Franchise Fantasy Project

Dodgers and Giants will feature two teams each.

Inspired by Doug Schuyler's recent announcement of the 2016 Chicago Summer Fantasy Tournament. I decided to just add one more player to the mix and go with basically 1 position player + 1 pitcher from other eras of that franchise & add them to a different team of that franchise. Some teams went with just 2 pitchers, or 2 position players.

I did try to represent each franchise, but since I only had like 2008, 2010-2015 for seasons, and don't have the GTOP's on BBW, which meant that my best option for the Seattle Mariners was the 2014 squad with two studs, and that overall was still not interesting enough to add to the mix. I did make two different Dodger and Giant squads, their New York incarnations + their California incarnations. I also decided to do two Athletic teams, one from Oakland and the other from Philadelphia.

I do have the BATS2 players for BBW (APBA Baseball for Windows) -- I took my World Series teams and the teams that I own and used the BATS2 and other season disks players to compile the rosters.

Did I do two different Yankee teams?
No, they have had enough success in MLB baseball, that I decided to stick with only one, I could have done a few interesting teams with the Yankees... but their 1998 New York Yankees team, with the addition of Babe Ruth and Ron Guidry enough, will be a headache for most teams.

Also will this be a long project? No

I likely will simulate the remainder, just have not had the urge to do that just yet.

There is 32 teams, and 16 teams in each league. Each team will sport 5-man rotations, and play each team in their league 10 times. Each league has 2 divisions, I tried to geologically place them and keep them in their historic leagues for most part; I do have the Houston Astros in A.L. West though, and I placed both Chicago teams (White Sox and Cubs) in the West divisions of their respective leagues.

I will do division winners, plus the next 6 in each league in a seeding position, much like the NBA does with Division winners being top 2 seeds in their league, regardless of record. 150 total games for each team.

By the way, I do plan to do a cards project, with just one star and practice with my 1987 Detroit Tigers that I will be taking to Chicago in July, they will be sporting the 2007 Magglio Ordonez card in their lineup.

There will be another article, or even a few on that upcoming tournament next year, and the teams & players that will be featured.


Let's see how Day #1 went for all the teams

GAME #1's


Ty Cobb & Denny McLain's 2013 Tigers shutout George Sisler & Mike Mussina's 1969 Orioles. Two-run HR for Jhonny Peralta off of Mike Cuellar; Sisler had 2 hits while Cobb went hitless. McLain with 9 K's held Baltimore to 4 hits.

2013 TIGERS 3, 1969 ORIOLES 0

Ted smacks one in the 9th for Boston.

The 2007 Boston Red Sox with Ted Williams & Cy Young on the mound should be an easy victory over the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays (starring 2012 David Price and closer Fernando Rodney), right

Nope, not as long as you are the Rays and you got Eric Hinske -- Hinske hits 2 two-run HR's to give Rays a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the 5th. It had to be an awkward situation for Hinske who also finds himself on the bench for the 2007 Red Sox -- The Rays' version would get plunked by Cy Young, which would result in a ejection of Young. Maybe Hinske was pissed that he did not start for the Red Sox and wanted to show them he meant business, who knows?

Things got more chippy as Manny Delcarmen got tossed later for hitting another Rays batter in retaliation.

Cy Young was not himself, allowing 6 runs & 6 hits in 6.1 innings, and is recorded with the loss. David Price was sloppy as well, allowing 3 earned runs on 7 hits & 6 walks to the Red Sox.

Ted Williams hit a too late, two-run HR in the top of the ninth to make things interesting; Williams went 2-for-4, with a HR, 3 RBI & walk.

2008 RAYS 7, 2007 RED SOX 5


1998 New York Yankees visit the 1992 Toronto Blue Jays; The Yankees feature Babe Ruth with Ron Guidry, while the Blue Jays feature George Bell and Roy Halladay.

The Yankees trailed 6-3 entering the 6th, when the continued scoring off the long-ball with a two-run HR by Bernie Williams; Scott Brosius (two-run HR) and Tino Martinez hit homers earlier. Bernie continued his wrath with a Grand Slam in the 7th; Williams ended the day with 8 RBI.

