1979 Replay NL End Of July Report

As those of you who may have been following along know, I am replaying the 1979 baseball season with the APBA tabletop game for the second time. The first time was with the cards that came with my first game, no options. This time I am using advanced options, the Orsino Board, trades, the works. I do NOT use actual line-ups or actual call-ups. I AM THE MANAGER, as it used to say on the game box.

STANDINGS

PIT    68-37  ---

MON 57-47  10.5

NYM 53-52  15

STL   52-52  15.5

CHI  50-52   16.5

PHI  49-56   19

In the first replay at the end of July, last place Philadelphia was in first (!) 3 up on PIT and 4 up on STL. MON was scudding along at .500, 13 games back. Like the Orioles in the AL, the original set really hurt Montreal with ungenerous pitching grades and lack of important subs. The new card set has fixed this. 

LAD  62-44  ---

CIN   58-51   5.5

SFG  49-58  13.5

SDP  48-59  14.5

HOU 47-61  16

ATL  41-65  21

The first time, the Reds were up top, a game and a half up on Houston, with LA at .500 and 16 back. As you can see, Houston is faring much less well this time. 

TEAM BEST & WORST

RA--PIT   368, ATL 615

CG--SD 45, ATL 11

SHO--CIN 13, ATL 5

SV--PIT and LA 29, SD CIN and PHI 12

HRvs.--PIT 63, ATL 118

DP--STL 140, ATL 50

ERR--LA 57, ATL 100

RF--CIN 547, SD 399

2B--NY 211, SD 138

3B--STL and HOU 39, ATL 17

HR--LA 129, HOU 29

SB--HOU 110, STL 41

CS--HOU 49, LA 19

GIDP--LA 59, ATL 103

Times Shut Out--PIT 4, HOU 13

Walk-Off Hits--CIN 8, LA and HOU 2

Grand Slams--PIT 4, LA STL and CHI 0

He does not find it funny.

Pretty easy to see why Atlanta is in last place!

LEADER BOARD (with first replay leader in parenthesis, where available--I didn't keep very extensive leaders the first time.)

WINS: Seaver-cin 15-4, P.Niekro-atl 15-10, Kison-pit 14-4, Sutcliffe-la 13-6, Carlton-phi 13-10, Perry-sd 13-10 (Carlton 16-3)

That face you make when you know you'll get shelled again.

LOSSES: Matula-atl 4-15, Shirley-sd 5-14, Solomon-atl 4-13

CG: Perry-sd 15, Carlton-phi 13, Seaver-cin 12, 2 tied with 10 

SHO: 5 tied with 4 (Richard 6)

Ready to go one inning any time!

SAVES: Castillo-la 26, Tekulve-pit 26, Sutter-chi 22, Lockwood-ny 20 (Littell-stl 17) 

2B: Hernandez-stl 45, Parker-pit 44, Cromartie-mon 37, Knight-cin 36 (Parrish 32)

3B: Templeton-stl 13, Taveras-ny 10, 3 tied with 9 (Templeton 12)

HR: Schmidt-phi 34, Horner-atl 27, Clark-sf 25, Kingman-chi 24, W.Robinson-pit 24 (Stargell 39) 

Go for it, girl.

RBI: Clark-sf 90, Matthews-atl 82, Horner-atl 81, Schmidt-phi 81 (Schmidt 90)

RUNS: Parker-pit 81, Clark-sf 79, North-sf 76, Madlock-pit 74, Schmidt-phi 74 (Lopes 83)

STEALS: North-sf 36, Moreno-pit 34, Lopes-la 27 (North 47)

GIDP: Hendrick-stl 19, Concepcion-cin 16, Frias-atl 16, Montanez-ny 16

ERRORS: Frias-atl 27, Landestoy-hou 23 

TEAM CAPSULES (with July record in parenthesis)

Pops chillin' at the geezder gala. He has just had an "accident."

