Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Over-achieving Tigers beat under-achieving Yankees in '54 replay game
The Yankees - Tigers game of Thursday September 16, 1954 was interesting for a couple of reasons. First, the game was typical of the way the two teams have played in this replay. Second, my use of Len Durrant's 1954 pitcher-as -hitter cards instead of the generic pitcher-hitting cards had an effect on the outcome of the game.
The Yankees came into the game in third place with a record of 79-65, well below their 96-48 real life record at this point of the season. The Tigers, meanwhile, came into the game with a replay record of 73-71, well above their real life record of 64-80.
The Tigers won the game 4-3. The way they won, and the way the Yankees lost, was typical for the two teams in this replay. The first six Yanks' batters in the game all reached base. Three runs were in and the bases were loaded with none out. It looked like the Yanks were on their way to a blowout. But, in typical Yankee fashion, the next three batters made outs without being able to advance any runners, and the Yanks never threatened for the rest of the game.
Meanwhile the pesky Tigers scrapped back with three runs in the fifth and one in the eight to pull out the 4-3 win. George Zuverink went the distance for the win for the Tigers, pitching terrific ball after the rocky first.
The game might have had a different outcome had I not been using Len Durrant's 1954 AL pitcher-as -hitting cards.
The game company’s generic pitcher hitting cards are not precise in distinguishing hitting pitchers as to whether they have "N"(normal) vs. "W"(weak) power versus left handed pitchers, but not vs. righties, or vice versa. Len Durrant’s PAH cards are more precise. In certain instances where a pitcher hit one or two home runs in real life, he has created a different power rating than the game company did. For example, if a pitcher hit one home run in real life off a left handed pitcher , the game company would rate him an “N” across the board, but Len, being more precise in designing the PAH card, would give him a "N" rating against lefties but a "W" vs. righties.
Wouldn’t you know it, it made a difference in this game. Bob Grim of the Yankees was at bat leading off the top of the fourth inning against the right-hander Zuverink. Grim hit one home run in r/l in the ’54 season, apparently against a left handed pitcher (I may try to track this down later). Grim is rated by Strat-O-Matic as a “2N” hitter. Len D’s PAH card, by contrast, rates Grim a “N” vs. left handed pitchers only, and “W” against righties. Grim, batting against the right hander, rolled a 4/12. On Zuverink's card, this is a "N-HR 1-14 flyball(lf) B 15-20" result if you are using ballpark effects (as I was). I rolled a "3" on the twenty-sided die. Because Grim has a "W" power rating vs. righties on his custom-made PAH card, he got only a single instead of a home run, and the Yanks failed to score in the inning.
Who knows what the outcome of the game would have been if I'd been using the 2N rating assigned to Grim by the game company ?
Friday, March 10, 2006
Sox drop key September contest in '54 Strat-O-Matic replay
On 9/14/54 the White Sox shot a big hole in their collective foot in a Strat-O-Matic ’54 replay game I just played. The Sox lost to the Philadelphia A's 4-3 even though their ace, Virgil Trucks, was on the mound. They are now 5 ½ out. HAL managed the Sox, while I managed the usually-sorry A's.
In real life that day Paul Richards had held a press conference and announced his resignation as manager of the Sox, accepting an offer to become both GM and field manager of the Orioles. This confirmed rumors that had been circulating in the press in the previous two weeks.
Just as in the real-life 9/14/54 game, which they lost 1-0, the Strat-O-Matic Sox played in a funk after hearing the news and could not even muster enough energy to beat the cellar dwelling A's, who had lost nine of their previous ten.
The Indians’ magic number is down to four after they edged the Senators 3-2 (see below). The Sox have eight games remaining, the Indians nine. They have three against each other but I’m afraid the series may be anticlimactic.
I have been using the ’54 Pitcher-as Hitter cards that L. Durrant recently created, and they are actually fun to use even though you have to switch to Manual Entry when the pitcher comes to bat, roll the dice, read the result off the cards, enter the result into the computer, then switch back to Pre-Swing Play by Play after the pitcher bats. You of course only have to do this a few times each game, and it's actually fun to roll the dice and momentarily bring back the old-fashioned way of playing Strat.