The entire lineup got a hit except for Babe Ruth and Jorge Posada; Ruth struck out twice, while drawing two walks.

Guidry was a mess (6 ER in 4.2 innings) while the Yankees bullpen kept the Jays off the boards in the team's comeback.

1998 YANKEES 14, 1992 BLUE JAYS 6

Big day for Bernie: 2 HR & 8 RBI for 1998 Yankees.

Rod Carew, Walter Johnson & the 1991 Minnesota Twins visit Old Commiskey to face the 1917 Chicago White Sox with Frank Thomas and Ed Walsh.

"Big Ed" Walsh was in complete control with a no-hitter in place, two outs into the top of the 7th when Kent Hrbek cut the White Sox's lead in half, to 2-1, with a solo blast to right -- breaking the no-no & shutout.

Randy Bush of all people hits a two-run HR in the top of the 8th for the Twins, to give Minnesota a 3-2 lead over the "Black Sox" -- but Chicago would bounce back with its hit & run magic, scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th.

Ed Walsh pitches a complete-game victory over Walter Johnson.

1917 WHITE SOX 5, 1991 TWINS 3

Catfish was only one out away.

1948 Cleveland Indians (featuring Addie Joss and Albert Belle) against the 1990 Oakland Athletics with Home Run Baker and Catfish Hunter.
Another no-no is broken up, this time with two outs in the top of the ninth! A showdown between the visiting

With two outs, and one runner on due to a error, Hunter intentionally walks Belle to face Joe Gordon instead -- Gordon would hit a single to left-center to score Dale Mitchell. The game suddenly only a 2-1 lead for the Athletics and the go-ahead runs on base for Ken Keltner -- but Keltner would fly out.

Frank "Home Run" Baker went a perfect 3-for-3 with a triple & run, while Jose Canseco added a solo home run for Oakland. Addie Joss (8 innings) allows 5 hits & 2 runs in a tough loss.

1990 ATHLETICS 2, 1948 INDIANS 1


Alex Gordon of the 2014 Kansas City Royals breaks up another late no-no (two outs into 7th) with solo HR off of Dean Chance and the 2002 Anaheim Angels. The Royals feature George Brett and Bret Saberhagen, while the Angels have Chance and Bryan Harvey in the pen.

The Angels early solo HR's in the first by Tim Salmon, and in the second by Garret Anderson was enough for the Angels. The bullpen combination of Bryan Harvey (hold) and Troy Percival (save) closed out the victory for the Angels -- no rally monkey needed.

Both starters in Saberhagen and Chance only allowed each team 4 hits, while both racked up the strikeouts: Saberhagen 11, Chance 10.

2002 ANGELS 2, 2014 ROYALS 1

Young Guns: The Braves add Kid Nichols to the rotation.

Hugh Duffy and Kid Nichols headlining for the 1993 Atlanta Braves, while they go to Shea Stadium to face Tom Seaver, David Wright & the 1986 New York Mets.

The Braves would take a 2-0 lead in the top of the 7th with a solo HR by David Justice off Tom Seaver. David Wright would cut the lead in half with a solo HR of his own off of Kid Nichols in the bottom of the 7th.

The Braves' bullpen in Steve Bedrosian (hold) and Greg McMicheal (save) would finish off the Mets.

1993 BRAVES 2, 1986 METS 1



The 2011 Texas Rangers featuring Ivan Rodriguez and Dick Bosman go to Milwaukee County Stadium to play the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers with Prince Fielder and Teddy Higuera; For this game, the Brewers had Don Sutton on the mound to face Bosman.

Gorman Thomas was the man of the hour, with a three-run HR off of Bosman; It would be the play of the game as the Brewers win 3-1. Rollie Fingers comes in for two-inning save, while Sutton record 9 strikeouts.

1982 BREWERS 3, 2011 RANGERS 1

The 1997 Florida Marlins featuring Miguel Cabrera and Jose Fernandez were hosting the visiting 1993 Philadelphia Phillies with Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton.

This game would go to extras, thanks to Lenny Dykstra's solo HR off of Kevin Brown during the top of the 8th; Brown would pitch 10 innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 walks and 2 runs with 12 K's. The game was unfortunately put into the Marlins' bullpen's hands which is not a good thing -- The Phillies would score 4 runs in the top of the 11th.