PIT-BURGERS (17-15) Pops Stargell spent most of the month at the old age home, resulting in fairly anemic numbers of 20 HR and 45 rbi. He hopes the prunes will help. "Cobra" Parker continues to be all-world, smashing x-base hits all over Three Rivers Stadium. Bill Robinson *finally* got  a few games off with the return of the Buccos to full health, or close enough. "Stargell sits there watching 'Sanford & Son' while I'm out here busting my tail! Fuck this 'family' shit." Easy there, Bill! 

Take it from The Big Orange himself!

OH CANADA (17-14) Even with the Pirates dropping out of warp to mere impulse, Les Expos were able to pick up only a half game on the distant Buccos. Part of the reason was the Expos dropping 3 of 4 at home to Pittsburgh. This Expo team is good, but not quite good enough, especially with Tony "Big Doggy" Perez good for just 2 Hr and 7 rbi all season. Yes, you read that right. I had finally started platooning him with Tony Solaita, who was then sold off to Toronto when the club re-acquired expansion-year hero Rusty "Le Grande Orange" Staub, who already has 3 HR and 10 rbi in just a short time. So now it's Staub at first base against right-handers and Perez flailing away against lefties.  

Who are you, Tom Hausman? What do you want with my replay?

METS-ALLANEOUS (14-15) Like the monster in a horror movie, these Mets just won't die! On July 1st, the Amazin's dropped their 10th straight game, but then they rallied and find themselves back in third place at month's end. They lead the league in doubles. The rotation is in shambles except for Craig Swan (11-6) ad Tom "Who?" Hausman (7-2) but the big three of Younglbood, Mazzilli and Montanez keep the Mets scoring machine going. <<Hey, I said that without laughing. The Mets' 20-14 record in 1-run games and their 9-4 log in extras explain a lot. They do seem to just find a way. 

Why drive them in? They look so happy out there on the bases!

BIRD BOMBS (15-13) They think they can, they think they can! The disappointing Cardinals at least got to .500 and hope to surge above it if only their bloops and bleeders can create enough runs to make up for spotty pitching. The team is loaded with high average hitters who do not walk or hit home runs--the team has just 54 circuit clouts, ahead of only the absurd Astros. Neither do they run, which seems odd for a Redbird squad on the carpet at spacious Busch. They are dead last in the NL in steals with a mere 41. Keith Hernandez is chasing a 70-double campaign with 45 so far, and a hefty .345 batting average to go along with all the two-baggers. Now if only Ted Simmons (15, 47) hitting behind him would wakey wakey.  

Didn't quite get all of it this time. Rats!

CUB PORRIDGE (12-17) Yegods. The Cubbies finally started scoring a little, and Dave Kingman finally started driving balls out of Wrigley. However, the pitching, which had been excellent, decided to fade like a baseball card left all summer in a sunny window. But Kong! He belted 11 baseballs over the ivy and into the stands in July. Despite being hampered by being a sexist asshole, big Dave has not only been hitting homers, but also collecting timely singles to up his rbi count to 65. Good times! 

Greg Luzinski says, "FEED MEEE!"

PHILLIE FANATICISM (14-14) In the morass of mediocrity that was the NL east in July, the Phillies at least can take comfort in the fact that one good streak could move them up several rungs. Hard to do, though, with only one good pitcher. Steve "Carlton Your Doorman" Carlton started the campaign 0-5 but has since regained form and boasts 170 K's already to go with 13 wins in his last 18 decisions. In fairness, #2 starter Randy Lerch (11-6) has been steady as well. A 21-14 record in 1-run games has kept the club from fading away entirely. It hasn't been thanks to the bullpen, which has sucked mightily all year. Meanwhile, slugger Mike Schmidt, stung at being (deservedly) left off the NL All-Star squad, got angry and hit 14 homers in July, most of them in the second half of the month. He wishes he had some help--Garry Maddox is second on the team with 13 round trippers and Luzinski third with just 7, though he has 21 doubles. Greg is currently shelved with a double cheeseburger lodged in his mouth. 

"I did not receive my one-year contract this year. Who is that guy in my office? Where am I? Where are Koufax and Drysdale and that other left-handed fellow...uh...when is dinner? It's almost 430!"

