ron Gant, and one of the players mentioned was the Knights' RP Collin McHugh, but Gant started heating up while Atlanta outfielders Ronald Acuna Jr and David Justice cooled off. Gant has since won playing time, and Atlanta decided to keep Gant. With that in mind, Atlanta made cuts elsewhere, sent down OF Sandy Valdespino and decided to bring up RP Shane Carle, which activated his big league salary.

Transaction #0036

• Chicago Union receives OF/DH Matt Kemp
• New Orleans Pirates receive SP Jason Bere

In real life, the 33 year-old outfielder Matt Kemp returned to the Dodgers where he made a name for himself, having a strong season in 2018. During this AGBA season, his numbers may even be bigger, batting .309 with 6 HR & 25 RBI (through 37 games) in a weak, unpredictable New Orleans lineup. The Chicago Union's lineup has been underperforming, but could have better production adding Kemp to the mix. The addition of Kemp should be both beneficial to Kemp and Chicago, while the Pirates acquired SP Jason Bere, who had no room to play in Chicago's impressive rotation. 

Bere will be immediately plugged into the Pirates' rotation with the departure of their ace Steve Avery. Bere (Grade B/13-XW) will have to work on his control, but will give the team some strong innings, and will send hitters down swinging.

Transaction #0037

• Chicago Union receives 2B Ryne Sandberg
• Chicago Legends receive 2B Sandy Alomar Sr & OF Melky Cabrera

A notable trade, although a non-impact one to say the least. It's a trade that all the players will just have relocate in the city (or maybe not) to play for their Central League, opposite division rivals. The Legends want to play 2B Glenn Beckert more, who in the Majors was a National League All-Star between 1969-1972 -- Moving out Sandberg allows Beckert and other players more time. The Legends acquire a few pieces back.

Transaction #0038

• Cleveland Spiders receive 3B David Freese & OF Lee Maye
• Portland Thorns receive 3B Josh Donaldson

This trade is really a win-win for both teams. Cleveland has acquired a few more bench options, while they trade away a player who wasn't getting any playing time with Jose Ramirez at third. Josh Donaldson if you recall had a frustrating, injury-plagued 2018 MLB season, in which he split time with the Blue Jays and Indians. Portland should definitely benefit next season with Donaldson's comeback year with the Braves in 2019, but this was a move for the Spiders to make, who are in the win-now mode. David Freese's 2018 APBA card didn't translate for Portland, but could help in bigger pinch-hitting spots in a star-studded lineup such as Cleveland's. Lee Maye was likely picked up as another pinch-runner for the bench.

Transaction #0041

• Portland Thorns receive 2B Horace Clark, P Scott Sanders & SS Ricky Gutierrez
• San Diego Tigers receive 2B Lou Whitaker & SS Dick Schofield Sr

Portland made some more moves by trading Western League All-Star Lou Whitaker to the Tigers, in exchange for a younger, but weaker 2B prospect Horace Clark, plus pitching in Scott Sanders. Whitaker has been rumored for weeks on being dealt, it wasn't a matter of when, but where. For awhile, the Chicago Union seemed to be the favorite, but a deal couldn't be struck, and the Union went with a few different options instead. 

Whitaker is having a big year, batting .318 with 6 HR, 21 RBI, while carrying an outstanding .422 on-base percentage & .998 OPS. 'Sweet Lou' has been a doubles machine, smacking 23 in only 38 games (currently leading AGBA in that category). 

Transaction #0043

• Detroit Wolverines receive SP Steve Avery
• New Orleans Pirates receive SP Spencer Turnbull, RP Shane Greene, RP Blaine Hardy, C/OF Wayne Comer & a player to be named later.

Going into this inaugural AGBA season, the Detroit Wolverines or most of AGBA Baseball didn't expect the Wolverines to be neck-and-neck with the Cleveland Spiders at this point. The Spiders were a clear division favorite, not to mention a World Champion contender on top of that. But here they are, 4 points (2 games) back of Cleveland at the top of the Cobb Division Standings (Central League).

Detroit has adopted a 'win now mentality' knowing that the roster could be very much in flux next season. A few weeks ago, they added left-hand specialist Oliver Perez to the pen, shortstop Freddie Benavides for infield depth & speed, while calling up P/RP Daryl Patterson to the big league club. Now they add Steve Avery to pitch alongside with Denny McLain and Mickey Lolich in the rotation.

