It's Awfully Quiet on the 1969 Message Board...

[kenhutchings]

I'm in the final fifteen games of a '69 season. I'm trying to finish this season with some dignity by hoping not being in last place in my division. :(

If there are any highlights on my team, it looks like Ed Stroud will qualify for the record book in the Triples category, as he currently has 21. It appears that the triples category belong to him and Mike Hegan for the 1969 game. This is the first time that I've had ES on my team, and I have to wonder if he's an underappreciated player. It seems to me that he has an effective card vs. both RHP and LHP. :?

So what's happening out there in 1969 land?? :?:

[franky35]

In real life, Stroud played 6 seasons with a .237 career average and 14 total HRs. Over his career he managed 224 strike outs in 1353 ABs which is 1/6, which is slightly worse than Babe Ruth, but pitching in the late 60s was considerably better than in the 20s, so, based on strikeout %, it is pretty safe to assume that ES was a slightly better hitter than the Babe. It is astonishing to me that ES was credited with only 6 sacrifice hits for his entire career.

In 1969, ES got 6 triples in 243 plate appearances (206 ABs), so it looks like SOM was very generous with his TRIPLES.

I wouldn't put him on my team because I think there are better options (Uhlander for example).

Regarding the quiet board, I think the free 1986 teams has sucked the life out of 1969, but I think it will come back. I have a fun idea for a 1969 theme league based on the card game Hearts, each manager would pass on 3 players to another team and each team would have to hold onto those 3 players for the season. It is about time that Wayne Comer gets to play a full season. I will try posting that once the 86 season dies down.

[toshiro]

Well, we just started John E's 'Municipal' League, where every team plays in Municipal stadium ( SI = 1-10, HR = 1-3 ). It was live drafted, so the results are very interesting. The fact that my team has won 76% of it's games out the chute is a nice little bonus. Having a Reggie who is going beserko may have something to do with that.

[url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/1969/team/team_other.html?user_id=39342[/url]

There's also a franchise based theme league, with the weakest teams occupying Central -- all within 4 games of one another through 105 games. (60mil cap)
Div Leader-- Buster J's Astros, followed by White Sox, Yankees and Cards:
[url]http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/1969/team/team_other.html?user_id=38322[/url]

I'm trying like the dickens to get these ChiSox over the top, but they could use some serious help! Boston is dominating along with the other West(?)/AL power houses the Detroit Tigers and Oakland A's. East (NL powerhouses) has seen the lead change several times between The Cubs, Giants, Reds and Mets, with the Mets currently enjoying a 5 game league.

The $80mil live draft league that ken hutchings was talking about is pretty interesting, mostly due to the fact that I just passed John Law to take over first! We still have 15 games to go, so time to hold your breath.

[toshiro]

Franky-- maybe we should do a Texas hold em league as well or cribbage?

Seriously, I like your hearts based league idea. Count me in.

[LMBombers]

Franky, I once did a theme in the 80's game where each owner added 1 hitter and 1 SP to a list of the worst valued players in the game. You could use any priced player. After the list was full we assigned each player a number from 1-12 for hitters and pitchers. We then did the randomizer number sequence seperately for hitters and then for pitchers. Each team got one of each and had to start that player in their lineup and rotation for the season. If you got an expensive player that is perceived to be a bad value you had less cap room for other players. Or you could have a cheap player that is really, really bad. You could get unlucky and get one or both of the players you submitted. LOL

Anyway it was fun and could be applied to 1969.

Your hearts idea sounds good too. There would have to be rules governing what players get moved. For instance if you move players that don't have to play or could be cut what use is it? I will be out of town the week after next but if you decide to start it up I would like to participate.

[franky35]

I've been toying around with the Hearts league idea and before attempting to start a league, I thought I'd throw it out for comment. Here's the idea:

1) autodraft as normal, 80 mil, no DH, advanced.
2) after the draft, but before waivers, each team passes 3 players to another team.
The order of passes proceeds according to waiver order: first team passes to second team; second team passes to third team . . . twelfth team passes to first team. Each pass is announced via league wide mail and must include 3 players from the passing team’s drafted roster.
3) The receiving team must keep all three players on their roster for the entire season. There is no other limitation; you don’t need to start the players.
4) In the game Hearts there is an exception where if you totally lose – you totally win. It’s called “shooting the moon.” If anyone shoots the moon, losing all 162 games, I will send them a check for $100.