DODGER BLUE (18-9) The Dodgers went through part of the month with several starting pitchers lying in the morgue and being replaced by the likes of Charlie Hough, Bob Welch and some guy named Hannahs. Nonetheless, the timely arrival of a cold Mets team helped the Dodgers get over until their hurlers returned and they ended up turning in the best record in the NL in July. The team continues to mash homers, leading the loop with 129. "Bobbo" Castillo never goes more than 1 inning, but is tied for the league lead in saves with 26. He is a J-4, so if the Orsino Board ever nabs him, the Dodgers will be in dutch, because there's nobody else. 

"I'm a little tea pot...."

RED SCARE (18-13) When the Rhinelanders have all their parts, they are very good, and this month they did. The Reds surged into the league lead in runs scored and Tom Seaver upped his log to a gaudy 15-4. Still, the team lost 2 games in the standings. If anyone is to challenge the Dodgers in the west, it will have to be the Reds, because the other 4 teams are shit. (<<a technical term meaning "lacking in skill" or "inadequate.") George Foster (21, 72) has really picked it up in the hot weather as the Cincy crew seems to score at will. Skipper John McNamara has only to sit in an uncomprehending drunken stupor and let the veterans take care of it all without him. "I frashed a shign and they...they...zzzzz." Okay, John!

Mike Ivie takes a vicious cut at nothing, 3 hours before game time.

GIANT GIBBERINGS (13-16) I was wrong wrong wrong. I thought that the departure of Bill Madlock (to be replaced by Rob Andrews, Joe Strain, and Roger Metzger) would result in the demise of the Giants offense. Not so! Jack Clark just cannot be stopped, Mike Ivie has 22 round trippers, and Darrell Evans has chipped in significantly as well, as the Giants have been able to hold on to third place. They might be better except that the starting pitching is putrid. "We've got to WANT to get better!" they opine ironically. Even Vida Blue, who started the season so well, is just a pedestrian 10-10. 

2/5ths of the beautiful but doomed Padre rotation. 

POD PEOPLE (13-14) I like the Pods. I don't know why. I think I just feel sorry for them. They have two players: Gene Tenace, who walks constantly and adds occasional power (18 HR) and of course, Dave Winfield (55 xbh) who has no protection at all in the line-up. The Padre pitchers try gamely to keep the other teams in check, but more often than not, a lack of support does them in. Geezer Gaylord Perry leads the NL with a whopping 15 complete games. "Watch and learn, toddlers!" he says. 

"Who stole my insignia from off my batting helmet?! Who??!!"

MAJOR ASTROS (11-15) I give up. This team contended the first time, but the second time around, they are the most frustrating team I have ever managed on my tabletop. They have more triples (39) than home runs (29) as they actually did, the last team ever to do it. Moreover, the departed Bob Watson hit 10 of those. One would think they might steal bases, and they do lead the league, but the high water mark is Cedeno's 22. Plus, they get thrown out a lot. The Spacmen are a dismal 9-22 in one-run games and seem to have a real knack for doing just enough to lose. JR Richard, inexplicably downgraded from AXYZ to BK in the reissue, is a sad 7-11, but has 194 K's and a shot at my APBA NL record of 292, set by 1965 Sandy Koufax. 

" 'Buy Braves season tickets,' she said. 'It'll be fun,' she said. Another brilliant idea, Blanche!" 

BRAVE NEW WORLD (10-17) Bobby Cox has skippered this ball club exactly nowhere and will never amount to anything. You heard it here first! Bob Horner, an enfant terrible through the season's first half, went down for a nap in July, slugging just 3 HR and driving in a piddling 8 runs. Injuries to Nolan, Benedict and Pocoroba forced wunderkind Dale Murphy back behind the dish, from whence he came. Seizing opportunity, though, were Phil Niekro, who reeled off 5 wins in a row, and Gary Matthews, who surpassed Horner in rbi 82-81. Unsung Larry Bradford leads the Braves with 13 saves. The low point for Atlanta was when they hosted the Reds for 4 games and won the opener handily, only to be shut out in all of the remaining three tilts.