By the way an interesting little problem can develop when using these PAH cards in a "human vs. HAL" computer game. When you switch to manual entry, HAL's decision-making capacity is temporarily neutered. Let's say HAL is in a situation where pinch hitting for his pitcher is a reasonable option. You refrain from switching to Manual Entry so he can decide whether to pinch hit. He chooses to let the pitcher hit for himself. It is too late then to switch back to Manual Entry and roll the dice. This happened today when I thought HAL would choose a pinch hitter for Virgil Trucks, so I didn't switch to Manual Entry mode. But HAL let Trucks hit for himself and the computer "rolled" the dice using Truck's generic "2" pitcher-hitting "card", instead of me being able to roll dice and read the result off the PAH card. Wouldn't you know it .. he got a hit. Should I temporarily have taken over as my opponent's manager, just so I could continue using the unique PAH card if I'd decided to let his pitcher hit ? I don't think so.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Indians win 100th game of season
Avila has been torrid of late. His average is up to .316 in the replay. For much of the season he was below the .300 mark. In real life he hit .341 and led the AL in batting. In this replay he is now sixth in the batting race. Harvey Kuenn leads with a .350 mark.
The White Sox are now five back pending the outcome of their game with the Philadelphia A's. I will play that game tomorrow or Friday night. In real life the White Sox, having learned earlier in the day that Paul Richards had left them to go to Baltimore, lost 1-0 to the hapless A's. Virgil Trucks lost his fourth bid to win 20 when in the very first inning Minnie Minoso misjudged a fly ball in left field, allowing the only run of the game to score from second.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Daily report at close of play Sunday, September 12, 1954
NEWSPAPER STYLE RECAP FOR 1954 American League
TEAM WON LOST BATTING AVERAGE HOME RUNS RUNS BATTED IN Cleveland 99 45 H.Kuenn DET .352 L.Doby CLE 34 L.Doby CLE 116 Chicago 95 50 T.William BOS .341 R.Sievers WAS 31 M.Vernon WAS 107 New York 78 65 N.Fox CHI .327 J.Jensen BOS 29 J.Jensen BOS 103 Detroit 73 70 I.Noren NY .323 R.Boone DET 29 R.Sievers WAS 101 Washingtn 67 76 R.Boone DET .320 OTHERS TIED W 27 R.Boone DET 97 Boston 59 83 Baltimore 57 87 WINS SAVES ERA Phila. 46 98 M.Garcia CLE 20 J.Sain NY 18 M.Garcia CLE 1.74 E.Wynn CLE 20 H.Dorish CHI 15 V.Trucks CHI 2.31 V.Trucks CHI 18 E.Kinder BOS 13 B.Lemon CLE 2.36 B.Lemon CLE 18 D.Marlowe DET 12 B.Turley BAL 2.64 N.Garver DET 17 M.Burtsch PHI 10 E.Wynn CLE 2.68 CUR HIT STREAK STOLEN BASES STRIKEOUTS S.Dente CLE 18 J.Rivera CHI 42 B.Turley BAL 204 H.Kuenn DET 12 N.Fox CHI 25 E.Wynn CLE 153 C.Michael CHI 8 M.Minoso CHI 23 V.Trucks CHI 150 R.Sievers WAS 6 J.Jensen BOS 16 J.Harshma CHI 131 OTHERS TIED W 5 OTHERS TIED W 14 M.Garcia CLE 125