Doug West pitches 4 shutout innings of relief, allowing only 1 hit, while logging 6 K's to collect the win for the Phillies.

Lenny Dykstra went 4-for-6 with 3 RBI for the night, while Bobby Bonilla of the Marlins had a two-run homer.

1993 PHILLIES 6, 1997 MARLINS 2 (11 Inn)

Lenny celebrating the team's win with teammates.

The 1975 Cincinnati Reds with Frank Robinson and Dolf Luque visit the Three Rivers area to face Arky Vaughan, Babe Adams & the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates.

Tommy Leach of the Bucs collects 3 RBI on two singles, while Jack Chesbro holds on for a complete-game 5-2 victory over the Reds. Frank Robinson scored both of the Reds' runs, while getting a double.

1902 PIRATES 5, 1975 REDS 2



The 1935 Chicago Cubs starring Sammy Sosa and Ernie Banks come to Ebbets Field to play the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers, who have two aces in Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.

The Cubs could not get anything going against Sandy Koufax, as he kept them off the boards, in a three-hit shutout against a lineup that not only features Sosa & Banks, but Gabby Hartnett, Chuck Klein and Stan Hack as well. Koufax also had 7 K's.

Bobby Morgan hit a two-run HR in the bottom of the second.

1953 DODGERS 3, 1935 CUBS 0


The 2007 Colorado Rockies feature a upgraded Ubaldo Jimenez & the addition of Carlos Gonzalez to the lineup, while the 1934 St. Louis Cardinals added Bob Gibson to the Dizzy Dean and the rotation, plus Rogers Hornsby's mean bat.

Dizzy Dean got beat on a couple mistake pitches, including a solo HR to Brad Hawpe. Rogers Hornsby, Rip Collins & Joe Medwick went a combined 1-for-11 for the Cardinals; Dean did record 11 strikeouts though.

2007 ROCKIES 3, 1934 CARDINALS 1



The 1931 Philadelphia Athletics + Jason Giambi and Rube Waddell come into Houston to play the 2005 Houston Astros with 1994 Jeff Bagwell and Mike Scott. For this game, it was a match-up between Lefty Grove and Roger Clemens.

Clemens kept the Athletics quiet, even with only 3 K's for a shutout that allowed only 4 hits. Craig Biggio went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI, double & stolen base, while Morgan Ensberg went 2-for-3, including a solo HR off of Grove.

2005 ASTROS 5, 1931 ATHLETICS 0

Mays makes presence known for 1993 Giants.

Willie Mays and Christy Mathewson join the 1993 San Francisco Giants, as they visit the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks, who add Paul Goldschmidt and Brandon Webb.

Robby Thompson ends up being the star in this one, going 3-for-5, with a HR, double, RBI & 2 runs, as Christy Mathewson pitches into extras to pin down the victory. The Giants took the lead, 3-2 in the top of the 10th off of Barry Bonds' RBI double.

Willie Mays stole 4 bases off of Rod Barajas by the 3rd inning (stealing 2nd & 3rd - twice).

1993 GIANTS 3, 2001 DIAMONDBACKS 2 (10 Inn)



The Ill-fated 1994 Montreal Expos plan for vengeance with the additions of Vladimir Guerrero and Steve Rogers, while they go to sunny California to play Mike Piazza, Dazzy Vance & the 2013 Los Angeles Dodgers.

This game is a see-saw battle that goes into extras, and is capped off with a walk-off HR by Mike Piazza off of reliever Gil Heredia.

Clayton Kershaw logged 10 K's, allowing only 2 ER & 2 walks in 7 innings, while Steve Rogers struck out 12 Dodgers.

2013 DODGERS 3, 1994 EXPOS 2 (10 Inn)

Piazza loving it in Dodger Blue for 2013 team.

The 1998 San Diego Padres with Dave Winfield and Randy Jones, visit the Polo Grounds to play the 1912 New York Giants featuring Mel Ott and Jim McGinnity; Kevin Brown takes the mound for the Padres in this one.

Both lineups combined for only 10 hits, then again most of the series openers have been low offense affairs with the aces all on the mound.