"We lost interest," they explained helpfully. Bless your hearts. 

NOTABLE JUNK FROM JULY:

7/3 Mike Schmidt hits 3 HRs for the Phils in 14-7 win vs. the Mets.

7/3 Joe Niekro no-hits the Reds at Riverfront, winning 2-0 for the NL's only no-no so far. He fans 4 and walks 8.

7/5 Spare part Jim Mason of the Expos smacks 4 doubles in a win at Chicago. 

7/12 Larry Parrish hits 3 homers at home against SF, then hits 2 more the next day for a two-day total of 5.

7/12 Dave Collins of the Reds hits for the cycle vs. Chicago at Riverfront, saving the home run for last. It is the only NL cycle so far. 

7/15 JR Richard fans 14 Cardinals in a 2-hit victory at the Dome. 

See you next time for the end of August report!

Me, if I looked like I would like to, instead of how I do! Today an archaeologist tried to collect me as a sample.

1979 Replay AL End Of July Report

Hey fans! July's a wrap in my 1979 APBA replay. For those unfamiliar, I am actually re-replaying the season; it was my first replay, back when the set was current. I didn't use any tweaks, trades or any of that, and wanted to see how differently things might turn out with the latest reissue of the cards, advanced options, and the Orsino Board. Now, let's get to it!

The race in the east continued to be a two team dogfight, while the Angels and Rangers faltered in the west, turning that division into a 4-team free for all!

MIL  68-39  ---

BAL  68-40   0.5

DET  61-46   7

BOS  59-46   8

NYY  55-51  12.5

CLE  43-64  25

TOR  36-71  32

(In the first replay, the Brewers were also narrowly ahead, by 1.5 games, but that time NYY were in second at the end of July. The Orioles, because many of their starting pitchers had oddly low grades and they were missing several key subs, were floundering in 5th place, 16 games out and could not even get to .500. That's another reason I wanted replay 1979 again.)

MIN  61-45  ---

KCR  60-46   1

CAL  60-47   1.5

TEX  58-48   3

CHI  46-60  15

OAK 36-72  26

SEA  36-72  26

(The Twins also led at this point in the first replay, by 4 games over KCR. 

Team best and worst:

RA--BAL 401, OAK 663

CG--CAL 45, DET 21

SV--MIN 30, SEA 6 (!)

HRvs--TEX 88, TOR 128

DP--NYY 134, BAL 72

ERR--NYY 56, CHI  106

RF--MIL 601, OAK 385

2B--BOS 221, OAK 128

3B--KCR 46, BOS 18

HR--MIL 158, TOR 67

SB--KCR 147, MIN and BOS 30

CS--KCR  33, TOR 14

GIDP--KCR 77, BOS 122

WALK-OFF HITS--DET 8, TOR 0

GRAND SLAMS--MIL, CLE, and NYY 3, MIN, CHI and TOR 0

Here is my leader board. Where information is available (I didn't keep a very extensive leader board the first time), I include the first replay leader in parenthesis.)

"Crab cakes for everybody!"

WINS: Flanagan-bal 18-4, Caldwell-mil 18-5, Frost-cal 15-5, 4 tied with 13 wins. (Frost 18-3)

LOSSES: Huffman-tor 1-13, Baumgarten-chi 9-13

SHO: 5 tied with 4 (John and Koosman 5)

CG: Langford-oak 14, 3 tied with 13

"Wanna see my smiling face on the cover of the...Sporting News?"

SAVES: Marshall-min 30, Lopez-det 25, Hrabosky-kc 23, Kern-tex 23, Gossage-ny 20, Stanhouse-bal 20 (Marshall 22)

2B: Jackson-min 42, Rice-bos 38, Lemon-chi 36 (Lynn 42)

3B: Bannister-chi, Leflore-det and Whitaker-det tied with 11 (Brett and Randolph 14)

"Why's everybody always pickin' on me?"

HR: Thomas-mil 40, Lynn-bos 39, Jackson-ny 31, Baylor-cal 30, Singleton-bal 30 (Singleton 39) Thomas and Lynn both have a shot at the Babe!

