With 98 wins in the regular season, the Sparta Hoplites were one of the few candidates to claim the top spot in the 20 resims. Sean S sure got close, but ultimately an average offense prevented them from cracking the Top-3. Still, this team was very good, averaging 90 wins per season, claiming 16 playoff births including 12 division titles, and capturing the 2nd best Max Win potential of any team.
Their strength was the rotation and bullpen, especially the latter. As you can see below four different relievers ended with ERA’s well south of 3.00 and when you add the elite Greg Maddux (18-9, 2.57 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 260 IP, 217 H) and Kevin Brown (14 W, 3.63 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) the team had chance to win on a nightly basis. Sparta’s third through fifth starters were also above average for their rotation slots, combining for a 4.12 ERA and 1.25 WHIP.
Drafted in the 7th round, Eric Gagne was supposed to be the stud pitcher out of the pen and while he didn’t disappoint (2.37 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 80 K, 62 IP, 36 Sv), Bobby Jenks was the star. Jenks was drafted 7 rounds later and posted insane numbers both in the regular season (0.16 ERA!) and here in the resims (2.18 ERA, 1.07 WHIP).
Edgar Martinez (see below) and Orator Shaffer (.300 / .359 / .416 with 50 doubles) were led the way for the Hoplite 14th ranked offense. Top to bottom, this was a offense focused on base average but didn’t have that one elite batter to carry the lineup on a daily basis. Richie Ashburn, Chipper Jones, Todd Helton, and Eddie Stanky each got on base between 33% and 35% of the time, a true rarity in ATB. Fred Carroll remained a good offensive catcher batting .250 / .367 / .719 with a .736 OPS.
While there were no superstars, there was really only one hole in the lineup as well. Rico Petrocelli batted .221 with a .291 on base average out of the 9 hole, but even he managed 20 home runs and 84 RBI per season.
Overall, the Hoplites were above .500 in 19 out of 20 seasons and cracked 90 wins twelve times. Not once did they finish with a negative run differential, the first team to do so.
For kicks, I looked up Maddux’s best season: 21-5, 1.85 RCERA, 0.86 WHIP, 264 IP, 187 H, 40 BB, 152 K. Good stuff.
800 OPS Batters:
None
Sub 4.00 ERA Starters
2.57 – Greg Maddux
3.73 – Kevin Brown
Sub 3.25 ERA Relievers
2.18 – Bobby Jenks
2.37 – Eric Gagne
2.49 – Steve Howe
2.72 – Andrew Bailey
Best Value Draft Pick
Rd 10 – Edgar Martinez (.272 / .357 / .418 with 48 doubles & 10 home runs in park with a 20 HR Factor)
Bust Draft Pick
None, but I would bet Sean wanted more out of his #3 pick, Chipper Jones (.277 / .356 / .362)
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