Despite having a 1-5 record, Avery had a 2.92 ERA & 1.146 WHIP to go along with 36 strikeouts in 52.1 innings for the Pirates.

And we'll end the post with a big deal between Vegas and Washington...

Transaction #0048

• Las Vegas Lizards receive OF Bryce Harper & SP Ken Hill
• Washington Maroons receive SP Pete Harnisch, 1B/3B Yuli Gurriel, RP Kenley Jansen, a player to be named later, plus $5 million in cash.

The Washington Maroons were expecting a much better season than the one that has played out. Trading Harper may make people scratch their heads, but he has been playing first base (1B-2) for the Maroons all season, due to a crowded outfield that has Larry Walker, Juan Soto and Marquis Grissom, plus Rondell White on the farm. The Maroons wanted to have an actual first baseman and now they have one in Yuli Gurriel (1B-4), who can also play third. The Maroons basically swapped Pete Harnisch for Ken Hill. Harnisch was dominate with Las Vegas and is among the strikeout leaders in all of AGBA this season. Washington adds another reliever in Kenley Jansen (14*-XZ) to go along with John Wetteland (24*-XY), Sean Doolittle (21*-XYZ) and Mel Rojas (14*). 

Las Vegas acquires Bryce Harper, bringing home a hometown hero and mega building block for a franchise that needs a solid pillar to build around. Ken Hill replaces Harnisch in the rotation, and should be a stable rotation piece for years to come.

Opening Day 1921 - Comebacks by Yankees and Browns

The Philadedelphia Athletics came into Yankees Stadium to face off against Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees. Reliever turned starter, Eddie Rommel enters his 2nd season at the top of the rotation as he faces off against Carl Mays. Mays like Ruth, was sent to Boston for basically peanuts, as we open the season with a faded former dynasty in the A's taking on a dynasty on the rise in the Yankees.

The Athletics opened the first inning with a 3-0 lead, after catcher Cy Perkins hit a three-run blast to left, but Yankees starting pitcher Carl Mays would settle down after that. Wally Pipp's RBI single during the bottom of the 1st, puts the Yankees on the board, down 3-1. 

The Yankees would inch closer during the 4th inning as Elmer Miller smacked a one-out triple into the right field corner. Later that inning, Yankees starter Mays reached on a error (The Athletics' 3rd error in the game), and Roger Peckingpaugh singles (and advances to 2nd), putting runners on 2nd & 3rd with two outs. 2B Aaron Ward pops up behind third base in foul territory stranding Ruth on the on-deck circle.

During the bottom of the 7th inning, Babe Ruth would get his chance, tying it up 3-3 with a solo home run to deep center. 

The Athletics continue to watch the game slip away. With runners on 1st & 2nd during the bottom of the 8th, the Yankees' Ward hit a two-run single as the ball bounced off a diving Frank Welch in center (Mays & Peckingpaugh score). Mays completes the game for the Yankees, allowing only 4 hits all game. In a game that started off promising, the A's lose to the Yankees, 5-3.

The defending World Champion Cleveland Indians traveled to St. Louis to face an optimistic St. Louis Browns team. The Browns know they got the hitters, but good timely pitching will be key if they want any success this season. It's a solid starting pitcher face-off between the tribe's Stan Coveleski and the Browns' Urban Shocker.

 

 

Leading off the game, Cleveland's Charlie Jamieson draws a walk. Jamieson is coming off a break-through season (at age 28) in which he batted .319 while reaching base nearly 39% of the time. Jamieson will be Cleveland's everyday starting left fielder this season, and looks to build off his 1920 season. The 2nd batter in the lineup, Bill Wambsganss executed the hit & run, moving Jamieson up to third. The dangerous Tris Speaker would take advantage of the situation, while smacking a two-run double into the right-center field gap, while Speaker would advance to third (on the throw to home). With momentum going Cleveland's way, shortstop Joe Sewell hits a single that parachutes between 2B Marty McManus and RF Johnny Tobin, scoring in Speaker to give Cleveland a 3-0 lead. Shocker not able to locate his pitches, plunks Larry Gardner. The Browns would finally record an out on the 6th batter of the Indians' lineup, getting RF Elmer Smith to pop-out. The Indians would do no more, while stranding runners on 1st & 2nd.