RBI: Thomas-mil 101, Baylor-cal 97, Lynn-bos 97, Grich-cal 90, Singleton-bal 86, Rice-bos 85 (Summers 110. This time he has 43.)

RUNS: Lynn-bos 97, Thomas-mil 85, Baylor-cal 84, Lemon-chi 82, Gamble-tex 81 (Lynn 101)

STEALS: Wilson-kc 63, Leflore-det 59, Henderson-oak 31, Cruz-sea 30 (Wilson 58)

GIDP: Ford-cal 24, Hobson-bos 21, Randolph-ny 20

ERRORS: Pryor-chi 25, Wills-tex 22, Orta-chi 20

TEAM REPORTS (with July record in parenthesis)

Like Simply Red, they keep hangin' on.

ROLL OUT THE BREWERS (15-13): The Brew Crew were not especially fantastic in July, but they were good enough to hang on to first place all except for one lonely day when Baltimore caught them, then promptly fell back. The bullpen let them down, blowing three saves in a row around the All-Star break. They are currently hosting the Orioles for three games at County Stadium, and have lost the first two decisively. And yet, here they still are, on top by an eyelash. Even miracle "C" Bill Travers lost to the O's, lowering his record to 13-2. Stormin' Gorman Thomas, however, mashed 13 homers in the month.

"I knew it, doctor...he has an infucktion of the lateral linguine."

BIRD DOO (15-11): The Oriole Express hit a snag due to injuries to Roenicke, Lowenstein, Kelly, Ayala and Skaggs and stopped scoring in bunches. However, their stellar pitching has kept them right there near the top. The pitchers have not been subject to the injury bug--not one Oriole hurler has gone down all season. 

By George, I think he's got it!

HOLD THAT TIGER (18-11): If I did such stuff, Aurelio Lopez would have been AL Pitcher of the Month in July, with 10 saves as the Bengals surged to 15 games above .500. The club has gone 36-22 the past two months under the steady hand of new skipper Sparky Anderson. And all this while giving up runs in bunches all season. The Tigers are minus 47 in run differential, but there they are, on the fringes of the east race. A 22-7 log in 1-run games may explain it. 8-3 in extras. Sparky has all the right moves! Right now, lefty sluggers Steve Kemp and Champ Summers are on the shelf with embarrassing blemishes, but they'll be back soon.

"I cannot be harmed!" crows Carlton.

FENWAY FOLDEROL (18-10): The Red Sox surged up from mediocrity with a dandy month. Bob Watson has come over from the senior circuit and lit a fire under the previously sleepy Bosox offense. Fred Lynn is all-world with 35 doubles, 39 HR, 97 runs and rbi and a cool .333 average. Plus, he catches everything hit his way. Jim Rice keeps banging doubles off the Green Monster.  If the pitching, beyond Bob Stanley (13-6) ever helps out, the Boston nine could still get in this thing. Carlton Fisk, a J-3, has festooned himself with horse shoes and four leaf clovers and escaped injury all season so far. The Orsino Board is hungry, Carlton, and will get you. Wait and see. 

"Where did you say home plate is? Up there? Where is my ass? How about my elbow?"

YANKEE DOODLES (15-12): These Yankees are like two different teams. They are world-beaters when Guidry or John pitch, and crap when Tiant, Hunter or Figueroa pitch, especially those last two. Meanwhile, I have kept their battery mate Thurman Munson away from airplanes because I'm just not going through that again, but he has gotten injured three or four times as Boston's Fisk stands by and laughs. That leaves stiffs Narron and Gulden to do the catching and some sort of lame imitation of hitting. Indeed, scoring runs has been a problem for these Yankees. It is rumored that before another game is played, Mick The Quick (Rivers) will be dealt to Texas for slugger Oscar Gamble. That should help, although the line-up still skews left-handed. Don't expect a pennant in New York this year.

Heathcliff, brooding on the moors.