Fred Merkle was the difference, smacking 2 solo homers off of Kevin Brown.

1912 GIANTS 2, 1998 PADRES 1

*** This ends the article and its highlights ***

2007 Detroit Tigers (Final Replay Season Stats)

For my 2007 Detroit Tigers Season Replay, I made what would be MLB history, and in some cases I didn't duplicate the actual historic stats that were set that season.

In real life, Curtis Granderson became the third MLB player ever to record at least 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs & 20 stolen bases in the same season; I fell short of duplicating this mark, Granderson finished with 18 triples.

Granderson did set a different historic mark along with teammate Magglio Ordonez; They became only the second duo from the same team to record 400+ total bases in the same season. The first was, you named it, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth in 1927.

Granderson also became the 16th player in MLB history to collect at least 240 hits in a single-season.

2008 Topps Baseball card of Mags, Polly & Grandy.

My team made more history, I ended up becoming the 4th team to have 3 players with 200+ hits in the same season; Granderson (240), Ordonez (239) and Placido Polanco, with 200 hits. The other three teams were the...

• 1963 St. Louis Cardinals (Dick Groat, Bill White & Curt Flood)
• 1982 Milwaukee Brewers (Robin Yount, Paul Molitor & Cecil Cooper)
• 1991 Texas Rangers (Julio Franco, Rafael Palmeiro & Ruben Sierra)

Granderson and Ordonez each led the team with 54 doubles, not sure if there ever was a case in MLB history, in which two teammates in the same season had 50+ doubles. I tried to find some sort of evidence of this on google and came up with nothing.

I tried to play the Detroit Tigers in the replay true to form, but found myself leaning on players like LF/3B - Ryan Raburn and reliever Bobby Seay more. Raburn would start most games after the All-Star Break, my team hit a horrible slump in July, while our closer Todd Jones blown 7 games. Jones is a grade C (not great for a guy that you want to close games), while Seay was a A-XZ.

Safety Net: Ryan Raburn brought balance to lineup in #2 slot.

Ryan Raburn:

• Actual 2007: .304 AVG, 4 HR & 27 RBI (.847 OPS) in 138 AB/49 games.
• Replay 2007: .311 AVG, 15 HR & 53 RBI (.899 OPS) in 328 AB/98 games.

Raburn's OBP were right on mark with each other (Actual: .340 / Replay: .341) while he had a higher doubles and HR rate to produce a .899 OPS in the replay, for awhile he hovered around a .930 OPS. I was lucky enough to avoid running into an injury with Raburn, which would have knocked him out for a long duration.

Bobby Seay:

• Actual 2007: 3-0, 2.33 ERA, 1 SV, 38 K & 15 BB (46.1 IP / 58 games).
• Replay 2007: 6-6, 1.77 ERA, 20 SV, 81 K & 35 BB (101.2 IP / 72 games).

Seay was the team's set-up man for me, until Jones started blowing games. He used to pitch a couple innings in some of those games, also because he was my only grade A in the bullpen; Zach Miner (B*) and Tim Brydak (B*-XYW) were my next two dependable relievers and would get plenty of work as well. My bullpen well exceeded the innings of actual 2007, and in replays that's simply going to happen; Miner led the team in Game appearances for relievers with 87.

My ace Justin Verlander for the most part was on par, but would reach 200 K's in this replay for the first time in his career (he would not reach the 200 mark until 2009). More innings than the replay definitely helped -- he was a little more prone to the HR ball and walks in the replay compared to actual 2007.

Ace in the Making: Verlander showed what's to come in replay.

Justin Verlander: 

• Actual 2007: 18-6, 3.66 ERA, 183 K & 67 BB (1.230 WHIP) in 201.2 IP / 32 GS.
• Replay 2007: 16-8, 3.61 ERA, 208 K & 93 BB (1.224 WHIP) in 237 IP / 35 GS.

At the tail-end of the season, I switched to a 4-man rotation, to give my only Grade B starter more opportunities to help my team win.

Jeremy Bonderman would out-pitch his actual 2007 self and APBA card (Grade C-YZ) ...

