Impossible Dream???

[bigpapi]

1975 World Series Game One Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Dodgers
J.R. Richard (16-8 4.70) v Rich Reuschel (13-8 3.14)

The Rangers would take a 2-0 lead after two innings, on an RBI single from Cecil Cooper in the 1st and solo HR from Rusty Staub in the 2nd. The score would remain 2-0 until the Dodgers would get on the board in the bottom of the 6th on an RBI double from Jim Obradovich and would tie the game in the 7th on an RBI single from Alex Johnson. The game would stay tied at 2 until the bottom of the 9th inning, when Steve Garvey hit a one out, game winning, solo HR off Charlie Hudson to give the Dodgers a 3-2 win and 1-0 lead in the Series.

Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Dodgers
October 26, 1975

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
       Rangers (TEX) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0    2 13  0
       Dodgers (LAD) 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1    3 11  0

TEXAS                ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
R. Robles (SS)        4  1  0  1  0  0  1  0    .312
A. Gallagher (3B)     4  1  1  0  0  0  0  0    .300
J. Wynn (CF)          4  1  1  0  0  0  0  0    .300
C. Cooper (1B)        4  2  1  0  0  1  1  0    .320
J. Wockenfuss (C)     4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .195
R. Staub (RF)         3  2  1  1  1  1  0  0    .279
F. Wicker (LF)        4  2  0  0  0  0  0  0    .260
J. Martinez (2B)      4  2  0  0  0  0  1  0    .257
J. Richard (P)        2  2  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 C. Hough (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 C. Kusick (P)        1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .275
 T. Martinez (P)      0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 C. Hudson (P)        0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS               34 13  4  2  1  2  3  0

   2B:  J. Martinez, R. Robles
   HR:  R. Staub
   GIDP:  J. Wockenfuss 2, F. Wicker

           TEXAS   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
      J. Richard  6.2  9  4  0  2  2  5 153   4.70
        C. Hough  0.1  0  0  0  0  0  0   2   2.92
     T. Martinez  1.0  1  1  0  0  0  1  19   2.12
       C. Hudson  0.1  1  0  1  1  1  1   8   4.13
          TOTALS  8.1 11  5  1  3  3  7 182

LOS ANGELES          ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
B. Russell (SS)       4  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .328
G. Jestadt (3B)       4  1  1  0  0  0  1  0    .289
J. Lefebvre (2B)      5  2  0  1  0  0  1  0    .285
S. Garvey (1B)        5  1  0  1  1  1  1  0    .339
A. Johnson (LF)       3  1  1  0  0  1  0  0    .299
W. Davis (CF)         4  2  0  1  0  0  0  0    .259
G. Moore (RF)         1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .297
 J. Obradovich (P)    1  1  0  0  0  1  0  0    .223
 J. Jeter (P)         1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .213
E. Hendricks (C)      3  1  1  0  0  0  1  0    .280
R. Reuschel (P)       3  1  0  0  0  0  2  0    .081
 D. Baney (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .333
 C. Jones (P)         1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .306
 C. Machemehl (P)     0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .400
TOTALS               35 11  5  3  1  3  7  0

   2B:  J. Lefebvre, W. Davis, J. Obradovich
   HR:  S. Garvey

     LOS ANGELES   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
     R. Reuschel  7.0 11  3  1  2  2  2 123   3.14
        D. Baney  1.0  1  0  0  0  0  0  14   4.32
    C. Machemehl  1.0  1  1  0  0  0  1  17   4.50
          TOTALS  9.0 13  4  1  2  2  3 154

     WP: C. Machemehl
     LP: C. Hudson

     Temperature: 51F
     Wind: 7 MPH (in from center)
     Attendance: 56,000
     Time: 3:23

World Series Game Two Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Dodgers
Jerry Reuss (16-11 3.73) v Jonah Stickles (12-7 4.83)

The Dodgers would get on the board in the bottom half of the first inning on a solo HR from Gerry Jestadt and the Rangers would tie the game in the 3rd on and RBI double from Al Gallagher. Los Angeles would regain the lead for good in the bottom of the 3rd as Jestadt drove in another run, this time with an RBI single. LA would extend the lead to 3-1 after Garvey drove in a run with a sac fly, but Stickles wouldn't need it as he pitched a complete game, allowing just the 1 run, allowing 4 hits, 1 walk and striking out 4 as the Dodgers took a 2-0 Series lead with a 3-1 victory.

Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Dodgers
October 27, 1975

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
       Rangers (TEX) 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0    1  4  1
       Dodgers (LAD) 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 x    3  6  1

TEXAS                ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
R. Robles (SS)        4  2  0  1  0  0  0  0    .312
A. Gallagher (3B)     4  1  0  0  0  1  0  0    .300
J. Wynn (CF)          4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .300
C. Cooper (1B)        4  0  0  0  0  0  2  0    .320
J. Wockenfuss (C)     3  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .195
R. Staub (RF)         3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .279
F. Wicker (LF)        3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .260
J. Martinez (2B)      3  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .257
J. Reuss (P)          2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 C. Hough (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 C. Kusick (P)        1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .275
 T. Martinez (P)      0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS               31  4  0  1  0  1  4  0

   2B:  A. Gallagher
   GIDP:  R. Staub

           TEXAS   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
        J. Reuss  6.0  5  0  1  3  3  2  81   3.73
        C. Hough  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  0  10   2.92
     T. Martinez  1.0  1  0  0  0  0  0  11   2.12
          TOTALS  8.0  6  0  1  3  3  2 102

LOS ANGELES          ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
B. Russell (SS)       4  2  0  1  0  0  0  1    .328
G. Jestadt (3B)       4  3  0  2  1  2  0  0    .289
J. Lefebvre (2B)      4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .285
S. Garvey (1B)        3  0  0  0  0  1  0  0    .339
A. Johnson (LF)       3  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .299
 C. Jones (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .306
W. Davis (CF)         3  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .259
G. Moore (RF)         3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .297
 J. Jeter (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .213
R. Fosse (C)          3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .421
J. Stickles (P)       2  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .109
TOTALS               29  6  0  3  1  3  2  1

   2B:  G. Jestadt
   HR:  G. Jestadt

     LOS ANGELES   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
     J. Stickles  9.0  4  0  0  1  1  4 124   4.83
          TOTALS  9.0  4  0  0  1  1  4 124

     WP: J. Stickles
     LP: J. Reuss

     Temperature: 56F
     Wind: 6 MPH (in from center)
     Attendance: 56,000
     Time: 2:20

Rest of the Series is up next! (After I run errands with the wife!!)

[bigpapi]

World Series Game Three Los Angeles Dodgers at Texas Rangers
Geoff Zahn (9-9 4.81) v Bill Moran (16-11 3.72)

Jimmy Wynn's RBI groundout in the first inning would be all the runs Texas would need, but just to be safe, they added 1 in the 5th and 4 more in the 7th on an RBI double from Rafael Robles and back to back homeruns by Jimmy Wynn and Cecil Cooper. The star of the game however was Bill Moran, who pitched 8 shutout innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7 as Texas beat the Dodgers 6-0, picking up their first win of the series.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Texas Rangers
October 29, 1975

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
       Dodgers (LAD) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0    0  5  1
       Rangers (TEX) 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 x    6 10  0

LOS ANGELES          ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
B. Russell (SS)       4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .328
J. Lefebvre (2B)      4  2  0  0  0  0  1  0    .285
B. Bailey (3B)        4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .290
S. Garvey (1B)        4  2  0  0  0  0  1  0    .339
J. Obradovich (DH)    3  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .223
A. Johnson (LF)       4  0  0  0  0  0  2  0    .299
W. Davis (CF)         3  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .259
G. Moore (RF)         3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .297
E. Hendricks (C)      2  0  1  0  0  0  1  0    .280
TOTALS               31  5  2  0  0  0  7  0

   2B:  B. Russell
   GIDP:  B. Bailey

     LOS ANGELES   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
         G. Zahn  6.0  8  1  0  4  4  1  86   4.81
       A. Foster  1.0  2  0  2  2  2  0  21   3.51
        S. Ellis  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  1  14   4.17
          TOTALS  8.0 10  1  2  6  6  2 121

