The Boys of Summer - Living up to the BUMS moniker

[GFDWARF07]

From time to time, our fellow owner, 2CityFan, organizes franchise-based theme leagues to the great enjoyment of all involved. It was in one of his leagues that I achieved my greatest strat glory (and my record is average at best), managing my boyhood idols and hometown Senators/Twins to a World Series title in a 24 team league. That season illustrates why I enjoy the game so much. Opening the game replay every day was very fun.

The next time around I took the lovable Brooklyn Dodgers, The Boys of Summer in Roger Kahn's classic, to the playoffs and surprisingly close to a championship. They were competetive every game it seemed, and man is it ever fun to look at at a lineup every day that includes all the great characters in Roger Kahn's baseball classic. If you haven't read it and enjoy baseball books, though this one qualifies as much more, it's reputation is well deserved. But I digress...

So when 2CityFan formed another league and the Dodgers were again available, this time with the addition of the pre- and post- Dodger franchise lists, I jumped at the chance. I figured adding Zack Wheat to fill a big hole in LF, returning the core starters from the prior team, and adding Dazzy Vance (my first ever Cy Young winner back in 2007) to the rotation, I would have a good chance to carry my division, or at least be in the WC hunt.

Which brings us to present. My Dodgers currently stand in last place, 40 (yes, I said 40) games behind, and 52 (can you believe it?) games below .500(40-92). As the team plummeted and reached 30 game below even keel I started to try some fixes, but no matter what I did the team floundered further.

I have read in another thread where certain owners tank intentionally and screw up their league. Last time I checked some of those teams have better records. It has reached the point of ridiculousness. During the prior season, I had added Don Newcome as a late season addition and he pitched very well through the remainder of the season and playoffs. This year I did the same and he went 0-5 with an ERA near 10.

This one team, combined with one other I posted on recently (that team was 40 games below .500 after 92 games, but I solicited advice and "fixed" the team, to some extent, half-way through the season and finished the season at .500 in the second half) have lowered my overall win % significantly. Of course my overal win % isn't on my life's resume, so who cares really. But I just find amazement in the oddity.

Anyone else have similar stories? If I took the Dodogers for a third time would they contend potentially? I am sure there were many holes in my strategy. Do the winningest managers ever have teams like this?

(insert primal scream)

Thanks for listening and happy spring to all! The season is almost over! :lol:

Dan

[GFDWARF07]

Oh, here's the team:
http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team_switch/switcharoo.html?href=/stratomatic/home_good.html&team_id=375485

I admit to some desperation moves recently, what the heck. I would cashier Koufax or anyone else and make more moves if anyone has suggestions.

[andycummings65]

The [b:9b3d0119c0]PostWar [/b:9b3d0119c0]Dodgers offensively need to be in a HR park to take advantage of the offensive strengths of Snider, Hodges, Campy, etc. Unfortunately, the Dodgers PITCHING does [b:9b3d0119c0]not [/b:9b3d0119c0]need to be in a HR park, but a pitchers park. At least, thats what I have found when I try them. That and the fact that they dont have a 1 in the middle IF...........