• Actual 2007: 11-9, 5.01 ERA, 145 K & 48 BB (1.382 WHIP) in 174.1 IP / 28 GS.
• Replay 2007: 18-7, 3.52 ERA, 161 K & 83 BB (1.279 WHIP) in 217.1 IP / 35 GS.

Bonderman had a good first half in actual 2007, coming off what was a breakthrough year in 2006, but his second half numbers were down which would be an indication of arm troubles to come for Bonderman in 2008; Bonderman was never the same. 

Bonderman's 202 K's in 2006 led all right-handers in the American League.

I tried to keep to real life as much as I possibly can, Kenny Rogers would suffer arm problems and make only 11 starts for 63 innings in actual 2007; I pitched Rogers only 15 starts (plus 3 relief appearances) for 83 innings.

Chad Durbin would be our #4 starter, and he would out-perform his actual 2007 numbers...

• Actual 2007: 8-7, 4.72 ERA, 66 K & 49 BB (1.426 WHIP) in 127.2 IP / 19 starts (16 relief).
• Replay 2007: 15-7, 4.69 ERA, 111 K & 86 BB (1.413 WHIP) in 178.1 IP / 32 starts. 

His strikeout and walk rates were slightly higher in the replay by about 20+ what they should have been, while the ERA and WHIP were close to the actual 2007.

BACK to the LINEUP

A look at the numbers & differences with the lineup regulars...

Curtis Granderson: 

• Actual 2007: .302 AVG, 23 HR, 74 RBI & 26 SB (.913 OPS) w/ 122 runs & 185 hits.
• Replay 2007: .338 AVG, 26 HR, 84 RBI & 46 SB (.968 OPS) w/ 150 runs & 240 hits.

Granderson played every game in my replay, missed only 4 games in real-life. Everyone knows with replays, that sometimes if lineups combined are performing better than actual life, can result in more opportunities, which in Granderson's case meant bigger stats (especially in runs & hits department).

Granderson's batting average was significantly better in replay.

His HR & RBI numbers are similar indeed, while his batting average & OPS were both higher in the replay. Like I said earlier in this article, I tried to duplicate history on Granderson reaching 20+ in the doubles, triples, HR & steals categories -- which he accomplished in the MLB, but fell short in the triples department.

Here are those comparisons:

• Actual 2007: 38 doubles, 23 triples, 23 HR & 26 stolen bases.
• Replay 2007: 54 doubles, 18 triples, 26 HR & 46 stolen bases.

The result of him reaching base more often than actual life, may have helped with more steals, and the fact that I probably rolled a few more 15's (result 11) than usual, while hitting more doubles, than triples. Ivan Rodriguez and Brandon Inge both had down years for me in the replay, which may have resulted in more doubles than triples, due to set-up scenarios for Granderson.

Magglio Ordonez:

• Actual 2007: .363 AVG, 28 HR & 139 RBI (1.029 OPS) w/ 117 runs & 216 hits.
• Replay 2007: .377 AVG, 39 HR & 127 RBI (1.113 OPS) w/ 116 runs & 239 hits.

I played him every game (he missed 5 games in real-life), this card is too good to just leave out of the lineup, especially when you have a goal to out-perform the actual success of the team in a replay -- so you want to give your team the best shot to win.

This card ALWAYS performs in all kinds of roles, in either a season replay, or in a dream league of sorts, this card always hits its batting average mark of .363 or higher (and in most cases its higher). Ordonez was batting .397 at the All-Star Break, with 23 HR & 71 RBI; Ordonez cooled off slightly and watched average dip to .360 mark until bouncing back up to finish at .377.

He duplicated his real-life 54 doubles in the replay, while Granderson tied him for team lead in the replay in that category.

By the way, always bat this card in the 3rd slot, and all will be gravy.

Gary Sheffield:

• Actual 2007: .265 AVG, 25 HR, 75 RBI & 22 SB (.839 OPS) w/ 107 runs & 131 hits.
• Replay 2007: .273 AVG, 34 HR, 128 RBI & 38 SB (.844 OPS) w/ 106 runs & 168 hits.

Sheffield missed almost 30 games in real-life due a shoulder injury in 2007, for my replay it was tough to keep Sheffield out of the lineup, I did give him two days off early in the season due to slumping though. I luckily never suffered an injury.