Already plunking a batter in the 1st inning, and a batter earlier in the 2nd inning, Urban Shocker is thrown out of the game after he plunked his 3rd hitter of the game. Shocker (Grade 18) finished the game allowing 4 hits, 2 walks, 3 HBP & 3 earned runs in only 2 1/3 innings. The Browns called on Ray Kolp to pitch the next 1 2/3 innings, in which he only allowed 1 hit and 1 base on balls. 

Still down 3-0, the Browns battle back during the bottom half of the 4th inning. The Browns pulled off a hit-and-run with Ken Williams' big bat. With one out, Browns backstop Hank Severeid would hit a RBI single to put the team on the board. Marty McManus drives in Williams in the next at-bat, to bring St. Louis within a run. With runners on 1st & 2nd with two outs, shortstop Wally Gerber goes on to tie the game 3-3 with an RBI double. The Browns call on Allen Sothoron to take over during the top of the 5th inning, and would go on to pitch until the end of this one.

During the bottom of the 6th, the Browns' Baby Doll Jacobson would smack what appeared to be a home run, but Jamieson would time his jump perfectly robbing him at the wall.

The Brown's Sothoron continues pitching solid, keeping the Indians off the boards.

This game would go to extras...

Bottom of the 11th, the Browns' Severeid collects his 2nd hit of the game. The Browns call on pinch-runner Dud Lee (a backup shortstop) to run for the slow Severeid. The move to pinch-run with Lee would prove pivotal, as Lee beats out the force attempt at second (in a failed double-play attempt) which would result as a single for McManus.

With one out, and runners on 1st & 2nd, Wally Gerber hits a ball hard to SS Joe Sewell in which Sewell botches the grounder, and Gerber reaches first safely (E-6). Bases loaded, pitcher Allen Sothoron hits a ball back at Sewell, Sewell bobbles it, throws desperately to home plate, but the pinch-running Lee would beat out the throw, as the Browns win the ballgame!

Sothoron earns the win, pitching 7 solid innings in relief, striking out 6 batters, while allowing 5 hits.

AGBA All-Star Selections

 

The APBA Galaxy Baseball Association (AGBA) is now at its All-Star Break, here are the All-Star Selections for this season. There will be no game for this season, due to the 3 Leagues, but next year add four more teams, and make it strictly 2 leagues, which is definitely a lot less funky.

Here are the selections...

EASTERN LEAGUE ALL-STARS

STARTERS

C - Chris Hoiles (BAL)

1B - John Kruk (PHI)

2B - Gleyber Torres (NYP)

SS - Trea Turner (WSH)

3B - Dick Allen (PHI)

LF - Tommy Pham (CAR)

CF - Lenny Dykstra (PHI)

RF - Mookie Betts (BOS)

DH - Fred McGriff (ATL)

SP - Greg Maddux (ATL)

RESERVES

Atlanta Firebirds

SP - Phil Niekro

RP - Greg McMichael

Baltimore Bombers

SP - Dave McNally

Boston Colonials

SS - Xander Bogaerts

OF - Carl Yastrzemski

Brooklyn Mets

SP - Tom Seaver

Carolina Twins

3B/2B/OF - Don Buford

DH/OF/1B - Gates Brown

SP - Blake Snell

SP - Tommy Greene

Florida Rockets

OF - Ken Harrelson

Montreal Voyaguers

OF - Roy White

New York Knights

1B - Sadaharu Oh

3B - Ed Charles

New York Pigeons

C - Mike Stanley

1B - Don Mattingly

Pittsburgh Arsenal

SP - Bob Veale

RP - Ron Kline

Washington Maroons

RP - John Wetteland

CENTRAL LEAGUE ALL-STARS

STARTERS

C - Rick Wilkins (NASH)

1B - Norm Cash (DET)

2B - Roberto Alomar (TOR)

SS - Francisco Lindor (CLE)

3B- Jose Ramirez (CLE)

LF - Tim Raines (CHU)

CF - Reggie Sanders (CIN)

RF - Christian Yelich (MIL)

DH - John Olerud (TOR)

SP - Sam McDowell (CLE)

RESERVES

Chicago Legends

DH/OF - Glenallen Hill

Cincinnati Buckeyes

2B - Pete Rose

SP - Hideo Nomo

Cleveland Spiders

SP - Corey Kluber

RP - Vincente Romo

Detroit Wolverines

SS - Alan Trammell

3B - Travis Fryman

Kansas City Monarchs

C/DH - Mike Macfarlane

1B - Wally Joyner

SP - Brad Keller

RP - Jeff Montgomery

Milwaukee Braves

OF/3B/1B - Ryan Braun

SP - Ray Washburn

RP - Jeremy Jeffress

New Orleans Pirates

DH/OF - Matt Kemp

St. Louis Saints

1B - Gregg Jefferies

Toronto Reds

C - Joe Azcue

OF - Rickey Henderson

SP - Bobby Bolin

Twin Cities Giants

3B - Chris Sabo

WESTERN LEAGUE ALL-STARS

STARTERS

C - Chad Kreuter (SD)