YESTERDAY'S GAMES TODAY'S SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE STARTERS Boston 5-3, Chicago 2-7 No games scheduled Cleveland 6-4, New York 3-3 Baltimore 1-3, Philadelphia 0-1 Detroit 15-2, Washington 6-3
YESTERDAY'S BEST PERFORMANCES BATTER TM OPP AB R H RB BB Ks HR SB H.Majeski CLE NY 1 1 1 3 0 0 1 0 N.Fox CHI BOS 4 2 2 3 0 0 1 0 H.Kuenn DET WAS 6 3 3 3 0 0 1 0 R.Wilson DET WAS 6 3 3 3 0 0 1 0 T.Williams BOS CHI 5 1 3 2 0 0 1 0 PITCHER TM OPP INN H R ER BB Ks HR WLS B.Turley BAL PHI 9.0 2 0 0 3 7 0 W E.Wynn CLE NY 8.0 3 3 3 4 8 0 W D.Pillette BAL PHI 9.0 5 1 1 4 4 0 W T.Brewer BOS CHI 9.0 5 2 1 6 4 0 W B.Lemon CLE NY 9.0 4 3 1 2 4 1
WHO'S HOT - BEST IN LAST 10 DAYS BATTER TM AVG AB H RB BB HR PITCHER TM IP H ER BB Ks HR WLS T.Williams BOS .419 43 18 10 11 7 E.Wynn CLE 26 22 7 6 17 0 300 A.Rosen CLE .300 30 9 15 5 4 T.Brewer BOS 18 9 1 9 10 0 200 R.Sievers WAS .375 24 9 7 2 3 G.Zuverink DET 18 13 1 5 6 0 200 B.Skowron NY .370 27 10 14 4 1 B.Lemon CLE 18 11 2 2 9 1 100 S.Mele BOS .355 31 11 7 1 4 D.Mossi CLE 5 3 0 0 4 0 003WHO'S NOT - WORST IN LAST 10 DAYS BATTER TM AVG AB H RB BB HR PITCHER TM IP H ER BB Ks HR WLS B.Young BAL .097 31 3 0 3 0 T.Hurd BOS 6 9 6 9 2 2 130 J.Taylor PHI .200 25 5 0 0 0 B.Chakales BAL 5 13 10 3 3 0 000 C.Diering BAL .116 43 5 3 2 0 C.Pascual WAS 10 19 15 7 2 3 110 G.Kell CHI .167 24 4 1 1 0 C.Bishop PHI 14 18 13 6 5 4 030 A.Kaline DET .194 36 7 2 0 0 J.Schmitz WAS 9 14 10 6 5 0 020
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LEAGUE STANDINGS FOR 1954 American League WON LOST PCT GB MAGIC# ACTWON ACTLOST ACTPCT Cleveland 99 45 .688 ---- 6 111 43 .721 Chicago 95 50 .655 4.5 94 60 .610 New York 78 65 .545 20.5 103 51 .669 Detroit 73 70 .510 25.5 68 86 .442 Washington 67 76 .469 31.5 66 88 .429 Boston 59 83 .415 39.0 69 85 .448 Baltimore 57 87 .396 42.0 54 100 .351 Philadelphia 46 98 .319 53.0 51 103 .331
OVERALL RECORD Team WON LOST PCT HOME ROAD LEFT RIGHT EXTRA 1-RUN LAST 10 STREAK BAL 57 87 .396 22-48 35-39 17-32 40-55 15- 8 25-25 3-7 Won 2 BOS 59 83 .415 28-42 31-41 10-17 49-66 4-11 13-31 4-6 Lost 1 CHI 95 50 .655 48-25 47-25 31-17 64-33 10- 8 34-17 4-6 Won 1 CLE 99 45 .688 50-20 49-25 36-19 63-26 9- 2 30-12 9-1 Won 8 DET 73 70 .510 37-35 36-35 15-17 58-53 3-10 23-22 7-3 Lost 1 NYY 78 65 .545 41-30 37-35 33-20 45-45 7-14 20-30 7-3 Lost 2 PHI 46 98 .319 23-50 23-48 9-19 37-79 12- 6 21-23 1-9 Lost 8 WAS 67 76 .469 33-42 34-34 26-21 41-55 9-10 19-25 6-4 Won 1 TOTAL 574 574 .500