This card for quite awhile was out-performing real-life by a long shot, than cooled down to reflect similar real-life numbers; At the break, Gary was batting .296 with 20 HR & 79 RBI with 23 steals. Sheffield would still go on to edge Ordonez in RBI's for team lead (128 to 127), while at one point it appeared he may even challenge the 40/40 club at age 38, he ended up making the 30/30 club instead. He was a perfect 38 for 38 in steals.

His RBI numbers are inflated due to the fact that Ordonez & Granderson had bigger years, plus more playing time from Raburn in the #2 slot. Batting 4th, Gary could eat up a lot of ribbies. Plus, in real life, Jim Leyland had Sheffield batting third, while Ordonez batted clean-up.

Placido Polanco of the 2007 Detroit Tigers would duplicate his 200 hits in replay.

While Granderson, Raburn, Ordonez and Sheffield's numbers were up, the rest of the lineup was considerably down.

Carlos Guillen:

• Actual 2007: .296 AVG, 21 HR, 102 RBI & 13 SB (.859 OPS) w/ 86 runs & 167 hits.
• Replay 2007: .231 AVG, 22 HR, 68 RBI & 9 SB (.702 OPS) w/ 75 runs & 135 hits.

Guillen was a head-scratcher, could not get him rolling for the life of me; played much-better in the last month of the season & playoffs. Had a great April in which he batted .330, but followed it up with a lousy May (.147)! His 35 doubles duplicated his real-life total, while his HR's, steals & runs numbers were similar as well -- but had a bad .285 on-base percentage (compared to actual .357).

Guillen started to do better once I moved Polanco to 5th slot, and I bumped Guillen down to the 6th slot of the lineup.

Placido Polanco: 

• Actual 2007: .341 AVG, 9 HR & 67 RBI (.846 OPS) w/ 105 runs & 200 hits.
• Replay 2007: .298 AVG, 12 HR & 96 RBI (.775 OPS) w/ 104 runs & 200 hits.

Polanco actually missed 20 games in 2007 and still managed to reach 200 hits, while in my replay he played every game without getting hurt, and reaching 200 hits due to more opportunities. His batting average was down in the replay, but started to hit much better once I moved him from the #2 slot to the #5 slot of the lineup, got his average up to .310, and fell below .300 with a late slump.

His RBI numbers are quite up, even before the lineup move, probably due to Curtis Granderson alone -- he had 55 RBI at the break. Besides the batting average, OPS & RBI numbers, his numbers were quite on par with real life.

Casey, Inge, Monroe & Pudge in Detroit Stars uniforms.

Sean Casey:

• Actual 2007: .296 AVG, 4 HR & 54 RBI (.746 OPS) w/ 40 runs & 134 hits.
• Replay 2007: .253 AVG, 6 HR & 78 RBI (.650 OPS) w/ 40 runs & 137 hits.

Casey, in much the same way as Guillen was frustrating. His batting average and on-base percentage were off by quite a bit; In real life he had a .353 OBP compared to his replay OBP of .291! His runs & hits were the same, then again he had more opportunities, he played seven more games in the replay. His 35 doubles in the replay are similar to his 30 in real life, while he had a couple more HR's as well. 

One thing that definitely duplicated the real deal, he sure loved hitting into double plays.

Brandon Inge: 

• Actual 2007: .236 AVG, 14 HR & 71 RBI (.688 OPS) w/ 64 runs & 120 hits.
• Replay 2007: .190 AVG, 5 HR & 35 RBI (.569 OPS) w/ 47 runs & 81 hits.

If you are true Tiger fan, than you simply love Brandon Inge. The guy had serious glove, and should have won a Gold Glove (possibly two) in his career; He was usually graded a 5 at third, he was grade a 4 for 2007 -- He was better known for his defense than his bat.

From 2006-2007 & 2009, he actual put up good power numbers, hitting 27 HR's in both 2006 & 2009, and was named an American League All-Star in 1999. While batting 8th in 2006, he hit 27 HR's -- you don't see that often.

