Owner: Justin B
Activity Level: Moderate
Park Factor: Let’s just list it:
110/98 – Singles
94/90 – Doubles
96/100 – Triples
22/22 – Home Runs
Has the face of ATB changed forever? This, and not just naming the best team, is the most pertinent question we can ask ourselves in reviewing our 20-resims. With one of the best pitching staffs we’ve ever seen, and 180 more wins than any other team in the 20-resims, it’s clear the Gossamers were the best team in ATB this year. But what is the long term impact on draft strategy and team composition?
First, a few words the ATB XIII Gossamers. We know from the regular season Gold Country focuses on great pitching and even better defense. Perhaps just as important was there platoon strategy. With early draft picks mostly going towards pitching, Justin had to mix and match with his offense and the result was unofficial ATB record of six (!) platoons. Only Eddie Collins (.381 OBP), Pop Lloyd (.354 OPB), and Richie Ashburn (.363) were full time players. The rest of the lineup were successful, even if lacking star quality:
Catcher: Aaron Robinson (.677 OPS) and Bill Freehan (.628 OPS)
First Base: John Olerud (.378 OBP) and Frank Chance (.367 OBP)
Third Base: Stan Hack (.608 OPS – the only truly bad player) and Ezra Sutton (.355 OPS)
Left Field: Fred Clarke (.767 OPS) and Joe Kelley (.352 OBP)
Right Field: Al Kaline (.714 OPS) and And Van Slyke (.689 OPS)
DH: Bobby Murcer (.778 OPS) and Magglio Ordonez (.718 OPS)
As you’ll see below, the pitching staff was incredible. While many of the names we already associate with greatness, pitchers such as Arthur Rhodes, John Wetteland, and Jesse Tannehill are as much a product of their environment as it is of their true talent level.
Their best regulars were as follows:
Vg/48 with Vg arm - Catcher
Vg/91 – First Base
Ex/59 – Second Base
Ex/74 – Shortstop
Ex/61 – Third Base
Ex/70 – Left Field
Ex/100 – Center Field
Ex/62 – Right Field
Now back to the question at hand. Had I left this season with the paragraph above, the answer would have been no. A single great season without a World Series Championship would have convinced few the merits of a total pitching and defense strategy. However, my curiosity led me to substitute the worst team in the 100 resims with the Gossamers.
The results? In 50 resims this time, another clear and astounding victory for Justin B. In his first year in our league, he put together the single greatest team we’ve ever seen:
91 Wins – Gold Country Gossamers
87 Wins – Lusitania Death Speakers
86 Wins – Pangea T-Rex
84 Wins – DC Chips (X)
84 Wins – Manetheren Red Eagles
(Of course, the standings after the Gossamers don’t match what we saw over 100 re-sims, which does leave some open some loose ends to tackle for another day.)
Congratulations Justin B! Next season look for at least one team to fight you for the same players.
800 OPS Batters
None!
Sub 4.00 ERA Starters
Every dang one of em’:
Rd 1 – Pedro Martinez: 22-7, 2.49 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 273 IP, 280 K
Rd 4 – Scott Stratton: 17-11, 3.49, 1.23 WHIP, 249 IP, 228 K
Rd 5 – Jesse Tannehill: 16-11, 3.63 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 244 IP, 124 K
Rd 14 – Cliff Lee: 15-13, 3.71 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 237 IP, 118 K
Sub 3.25 ERA Relievers
Who wasn’t?
Rd 10 – Rafael Betancourt: 8-5, 2.43 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 112 IP, 80 K, 24 Sv
Rd 12 – Bruce Sutter: 8-3, 2.44 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 118 IP, 121 K
Rd 15 – Steve Howe: 5-5, 2.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 70 IP, 16 K, 22 Sv
Rd 17 – Arthur Rhodes: 4-1, 2.77 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 64 IP, 57 K
Rd 22 – John Wetteland: 2-3, 3.13 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 21 IP, 18 K
Rd 23 – Mike Myers: 5-3, 2.57 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 50 IP, 32 K
The only pitcher on the entire staff not listed in the two categories above was Brett Saberhagen. And he had a 3.37 ERA, 1.29 WHIP in 33 IP.
And before anyone cries park factor, the only extreme rating in this park was HR factor, and idea we’ve seen at least a dozen times already
Bust Draft Pick
Rd 9 – Paul Waner. After a .592 OPS in 55 games he was dropped.
Value Draft Pick
Any one of those late round relievers will do, but Cliff Lee , whom nobody that was an especially good pick, gets the nod.
Overall Standings
#18, 55 Wins – Texas Gringos
#17, 63 Wins – Nottingham Outlaws
#16, 64 Wins – Downsouth Brews
#15, 78 Wins – Willets Point "Mechanics"
#14, 79 Wins – Island Creek Bivalves
#13, 79 Wins – Planet 10
#12, 82 Wins – Bridgewater Brazen Beanballers
#11, 83 Wins – Otherton Fish Biscuits
#10, 83 Wins – Kakadu Didgeridoos
#9, 83 Wins – Helena Handbasket
#8, 83 Wins – Rusty Kuntz Traveling All Stars
#7, 84 Wins – Hathsin Survivors
#6, 85 Wins – DC Chips
#5, 81 Wins – John McDonald Fanclub
#4, 86 Wins – Londonderry Machine
#3, 93 Wins – Big Dan and the Ladys
#2, 93 Wins – Newark Slam Dumps
#1, 102 Wins – Gold Country Gossamers
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