Any suggestions for first 80's team?

[PaddyLanePounders]

http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/80s/team/team_other.html?user_id=67520

The[size=18:f68b1870ed][color=blue:f68b1870ed] Krazy Keeshonds [/color:f68b1870ed][/size:f68b1870ed]held a preseason press conference, where manager Fitch discussed making some moves in an attempt to upgrade the team. Waivers are tonight at 5:00 (about 1 more hour).

Fitch - "We brought many top notch players into camp and most will be staying. Despite their reputations, Langston and Dunston performed well in workouts that were closed to the media, but both of them have already been told they don't fit into out plans. They are not fan favorites and this team wants to keep the crowd happy. The main goal for this Keeshond franchise is to put a competitive team on the field each day. We want the fans to better enjoy that $15 Supersized 4 oz. burger, stick around for the 9th inning to buy a $8 candybar and a $50 Krazy Keeshond mascot bobblehead for the ride home."

Media - "Why havn't Langston and Dunston been cut yet?"

Fitch - "Dunston in a fit of rage, upon learning he didn't make the team, dumped gatorade mixed with pinetar on the uniforms and benches. As team captain, George Brett took issue with that and is making Dunston clean the uniforms by hand with a scrub brush. Langston felt sorry for him and is helping him out. Once they finish we'll officially cut both. We are taking any trade offers for one or both of them very seriously. Dunston has sworn that he will ravage our pitching if he ever gets an opportunity elsewhere. I doubt it'll ever happen though."

[Panzer ace]

I enjoyed the press conf notes. :lol:
I would use the money you have to try to upgrade from Cowens at one of the corners. Someone with a higher OB%. You could also add a RP, maybe another LH. Agosto or Lefferts can be very good.
I like the rotation for your park. The line up looks solid to start the year.

[BRIANCHIVIS]

I am thinking you are going to need a bat to platoon with Danials. Otherwise the team looks really good. Don't expect to score a lot of runs in Royals. I think you should be good to go.

[PaddyLanePounders]

The [size=18:bd58e94e29][color=blue:bd58e94e29]Krazy Keeshonds [/color:bd58e94e29][/size:bd58e94e29]provided the fans with some exciting tryouts at Royal Stadium. Not only was admission free, but fans were paid $1 for entering in the form of 4 quarters.

Unsatisfied with the current outfield corner situation 10 players were invited to perform before the fans in a HR derby contest. Mark Langston provided the batting practice, while batters who had already hit fielded in the outfield.

Langston - "I think there is room for me on this team. When the fans don't see any of these hitters able to smack the ball in this HR derby... management may find their hand is forced into bringing me back. It will still be $7.07 mill though. I've got my pride."

Containers were setup around the stadium for each of the players trying out. Fans were then encouraged to deposit their coins in the container of the player who they wanted to be one of the [color=blue:bd58e94e29]Krazy Keeshond [/color:bd58e94e29]outfielders. Ownership has promised the fans that the player they pay the most for will be the player who is offered a contract.

In order of appearance:

1) Al Cowens
2) Dusty Baker
3) Gary Roenicke
4) Phil Bradley
5) Johhny Grub
6) Terry Puhl
7) Milt Thompson
8) Tom Brunansky
9) Gorman Thomas
10) Danny Tartabull

[PillPop]

You've got great defense. I agree with the guy who says get a righty batter to platoon with Daniels. If you have one of Kal's great cards, you might not really need the platoon partner, but cover your butt just in case.

[Panzer ace]

I would look to replace Cowens with a RH bat to keep better balance in your line up. Tartabull could hit well in KC. What are the other parks in your division? You will need a platoon partner if Grub is your choice. Look for a cheap sub $1mil option for platooning with Daniels.

[PaddyLanePounders]

The quarters have been counted and Johnny Grubb was the clear fan favorite after some nice diving catches and launching one ball into the fountains.

Final quarter count (rounded up to 100's) was:
1) Grubb 16,000
2) Cowens 13,500
3) Baker 13,500
4) Roenicke 12,500
5) Dwayne Murphy 12,000 ( a late entry after being released by Elysium Archangels)
6) Gorman Thomas 6,000
7) Puhl 6,000
8) Thompson 6,000
9) Brunansky 500
10) Tartabull 500

Players donated the money the fans provided them to a charity of their choice.
1) Grubb $4,000 He stayed the rest of the day signing autographs and giving back the quarters to the fans by the handful!
2) Cowens $3,375 to Salvation Army
3) Baker $3,375 to Save a Dalmation
4) Roenicke $3,125 to his local fire department
5) Murphy $3,000 to his church
6) Thomas $1,750 Humane Society
7) Puhl $1,500 Aids Foundation
8) Thompson $1,500 Habitat for Humanity
9) Brunansky $500 Toys for Tots
10) Tartabull $500 Red Cross

A total of $22,625 was raised. Attendance was 14,720. Meaning the crowd paid $7,905 of thier own cash towards choosing the new [size=18:740e52dc7d][color=blue:740e52dc7d]Krazy Keeshond [/color:740e52dc7d][/size:740e52dc7d]outfielder!

Tartabull was a huge disappointment. Fans booed lustily after he failed to run down what appeared to be catchable flyballs. A few quarters were even thrown at him by fans. Gorman Thomas put a stop to that by jogging over and beginning to catch the quarters in his hat. Soon the Krazies were purposefully tossing quarters in Gormans direction. An injury, in what appeared to be a pulled groin, prevented him from finishing the competition, which certainly hurt his final tally.