TEAM -APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT+ BAL 5- 8 6-21 14-17 15-15 13-19 4- 7 BOS 6- 6 10-12 10-23 13-18 15-15 5- 9 CHI 9- 5 19-10 23- 6 19-12 20- 9 5- 8 CLE 8- 4 22- 7 16-13 19-10 23- 9 11- 2 DET 6- 5 13-13 17-14 18-14 11-19 8- 5 NYY 6- 7 17-12 13-17 16-14 17-11 9- 4 PHI 1-10 11-19 12-16 9-21 10-22 3-10 WAS 8- 4 12-16 15-14 11-16 14-19 7- 7
WINS ARE ACROSS, LOSSES ARE DOWN: TEAM BAL BOS CHI CLE DET NYY PHI WAS BAL - 12 5 4 5 10 14 7 BOS 8 - 7 6 12 7 11 8 CHI 12 15 - 10 10 15 17 16 CLE 18 16 9 - 11 14 18 13 DET 14 10 12 5 - 7 15 10 NYY 12 15 7 8 13 - 12 11 PHI 8 8 4 4 7 4 - 11 WAS 15 7 6 8 12 8 11 -
NEWSPAPER GAME STORIES FOR 1954 American League Date: 9/12/1954
NEW YORK AT CLEVELAND (Game 1) Yankees......... 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 - 3 4 2 Indians......... 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 3 - 6 6 1 Win:Narleski(9-2) Loss:Byrd(9-8) Homeruns- J.Collins(12th), A.Rosen(27th), H.Majeski(2nd) Bob Lemon came through with a solid 9 innings at Municipal Stadium where the red-hot Cleveland Indians beat the New York Yankees in 10 innings by the score of 6 to 3. The score was knotted at 3 after nine innings. Cleveland came out on top in the 10th inning. After two outs Dave Pope kicked off the action when he slapped a single. Hal Naragon stepped into the batter's box and he stroked a one-base hit. Hank Majeski then lost the ball over the fence for three runs (his 2nd of the season) resulting in a mighty exciting win for Cleveland. Cleveland had just 6 hits for the afternoon. Ray Narleski(9-2) got the win allowing no runs in 1 inning. Harry Byrd(9-8) was tagged with the loss in relief.
NEW YORK AT CLEVELAND (Game 2) Yankees......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 - 3 4 2 Indians......... 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 - 4 7 0 Win:Wynn(20-10) Loss:Byrne(1-1) Save:Mossi(6th) Bobby Avila had 4 hits and 2 RBI as the streaking Cleveland Indians defeated the New York Yankees by the score of 4 to 3 at Municipal Stadium. Cleveland took the lead for good in the 4th inning scoring 2 runners on 2 hits. New York had a chance to come back in the 9th but they came up short. Early Wynn(20-10) allowed 3 runs in 8 innings, and picked up the victory. Don Mossi earned the save, his 6th. Tommy Byrne(1-1) was the losing pitcher. Cleveland continued their winnings ways, improving their record to a league leading 99-45. They are 9-1 in their last ten games. Even with the loss, New York still has a nice 7-3 record in recent weeks. They are 78-65 on the season.