TRIBE WAMPUM (13-17): Cliff Johnson, acquired from the Yankees on June 15th, has slugged 17 HR since arriving on the shores of Lake Erie, giving him 26 total. This, along with the acquisition of Mike Hargrove, has really improved the Tribe's attack. Unfortunately, neither of these fellows can pitch, and so the Tribe will continue to flounder around uselessly in front of sparse crowds of miserable fans. Ah well.

Cito Gaston or Otto Velez? Only your hairdresser knows for sure.

JAY JABBERINGS (7-18): Oh for goodness sake. Mayberry injured again, Phil Huffman piling up losses...if it weren't for "Swatto" Otto Velez (60 rbi) the team might go 0-162. After a weird winning (just barely) June, the team reverted to form in July. Ew, Canada.

Yeah, take yer damn picture and leave me alone. And no more questions about 1964 or I swear...

DOUBLEMINT TWINS (21-7): Whoa. THESE are the Twins who won it all for me the first replay. Endless, merciless (and kind of annoying) sequential offense. Single! Double! Walk! Single! Another single! Triple! Rinse, repeat. My worst nightmare is the Twins against any "D" pitcher. Ron Jackson went doubles happy and took over the league lead. The Twinks are second-to-worst in the AL in homers, with just 74, but you just cannot get them out. They don't hit homers, they don't steal, they just ping you to death and they have just enough pitching to set up Mike Marshall for loads of saves. The one question mark is that, as in the first replay, they are wildly inconsistent month to month. What does the future hold? Can they fight off three other good but flawed teams and take the west? Stay tuned. 

KC rotation arrives at the ballpark.

ROYAL PAINS (18-9): KC was nearly as hot in July as the rival Twins as both came from well back to claim the top two spots in the west. The Royals even enjoyed a day in first place before a loss to the lowly Blue Jays knocked them back a notch. The Royals' starting pitching has been pretty bad with the exception of Paul Splittorff (12-6). But, despite George Brett tailing off to a disappointing (for him) .293, they know how to play carpet ball, racking up the gap hits and stolen bases. They also field very well and hit into few double plays. An ace would probably secure a division title for this team, but Rich Gale (6-12) it ain't. 

Coach Crawford helps Angel relievers with their mechanics.

ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD (11-16): Just when the Halos looked like world-beaters in June, they turned back into a pumpkin in July. They can mash, with sluggers up and down the line-up, but the bullpen is Mark Clear and ...well, Mark Clear. Nolan Ryan (BKW, 12-8, 185 K's) is fun to use but maddening for his manager. Dave Frost ( B, 15-5) continues to win most of the time, but after that it gets thin as we enter C And D Adventure World. Time will tell whether these Angels reclaim the top spot, or fade into pretender status like they did in the first replay. 

"My 'fro can be seen from space!"

POWER RANGERS (11-16): Oh for the halcyon days of yore. The Rangers' pitching was spectacular for half a season, then went in the dumper, proving that APBA takes the Texas heat into account. You'll be amazed at the realism! The attack, powered by the perhaps over-used (mea culpa!) Oscar Gamble (27 HR, 81 runs, 75 rbi) got better, but could not keep up with the parade of opponents crossing the plate in Arlington. "Ace" Fergie Jenkins (8-8) has been particularly disappointing after a good start. Even (A&CK) Jim Kern has gotten lit up a couple of times. With the pending dealing of Gamble to New York for Mickey Rivers--the Rangers have lacked  a true center fielder all year--the offense is bound to sag a bit, so the pitchers had better get it together. The exception has been the team's good luck charm, Sparky Lyle, who boasts an 8-1 log. 

A Sox rooter points out tiny adjustments that might be made, like catching the ball.

FAIL HOSE (10-18): Playing in their pitcher's park, the Sox rap lots of doubles (214) but not many homers (95). Their biggest problem is catching the ball. They lead the AL in flubs by 11 over sad-sack Oakland. The offense did get a boost when they called up Jim Morrison who popped 6 homers right away, then wrote poetry and moved to Paris. Long commute! Well, there is probably more to say about the White Sox, like how Rich Wortham (10-8) has emerged as their best pitcher, or how spare part Wayne Nordhagen has 25 doubles and 12 homers, but why bother? This team is going nowhere, unlike the first replay when they were at least a pretender and above .500. 