1B - Andres Galarraga (DEN)

2B - Lou Whitaker (POR)

SS - Trevor Story (DEN)

3B - Alex Bregman (HOU)

LF - Barry Bonds (SF)

CF - Mike Trout (LAG)

RF - Dante Bichette (DEN)

DH - Willie McCovey (SF)

SP - Luis Tiant (SEA)

RESERVES

Arlington Stars

C - Ivan Rodriguez

Denver Miners

3B - Nolan Arenado

SP - Pat Jarvis

RP - Adam Ottavino

Houston Rattlers

1B - Jeff Bagwell

SP - Mike Cuellar

SP - Justin Verlander

RP - Ryan Pressly

Las Vegas Lizards

SP - Pete Harnisch

Los Angeles Royals

OF - Joc Pederson

SP - Walker Buehler

San Diego Tigers

3B/OF/DH - Phil Clark

OF - Felipe Alou

San Francisco Seals

SS - Brandon Crawford

SP - Juan Marichal

RP - Rod Beck

San Jose Athletics

2B/DH - Scooter Gennett

OF - Rick Monday

Seattle Captains

OF - Ken Griffey Jr

Where Were We?

 It's safe to say that it's been awhile since I last posted. Lots going on in Becky and I's personal life, while we have been very busy at home and work life as well. We are literally scraping by, I honestly can't really get into what's been going on with us, until we actually find out answers ourselves.

Last time I posted, we just got back from the Greater Michigan tourney in Jackson, and almost immediately we had one thing after another come up on us. When we do get a break from things, we spend our time at home with our three strange, cats that keep us entertained. 

We found out that our youngest cat, Athena (about 9 months old) apparently loves watching 'Murder She Wrote' with us. She was literally on the edge of her cat tower watching one of the episodes. My wife has been on MSW kick, and now we both watch it together while its dinner time... I guess when you are in your late 40's you have to start doing old people stuff like watching Angela Lansbury in action.

My niece turns ONE on August 22nd, and my sister and her husband Morgan will be up from Philadelphia visiting in Northern Michigan in late August to celebrate little Vivian's birthday. My niece's birthday is August 22nd, My sister's birthday is August 26th, and my mom's birthday is the 29th of August... I know they couldn't have planned that any better.

My hobbies of late are the following...

•  APBA (as if that's any surprise whatsoever).
• Creating my own Baseball replay game.
• Playing the DK Sports Basketball (Action PC) game, which is used for my UBL Basketball League.
• Printing and cutting out all the cards for the Status Pro Basketball game, that I plan to learn to play.
• Creating Custom-made Basketball cards of players from my UBL Basketball League. 
• Listening to my Bill Simmons and Ryen Russillo, The Ringer podcasts. 
• My brother Chris and I, joining our father and his friends' APBA League... Yeah, my dad started playing again, and he's enjoying it again (Yay!)
• Chris and I, starting our own 20-team APBA League, which we plan to do a Inaugural Draft starting with 1980 and then next year, 1981... More to come on that, we are still in the rough draft stages of the creation.
• Creating compilation album covers for my Spotify playlists... yes, you read that correctly.

Like I mentioned above, we are just scraping by, so that is the major reason among other reasons, that we unfortunately can't make it to the Glass City APBA Baseball Tournament. My friend, it's wonderful host Ron Emch won't be there, as him and his wife will be celebrating 50 years of marriage... Congratulations on 50 years, wow! No fear though, the tournament will be in good hands, as it will be hosted by father and son, Norm and Michael Zavela. The theme is non-playoff teams between the years, 1990-to current, I believe (but no 2020 season). 

If I had went, I would have played my 2007 Detroit Tigers, which didn't have much pitching but had an excellent lineup with the top bats being Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, and Magglio Ordonez. In my 2007 Detroit Tigers Season Replay, all three each had over 200 hits. 

I will go more in-depth with the hobbies listed above in future posts. 

Hope all is well for everyone else, plenty of Sixty-Sixes to everyone.