Joe Grzenda, Me and Hal

[The Senators]

I have chased Joe Grzenda's fluke season of '71 ever since I have joined these leagues. I just concluded a season in which it was revealed that I had that season. All year I had bullpen problems and everyone got their shot to close. For the last half of the season I left the pitching categories empty. Grzenda finished the season with a 1-3 record, 2 saves and 4 blown saves. His ERA was 6.95 and a 1.67 WHIP. Both Hal and I managed to screw up one of the greatest bargains in all of Strat-0-Matic.

[TomP]

If it makes you feel better, I've had the same issue. However, below is one season where the stars aligned properly for Joe.


http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball/stratomatic/70s/team/team_other.html?user_id=2908

[The Senators]

Wow! You couldn't miss with that bullpen...Looks like everyone was lights out! And at Fenway, besides...

[Rigged Splits]

I don't know how HAL is programmed to choose a reliever when no strategies are set, but I've had the good Grzenda season at least 4 times and HAL doesn't use him as much as you'd think he would. I've always had to set him to close and set up to get him to pitch over 100 innings.

[The Senators]

Early on I had him set up to close and he compiled the stats shown. I apparently just gave up on him too early. After they were all left blank he never got called on at all. The curious thing is that Fred Scherman, with a far inferior card lefty and righty, was used in over 50 games and over 100 innings as a lefty out of the pen.