So it really hurt me as a fan of Inge to watch him struggle like he did in my replay. In real life, he played 151 games (508 AB's) -- My replay, I played him for 135 games (427 AB's)... probably more than I should have even. Ryan Raburn would start taking starts away from Inge in the second half.

Even though his .236 AVG & .312 OBP is nothing to write home about, it was definitely better than that of his replay. Slugging was down considerably as well, he managed to hit more singles than usual, while his HR & RBI numbers were noticeably low.

Thames stepped up game in 2nd half of season.

Marcus Thames:

• Actual 2007: .242 AVG, 18 HR & 54 RBI (.776 OPS) w/ 37 runs (269 AB).

• Replay 2007: .230 AVG, 10 HR & 26 RBI (.780 OPS) w/ 22 runs (178 AB). 

In real life, Marcus usually split time with Craig Monroe, and I followed this formula a little bit with both of them for the replay; Monroe would eventually get placed on waivers and picked up by the Chicago Cubs in 2007 (in late August). Around the All-Star break, I found myself never putting Monroe in the lineup, and splitting time in left with Ryan Raburn and Thames. Eventually, Thames started playing much more on his level, but at the break, Thames was only batting .173 with an OPS of .646 OPS & 3 HR at the All-Star break.

Then came August, and Thames played much better. That month, I decided to go to four-man rotation to feature Verlander (my only B starter, more often), played Raburn every day in #2 slot of lineup either in LF or at 3B, and Brandon Inge watched his time dwindle a little more with Thames' late-season emergence. Thames would spark his playing time with his 3 HR performance against the Chicago White Sox, all before the 5th inning of that game.

Thames ended season by hitting .272 after the break (28-for-103 with 7 HR & 16 RBI), he raised his slugging percentage from .387 to .494. 

That completes the 2007 Detroit Tigers' regular season marks, as we prepare for the Detroit Tigers to face off against the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS.

2007 ALDS (Game 5)

The Detroit Tigers rally to force a Game 5 at Anaheim.

The 2007 Detroit Tigers have tied the series, 2-2, coming off a three-hit shutout from their young ace Justin Verlander. Now the Tigers have traveled back to Anaheim to face the Los Angeles Angels, in a Game 5, losers go home battle.

GAME 5 - ALDS
Detroit at Los Angeles (A)

The Tigers send Jeremy Bonderman (C-YZ / 18-7, 3.52 ERA & 161 K's) to face off against Kelvim Escobar (B-Y / 18-7, 3.40 ERA & 160 K's) of the Angels.

Both pitchers kept the lineups quiet for the most part in five inning. During the top of the 4th, Escobar was sloppy by walking three batters and hitting a batter with a pitch -- but managed to get out of the inning unscathed; The Tigers' Ryan Raburn started that inning by drawing a walk, but Magglio Ordonez than hit into a double play, then Escobar loaded the bases by walking Gary Sheffield, hitting Placido Polanco with a pitch, and then walking Carlos Guillen -- Sean Casey though popped up for final out of the inning.

I remember thinking at that time, this better not come back to bite us in the ass.

Despite the four walks, Escobar only allowed one hit through first 5 innings -- which was a double by Curtis Granderson to lead off the game. Bonderman only allowed two hits & two walks the first 5 innings.

The lack of scoring stopped during the top of the 6th, when Magglio Ordonez led off the inning with a solo home run to right. The Angels would stop their 17.2 inning scoring drought with an RBI single by Garret Anderson in the bottom of the 6th -- scoring in Orlando Cabrera (double) from second.

The bullpens would take over, and keep both teams off the boards for the next four innings as the game went into extras.

Top of the 11th, two outs, and the bases empty - Marcus Thames launches a blast to right, to take the lead, 2-1. The Tigers' Bobby Seay, already in the game, makes sure that the Tigers walk away with the win & the series, in a 1.2 innings non-save situation.

The Cardiac Cats, once again had their backs against the walls, down 2-0 in the series, the Tigers come through and rally to win the series.

Maicer Izturis was actually quiet in this game for the Angels, by the way... He had an excellent series, in which he batted 9-for-19 (.474 AVG) with 2 HR (one was a grand slam) with 6 RBI. The Angels' offense for the last two games collected only 10 hits & one run.

