the Harry Spilman test....1986

I am always to chicken to actually use Harry Spilman in a season due to the catcher rating but I have finally caved and I'm just too tempted by the Ray Knight/Spilman platoon at 1B.

I have Bob Boone with his 1 injury rating at C as well as Skinner so hopefully if Spilman ends up catching at all it is only for a game or two.

I always see Spilman sitting there in free agency and have never seen a single person use him so what the heck. Spilman will be batting 5th vs RHP. Here is my squad for the season:

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/821865

1986 is a great season to play. I don't think Spilman is that much of a bargain, but hopefully he does well for you.

I thought I remembered having good success with him so I went and looked at my past 1986 teams. I've used him twice:

Royals: 273/348/460 in a platoon with Tracy Jones (Jones went 400/441/452) Team went 99-63, lost in semis

Three Rivers: 249/338/371 again in platoon with Tracy Jones (Jones went 429/453/591) Team went 88-74, lost in finals

So my memory was actually of the teams doing well, not necessarily Spilman.

Also the moral of the story seems to be : use Tracy Jones!!!!

Here are the links to those teams:


This team ran wild (check out the steals)

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/84738



http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/370042

I think when people see Spilman's 9R they can be a little bit deceived, because he only had two at bats against left handed pitchers. So his numbers against right handed pitchers are basically the same as his overall numbers. Also, the computer manager will probably NOT pinch hit for him every time he faces a lefty, especially if it is before say the 7th inning. Having said all that, I hope he does well for you.