Big crowds and rabid fans add zest to Oakland's 1979 campaign.

OAK JOKES (12-15) After a 4-25 disaster in June, the team played well enough for government work in July, and even moved up into a tie for 6th place. One of the main reasons I have for replaying 1979 is to see whether my worst ever team (37-125 the first time) would be improved some with advanced options and so forth. Apparently the answer is yes because they have already won 36 games with 2 months to go. In fact, at the 2/3 point of the season, they are exactly where they should be, winning a third of their games. The main excitement the rest of the way will be whether they can avoid giving up an astonishing 1,000 runs. Right now they are on pace for just under that.  Rick Langford tossed 4 complete games in July to come from nowhere to take over the league lead.

Veteran acquisitions add to Mariner attack.

DIAL 'M' FOR CRAP BASEBALL (8-19): In my role as Your Impartial Goddess, I cannot say here that I am completely, teeth-grindingly sick of the stupid Mariners. But you can infer! Tigers cast-off Dan Meyer closed the month with a 5 HR explosion during a 3-game visit to Oakland, and then crushed a killer homer off Mark Clear in Anaheim as the M's took two in a row there.  Tigers cast-off Willie Horton has a cool 25 HR and 73 rbi while Tigers cast-off "Doctor" Roberts has added 10 dingers. Do I detect a pattern here? If only they could acquire Tom Veryzer, they could reconvene the entire legendary (?) 1975 Detroit team. With similar (un)success, to be sure. 

AND FINALLY...notable junk that happened in the AL in July:

7/1 Mike Flanagan no-hits the Blue Jays in Baltimore, winning 2-0. He faces just 29 batters.

7/4  Reggie Jackson legs out an inside-the-park grand slam (!) and Ron Guidry retires the first 23 Brewers in a 9-0 win at Yankee Stadium.

7/13 The Yankees pound 25 hits and two grand slams (Piniella, Chambliss) in 20-0 destruction of the Angels at Anaheim.

7/14 Dent hits a 3-run inside-the-park home run at Anaheim, his first homer all season.

7/15 Yankees complete a three game demoltion of the Angels out west by an aggregate score of 40-6.

7/17 In the All-Star Game at Seattle's Kingdome, the NL prevailed 4-1. Parker, Bench, Maddox and Lynn hit home runs. Seaver got the win, Koosman took the loss, and Tekulve registered the save.

7/27 Andre Thornton hits three home runs for Cleveland  in a 12-2 win at Chicago.

7/30 Remy hits an inside the park home run, his only homer of the year, at Cleveland.

Oddball stat: I noticed that my AL has had only 1 triple play, way back in April. In actual, there were 10. 

See you soon for the NL report!

NL 1979 End of June Report

Come on, little Cobra...

June is over in my 1979 APBA tabletop replay, and it's that time when the pretenders have had their day and begin to fade away--just ask my 1965 Yankees or my 1986 Brewers, who were both in first place at this point only to fade into the middle of the pack by season's end. 

For those of you not familiar with this project, I am replaying 1979 for the second time. The first time, it was basic game all the way, right out of the box with the (then) current set of cards. Now, lo these 40 years later, I am playing it again with the newest reissue of the cards, and using all the bells and whistles including my Orsino Board. But enough blather...on to the standings!

"Everybody chill. I got this!"

PIT   51-22  ----  (best 1-run 15-6, best x-inn 8-1, tie least times shutout 3, tie best June 18-7)
MON 40-33  11  (tie least times shutout 3)
CHI  38-35   13  (tie best June 18-7)
NYM 39-37  13.5 (end June on a 9-game losing streak.)
STL  37-39  15.5
PHI  35-42  18   (worst x-inn 2-7)

LAD  44-35  ----
CIN   40-38   3.5
SFG  36-42   7.5
HOU 36-46   9.5  (worst 1-run 6-16, most times shutout 12)
SDP  35-45   9.5  (worst June 8-19)
ATL  31-48  13

So, can the last place team in the west get closer to first place than the second place team in the east? Stay tuned. 

