20 Resims: #14 - Niagara Frontier Blackbirds

Niagara Frontier gets my vote for most surprising result in the resims.  During the regular season the Blackbirds were tragically awful, winning just 63 with a -142 run differential.  Quite unfortunately, they were as bad as they looked.

The resims revealed a completely different team.  Niagara never came close to winning 63 again, the lowest win total in the resims was 72 and they averaged 81, peaking at 94.  Playing in the same division as Spanish Harlem they rarely had on opportunity to win the division, but they did make the playoffs 6 times.

Without any specific stars, Niagara was simply a balanced team with few gaping holes in their lineup or rotation.  All four members of the rotation sported ERA’s between 3.94 and 4.32 while their bullpen, anchored by Tim Burke (See below), was just about average too.  Joe Berry pitched 100 innings per season with a 1.20 WHIP with Jim Poole successfully retiring lefties to the tune of a 3.37 ERA. The rest compiled slightly worse than average ERA’s.

Their lineup was centered around second basemen Nap Lajoie (.306 / .342 / 464, 53 2B, 14 HR) but several other players filled roles rather well.  First Basemen Tommy Tucker had an above average OBP (.358) with Duke Snider (23 HR), Josh Gibson (29 HR), and Mel Ott  (25 HR) providing power behind him.

The team certainly needed to get on base more (.310 team OBP) but this was a rather good rookie draft for owner Greg M.

800 OPS Batters: 
.806 – Nap Lajoie

Sub 4.00 ERA Starters
3.94 – Bill Swift

Sub 3.25 ERA Relievers
2.66 – Tim Burke

Best Value Draft Pick
Rd 16 - Steve Evans (.269 / .318 / .440 with 29 doubles in part time play)

Bust Draft Pick
Rd 5 – Catfish Hunter (acquired via trade, but just 4 IP per season)

20 Resim Results

24) 64 wins, Downsouth Brews

23) 66 wins, Colorado Green Sox

22) 72 wins, Lancaster Pretty Ladies

21) 69 wins, Detroit Tigers
20) 74 wins, Platte County Burnt Ends
19) 75 wins, Leesburg Snowhole
18) 77 wins, Planet 10 Red Lectroids
17) 78 wins, Rochester Beau Brummels
16) 79 wins, Otherton Fishbiscuits
15) 79 wins, North Valley Bears
14) 81 wins, Niagara Frontier Blackbirds