The hitters had a total of 43 homerun derby at bats vs. Langston. He had 6 K's and only Cowens and Murphy managed to go yard against him.

Langston - "I'm ready. I feel that I'm in a good year! Somebody just needs to give me a chance."

The rest of the hitting was done against an assortment of RH relief pitchers. Murphy (again), Thomas, Roenick, and Grubb x2 went deep vs the righties in a total of 78 ab's.

[PaddyLanePounders]

The [color=blue:e7ef7455d6][size=18:e7ef7455d6]Krazy Keeshonds [/size:e7ef7455d6][/color:e7ef7455d6]gave the following interview to Sports Illustrated.

SI: "Is this team going to contend for the Western Division pennant?"

Fitch: "Vegas odds are at 10-1 right now. Seems about right. The feedback from experienced and skilled managers like [color=red:e7ef7455d6]NYCalderon, Panzer ace, Chief78. and PillPop [/color:e7ef7455d6]has been a big help. Gotta give a SHOUT OUT "THANK YOU" to all 3 of those talented/experienced fellas for their time. Without their insight, odds of a Keeshond flag are more like 20-1."

SI: "Is the current roster final."

Fitch: "No. DH, 1B, LF or RF, and two of the .75 pitcher spots are still open. Would like to get a better arm (-2 or more) in LF or RF. The fans selected Grubb so we will keep to our word and sign him. Would hate to lose Singleton, but for the right player in exchange it could happen. As it stands now we have

C 2e4 Porter L 1r
2B 2e17 Randolph R 1l
SS 1e15 Smith S 1l
3B 2e25 Brett L 2r
CF 1e5 -4 Puckett R 1l
LF (or RF) 3e3 -1 Singleton S 2r
RF (or LF) 2e8 +0 Grubb L 3r

1b 3e14 Durham L 1r
or
1B 1e10 Wally Joyner L 2r
or
1B 3e10 Andre Thornton R 3l

DH Daniels L 4r and DH Zisk R 2l
or
DH Tartabull R E

SI: "Tartabull? I thought he bombed during tryouts."

Fitch: "Indeed. Today he showed up on his motorcycle in jeans and no shirt with muscles ripped. Walked right up to the cage and has been smashing balls around the park all afternoon. He heard of the good word that Panzer ace put in for him and now seems to have a new found faith in himself. When a manager with Panzer ace's skills puts in a good word on a player it has to be taken very seriously."

SI: "So Tartabull could be the fulltime DH and not Kal and Zisk?"

Fitch: "Possibly. Our 3 division rivals play in Oylmpic Stadium (10,9), County Stadium (9,8), and Royal Stadium (16,2). Hoping to get some more information on which player has the best chance of performing well in those parks."

[Panzer ace]

Danny T. for full time DH. (drop Grubb, I think his steroid test is questionable, the fans will understand). Tartabull gives you another RH bat to balance the line up. You play Singleton in RF(nice fit for your division), LF is a platoon of Kal and Zisk (you have Sheridan as def replacement). This gives you some options. If Kal or Singleton flop, you could play Tartabull in RF if you had to. If Tartabull or Kal flop the remaining guy goes to DH and you pick up a new RF or LF since Singleton can do both. Tartabull played in KC so he will still put up good numbers in your park and provide the HR power you want on the road. Tartabull can even steal a base or two. I think the rest of the line up looks pretty good.
I like the overall pitching staff. Heaton is the only one I am not crazy about. I have used all the others with some success. I might look to drop Heaton for a different SP. Caldwell, Waits, Comer, Pastore, Kison, Swift and Burris all come to mind as nice choices with an upside for your park.

[PaddyLanePounders]

Although publicly unconfirmed, it appears that Johnny Grubb :shock: has failed a privately conducted steroid test within the [size=18:1f974c91c4][color=blue:1f974c91c4]Krazy Keeshond [/color:1f974c91c4][/size:1f974c91c4]organization.

Fitch's only comments on why Grubb was released were: "Grubb agreed to submit to a privately done test after rumors circulated that he was on steroids. He took this test on the condition that the type of test taken would not be made public if he failed. Therefore the Keeshonds have nothing more to say on the subject other than, we wish Johnny Grubb well in his future activities."

Fans reaction so far has ranged from: "You just knew ownership would find a way to screw us out of getting the player we wanted. :x "
to
"It was a bit surprising when he launched one into the fountains during tryouts. :? "
to
"They should keep him anyway. I respect a player who will sacrifice his body and his risk his reputation to perform better for the team. Just wish he'd figured out a way to not get caught! :o "

Grubb: "Ridiculous. I've done nothing wrong. The Keeshonds wanted Tartabull all along. For some reason veteran managers did not put in a good word for me. I was ready to tear it up this season. My heart is broken by this. I really liked the Keeshond fans and wanted to play in Royals Stadium for them. Hopefully another team will recognize that this whole thing was a sham and give me a shot. :cry: "

Fitch: "We are optimistic that Tartabull is the answer. We've initiated trade talk with the teams who have Dave Parker, Jesse Barfield, Dwight Evans, Andre Dawson, Dave Winfield, and Eric Davis. Player in consideration for exchange is Singleton. 1B is still an open position with Durham holding it down currently, but Joyner has shown an excellent glove in practice."

Press: "What about Thornton?"

Fitch: "He left with Grubb."