Thames and the Tigers battle on for another day -- Next up, the Red Sox.

DETROIT TIGERS 2
LOS ANGELES ANGELS 1 (11 Inn)

2nd Annual GMABT - Sign up for this March!

35 of 40 slots have been filled for the
2ND ANNUAL GREATER MICHIGAN APBA BASEBALL BASIC TOURNAMENT
(GMABT)

DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

TIME: 9:00 AM

PLACE: STEAKS EATERY – 4243 OAKLANE ROAD – JACKSON, MI 49203
(EXIT 34 OFF OF US-127 – 7 MILES SOUTH OF I-94)

COST: $15.00

Just remember NO World Series Winners allowed.

First come, first serve on years and teams, only one of each. If you know someone who is interested, contact them, and shoot Rich Zawadzki a message on Facebook or contact his post for the tournament on the APBA Facebook Group.

Young Guns: The 1993 Atlanta Braves take aim at the 2016 GMABT.

The Tournament is a lot of fun, last year I watched my youngest brother Chris Baier go to the championship game with the 2006 Detroit Tigers, to watch them lose to the eventual champion - 1937 New York Yankees, managed during the tournament by John Roels.

This March, I will be taking the 1993 Atlanta Braves.

BY THE WAY, I will have a article about the recent fun that APBA rollers had in Chicago this past weekend, wish that I was there, as always it looked like a blast!

2007 ALDS (Game 4)

The Detroit Tigers with their backs against the walls, down 7-4 in the late 6th, have force a Game 4 against the Los Angeles Angels, thanks primarily to Marcus Thames' excellent 3-for-4 game, with 2 doubles, HR & 4 RBI.

Unfortunately, for Thames, he would have to start the game on the bench, while the Tigers can field (a fielding one) with Brandon Inge playing third for starting pitcher Justin Verlander (who is the Tigers' only fielding 2 starter -- besides Kenny Rogers). So the Tigers will sacrifice offense (which they have plenty of) for some defense; Inge actually has had a productive series in two starts, batting 3-for-5 with a solo HR and walk.

GAME 4 - ALDS
Los Angeles (A) at Detroit

Verlander cruises in Game 4 with three-hitter.

Verlander (B-X / 16-8, 3.61 ERA & 208 K's) will face off against John Lackey (B-YZ / 3.01 ERA & 179 K's) in a rematch of Game 1; Lackey pitched outstanding in Game 1, allowing only 5 hits, 1 run & 2 walks in 7 innings of work (5 K's).

Bottom of the 1st - Curtis Granderson would lead off with a double. After Ryan Raburn flied out, Magglio Ordonez would single to right, to score in Granderson to draw first blood. After a Gary Sheffield single, the lineup stalls out, and strands two base-runners.

The Angels are unable to do anything for the first two innings. Sean Casey leads off the bottom of the 2nd, with a single. John Lackey would strike out Brandon Inge for the 1st out. Ivan Rodriguez hits a double, advancing Casey to third base. With two men on & one out, Curtis Granderson hits a ball into the left field corner, this is good for extra bases, the ball ricochets off the corner of the wall, and the Angels' Garret Anderson is scrambling for the ball -- both runners score, and Granderson pulls up with a triple. Tigers up 3-0 early. Ryan Raburn strikes out for out number two.

Lackey would walk Magglio Ordonez, and is performing on completely opposite performance from Game 1. With runners on 1st & 2nd, Gary Sheffield scores in Granderson on a RBI single to right. Placido Polanco would hit a two-run double to break the game open at 6-0; Polanco would end the inning by trying to steal second.

John Lackey only lasts 2 innings, allowing 8 hits, 6 runs (all earned) and a walk, on 3 strike outs. That was all the breathing room that Detroit starting pitcher Justin Verlander needed. Verlander would go on to a three-hit shutout of the Angels, and Curtis Granderson (adding a solo HR in the 6th) would fall short of the cycle (needing a single). Granderson entered the game, only 2-for-12, so he came through at a great time.

The Angels have not scored since the 6th inning of Game 3, basically since their bullpen meltdown in that game.

DETROIT TIGERS 8
LOS ANGELES ANGELS 0

The Tigers collected 13 hits; No errors for either team.