The first time I replayed '79, The Pirates led at the end of June then, too, but by only 3.5 over Philly. (The currently last-place Quakers long for those simpler days.) Cincy led the west by a big 7.5 game margin over Houston. 

Atlanta fans support group.

PITCHING and DEFENSE
The Buccos have given up the least runs (263), the least homers (41) and notched the most saves (24). The Cubbies have collected the most shutouts (10). The Cardinals have turned the most DP's (102) and made the fewest errors along with the Dodgers (41). The Pods have the most complete games (31), but have also made the most errors (70). Atlanta is a veritable record-book of dubious achievements with the most runs against (449, that's 54 more than anyone else), least complete games (8), least DP's turned (35) while giving up the most homers (86). To round things out, the Giants have the least saves, with 7.

"Where's the beef? Ou est le boeuf?"

HITTING
The homer-happy Dodgers (107) have plated the most runs (398) but have the least doubles (107). Pittsburgh has the least caught stealing (11) the least GIDP's (45), the most walk-off hits (6) and the most grand slams (4). Houston has stolen the most bases (85) but also been caught the most (34), and they have the most triples (33), but the fewest homers (24). St. Louis and Chicago have stolen the least bases (32). The Cards have the most doubles (160). Montreal, despite having only been blanked 3 times, are surprisingly last in runs scored (301), two fewer than SD. Which brings us to Atlanta, who check in with the least triples (11), and the most GIDP's (78). As in the AL, the NL is lagging behind its actual pace in grand slams, with just 11 league-wide, which puts them on pace to fall far short of the actual final total of 31. Every NL team has at least 1 walk-off, with the Dodgers and Padres having just the one apiece. "There are so many other things to do in SoCal!" they explain.

LEADERS (with first replay leader in parenthesis, where available. Certain restrictions and conditions apply. Must accept delivery by July 1. May cause headaches and constipation. Ask your doctor about Numberall.)

Canny right-hander or Nesferatu?

WINS: Kison-pit 11-3, 4 tied with 10. (Seaver 13-1)

Richard-hou has 145 K's (Richard 139)

How about "loser"? Does "loser" work for you?

LOSSES: Shirley-sd 4-11, Matula-atl 4-10 Matula losin' games in the A-T-L.

CG: Carlton-phi 10, Perry-sd 10  

SAVES: Tekulve-pit 21, Castillo-la 15, Lockwood-ny 15, Sutter-chi 15, Littell-stl 14, Sambito-hou 14 (Littell 13)

Horner attacks the post-game spread.

HR: Horner-atl 24, Clark-sf 20, Schmidt-phi 20, W.Robinson-pit 19, Winfield-sd 18 (Stargell 32) Mike Schmidt suffered through a terrible June this time, with just 2 HR and 7 rbi for the entire month. 

RBI: Horner-atl 73, Clark-sf 67, Parker-pit 59, Matthews-atl 58, W.Robinson-pit 58 (Stargell 68)

Winfield's rookie card.

RUNS: Parker-pit 58, Winfield-sd 56, North-sf 55, Madlock-pit 55  (Lopes 60)

2B: Parker-pit 37, Hernandez-stl 36, Youngblood-ny 25  Those top two on pace for around 80 doubles. Wild! 

Templeton and his skipper discuss three baggers and Victorian poetry.

3B: Templeton-stl 10, Taveras-ny 8

STEALS: Moreno-pit 26, North-sf 22, Cedeno-hou 20, Lopes-la 20 (North 33)

GIDP: Montanez-ny 13, Garvey-la 11, Hendrick-stl 11, Ontiveros-chi 11

Keep your eye on that grounder, Pepe! Keep your eye...oh crap. 

ERRORS: Frias-atl 17, 2 tied with 15

If you missed the AL report, just hit "older post." It's right below this one.

See you after the all-star game, July 17 at the beautiful and luxurious Kingdome!