Alternatives to 3) The receiving team must keep all three players on their roster for the entire season AND (if a SP is received) must set a 4 or 5 man rotation and (a) must start all three players; (b) must start at least one of the received players; (c) must start at least one of the players or start 2 received hitters in a platoon; (d) must start or platoon all received players that have salaries over 1 mil; or . . . (4) if a manager wins less than 30 games then all the other managers must send them a check for $10.

what do you think?

[LMBombers]

I like the premise of the league. I am flexible to all the fine details. I'm OK with whatever you come up with.

I will be out of town from April 1-6 and most likely will not have access to a computer. Don't look for me during that time.

[johnlaw1564]

I'm in two of the leagues that Toshiro mentioned. Cleon Jones just went down for 10 games in the first inning of our recent series and he got out the broom for a clean sweep to grab the division lead. My team is led by Gibson and Jenkins with the only offense from Rico P and Cleon. We are now trying to hold on for our lives and hoping to hold off RedBeards for the wild card.

I like to keep at least one 1969 team going at a time. We have recently done a 100 mil live draft, 80 mil live draft, and I'm going to start a new thread for a 60 mil live draft. No rush to fill. Everyone is welcome!

[kenhutchings]

[quote:4b99ffb85c="franky35"]In real life, Stroud played 6 seasons with a .237 career average and 14 total HRs. Over his career he managed 224 strike outs in 1353 ABs which is 1/6, which is slightly worse than Babe Ruth, but pitching in the late 60s was considerably better than in the 20s, so, based on strikeout %, it is pretty safe to assume that ES was a slightly better hitter than the Babe. It is astonishing to me that ES was credited with only 6 sacrifice hits for his entire career.

In 1969, ES got 6 triples in 243 plate appearances (206 ABs), so it looks like SOM was very generous with his TRIPLES.

I wouldn't put him on my team because I think there are better options (Uhlander for example).

[/quote:4b99ffb85c]

Stroud's rate of triples per plate appearance is just under 1 in 40. I'm not sure how Strato determines how many triples are generated from the batter's card and how many from the pitcher's, but it seems that triples from most pitchers are a somewhat rare occurrence. Vs. LHP, ES has a straight Triple on 1-7 (1 chance in 36), plus an additional chance for a triple on 1-8 (10% chance, or 5 chances in 2160). Vs. RHP, ES has a 90% chance of a triple on 1-8 (45 chances in 2160). Thus, vs. LHP (whom he batted against 12% of the time), ES has a 65/2160, or 1 in 33.2, chance of getting a triple (not counting the effect of the pitcher's card), and against RHP, he has a 45/2160, or 1 in 48 chance of getting a triple. If one were to calculate a weighted percentage (88% vs. RHP for the '69 season), then it doesn't appear that SOM was generous with triples.

As to Stroud vs. Uhlaender (both of whom are on my current team, BTW): according to Baseball Reference.com, ES had 5.1 runs created per game as opposed to TU's 4.3; ES had an 0.746 OPS compared to TU's 0.684 OPS. Granted, TU has the better fielding ratings, but it would appear that ES is slightly better in most offensive categories. And although ES was apparently platooned during the '69 season, his card against LHP isn't too shabby. This is the first '69 team (of three to date) where ES has been on my team; his slugging average through Game 153 is 0.500 (real life it was 0.393), so I'm extremely pleased about that. He's up to 24 triples now. :D

[franky35]

You're right Strat was right on with Stroud's triples.

In real life 1969, Stroud got a triple in 2.6% of plate appearances. To account for 24 triples he would have needed 936 PA.

In SOM, facing righties, Stroud's card is 4.6/108 PA = 4.3 % combined with pitcher's cards which are usually pretty low, let's say 2.5% vs. righties. Vs lefties 6.4/108 = 5.9 % combined with pitcher's cards let's say 3.5 %. So, it does appear that SOM has it just right.

Assuming, in your league, he faces 60% righties, he ought to hit triples in 2.9% of plate appearances, which is 17 for a 600 PA season. So he is very lucky in your season.