BOSTON AT CHICAGO (Game 1) Red Sox......... 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 - 5 8 2 White Sox....... 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 - 2 5 0 Win:Brewer(11-9) Loss:Keegan(12-9) Homeruns- T.Williams(27th), J.Piersall(8th) Tom Brewer went the distance and left fielder Ted Williams left the yard and had 2 RBI as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Chicago White Sox by a score of 5 to 2 at Comiskey Park. Brewer(11-9) looked very much in control throughout the day. He allowed only 5 hits and 6 walks in 9 innings. Boston managed 8 in their victory. Bob Keegan(12-9) was charged with the loss. He allowed 5 hits and 5 walks in 6 innings. BOSTON AT CHICAGO (Game 2) Red Sox......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 - 3 5 0 White Sox....... 0 0 3 0 0 4 0 0 - 7 11 0 Win:Pierce(9-8) Loss:Sullivan(5-9) Homeruns- N.Fox(3rd) Billy Pierce allowed Paul Richards to rest his bullpen, tossing a complete game at Comiskey Park where the Chicago White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox 7 to 3. Chicago took the lead for keeps in the bottom of the 3rd inning when they tallied 3 runs on 4 hits. The key offensive moment was provided by Carl Sawatski who came through for the home fans when he tripled bringing in two baserunners. Chicago totaled 11 on the afternoon. Pierce(9-8) allowed 3 runs on the game. Frank Sullivan(5-9) was the loser. By giving up 7 runs in 5 and 2/3 innings his ERA increased from 3.07 to 3.35. WASHINGTON AT DETROIT (Game 1) Senators........ 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 - 6 12 1 Tigers.......... 5 2 4 0 2 0 0 2 - 15 17 2 Win:Gromek(13-14) Loss:Schmitz(9-8) Homeruns- E.Yost(10th), H.Kuenn(9th), R.Wilson(5th), R.Boone(29th) Shortstop Harvey Kuenn connected with a 'big fly' and had 3 RBI as the Detroit Tigers beat the Washington Senators by a score of 15 to 6. Kuenn provided much of the offense. He doubled in the 1st inning, smashed a bases-empty 'big-fly' (his 9th of the season) in the 2nd inning and stroked a base-hit bringing in a run in the 3rd inning. Detroit provided plenty of action in the 1st inning with 5 runs on 5 hits and the 3rd inning which saw them plate 4 runs on 4 hits. Detroit ended up with 17 hits for the game while Washington had 12. Steve Gromek(13-14) went 8 and 1/3 innings allowing 6 runs for the win. Johnny Schmitz(9-8) was the losing pitcher. He allowed 5 hits and 2 walks in 1 inning. The Detroit ballclub's record now stands at 73-69. With the loss, the Washington ballclub's record is 66-76. WASHINGTON AT DETROIT (Game 2) Senators........ 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 3 5 2 Tigers.......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 - 2 5 1 Win:Porterfield(11-15) Loss:Gray(0-9) Bob Porterfield allowed Bucky Harris to rest his bullpen, tossing a complete game at Briggs Stadium as the Washington Senators beat the Detroit Tigers 3 to 2. The deciding run was scored by Washington in the 9th. Eddie Yost was hit by a pitch. A balk was called. After an out was recorded, Jim Busby stepped up to the plate and he doubled scoring the run. Washington and Detroit each finished the afternoon with 5 hits. The victory went to Porterfield(11-15) who went the distance allowing 2 runs. Ted Gray(0-9) was the losing pitcher. He allowed 5 hits and 9 walks in 9 innings. With this win, Washington has a 67-76 record. They have been 6-4 lately. With the loss, the Detroit ballclub's record is 73-70.
PHILADELPHIA AT BALTIMORE (Game 1) Athletics....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 2 0 Orioles......... 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 1 3 2 Bob Turley allowed only 2 hits resulting in a big goose egg on the scoreboard for Philadelphia as the Baltimore Orioles beat the ice-cold Philadelphia Athletics by a score of 1 to 0. Turley(13-13) dominated Philadelphia hitters. He allowed just 2 hits and 3 walks in 9 innings. Baltimore had only 3 hits for the afternoon. Johnny Gray(0-12) took the loss. He pitched 7 innings allowing only 3 hits and 2 walks. Jimmy Dykes was very impressed with his pitcher, Turley, 'He had unusually good pitch placement this afternoon. It was almost unfair - but a beautiful game to watch from where I sat'
PHILADELPHIA AT BALTIMORE (Game 2) Athletics....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 1 5 2 Orioles......... 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 - 3 6 2 Win:Pillette(6-10) Loss:Sima(5-8) Homeruns- J.Durham(1st) Duane Pillette completed the game without help from the bullpen at Memorial Stadium where the Baltimore Orioles beat the struggling Philadelphia Athletics 3 to 1. In the bottom of the 5th inning Baltimore scored 2 runs. Baltimore managed only 6 on the afternoon. The win was credited to Pillette(6-10) who went the whole way allowing 1 run. Al Sima(5-8) was the loser. He was pinned with the loss despite not allowing an earned run in his 6 innings of work.