TEXAS                ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
R. Robles (SS)        4  3  0  3  0  1  0  0    .312
A. Gallagher (3B)     4  2  0  0  0  0  0  0    .300
J. Wynn (CF)          4  2  0  1  1  3  1  1    .300
C. Cooper (1B)        4  2  0  1  1  2  0  0    .320
J. Wockenfuss (C)     4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .195
C. Kusick (DH)        4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .275
F. Wicker (LF)        3  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .260
R. Staub (RF)         4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .279
J. Martinez (2B)      4  1  0  1  0  0  1  0    .257
TOTALS               35 10  1  6  2  6  2  1

   2B:  R. Robles
   HR:  C. Cooper, J. Wynn

           TEXAS   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
        B. Moran  8.0  5  2  0  0  0  7 119   3.72
       C. Hudson  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  0  10   4.13
          TOTALS  9.0  5  2  0  0  0  7 129

     WP: B. Moran
     LP: G. Zahn

     Temperature: 46F
     Wind: 4 MPH (out to center)
     Attendance: 35,698
     Time: 2:43

World Series Game Four Los Angeles Dodgers at Texas Rangers
Rick Reuschel (13-8 3.14) v J.R. Richard (16-8 4.70)

The Rangers jumped all over Rick Reuschel for 7 runs in the bottom of the first, knocking him out after just 2/3 of an inning. The big hits were a 3 run HR by Jimmy Wynn and a 2 run blast by Craig Kusick. A 2 run single from Al Gallagher in the 3rd put the game out of reach as the Rangers tied the series at 2 games apiece, beating LA 10-4.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Texas Rangers
October 30, 1975

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
       Dodgers (LAD) 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0    4 11  2
       Rangers (TEX) 7 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 x   10 16  0

LOS ANGELES          ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
W. Davis (CF)         3  0  2  1  0  0  0  0    .259
J. Lefebvre (2B)      5  2  0  0  0  0  0  0    .285
B. Bailey (3B)        5  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .290
S. Garvey (1B)        5  2  0  1  1  2  1  0    .339
J. Obradovich (DH)    4  1  0  1  0  0  1  0    .223
A. Johnson (LF)       4  3  0  1  0  0  0  0    .299
G. Moore (RF)         4  2  0  0  0  1  1  0    .297
E. Hendricks (C)      4  1  0  0  0  1  3  0    .280
C. Salmon (SS)        4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .238
TOTALS               38 11  2  4  1  4  8  0

   2B:  G. Moore
   HR:  S. Garvey

     LOS ANGELES   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
     R. Reuschel  0.2  4  2  2  7  6  0  34   3.14
       B. Myrick  1.2  4  0  0  2  2  2  39   0.00
       B. Singer  4.1  6  2  0  1  1  6  96   6.12
        S. Ellis  1.1  2  0  0  0  0  1  23   4.17
          TOTALS  8.0 16  4  2 10  9  9 192

TEXAS                ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
R. Robles (SS)        4  2  2  2  0  0  1  0    .312
A. Gallagher (3B)     5  3  0  1  0  2  1  0    .300
J. Wynn (CF)          5  2  0  1  1  4  1  0    .300
C. Cooper (1B)        3  1  1  0  0  0  0  0    .320
J. Wockenfuss (C)     5  0  0  1  0  0  2  0    .195
C. Kusick (DH)        5  2  0  1  1  2  1  0    .275
F. Wicker (LF)        4  3  1  2  0  0  0  0    .260
R. Staub (RF)         5  2  0  1  0  0  1  0    .279
J. Martinez (2B)      5  1  0  1  0  1  2  0    .257
TOTALS               41 16  4 10  2  9  9  0

   2B:  R. Staub
   HR:  J. Wynn, C. Kusick
   HBP:  C. Cooper
   GIDP:  J. Wynn

           TEXAS   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
      J. Richard  6.0  8  1  1  3  3  5 119   4.70
        J. Kucek  2.0  3  1  0  1  1  2  36   0.00
      J. Kremmel  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  1  12   4.81
          TOTALS  9.0 11  2  1  4  4  8 167

     WP: J. Richard
     LP: R. Reuschel

     Temperature: 53F
     Wind: 10 MPH (in from center)
     Attendance: 35,698
     Time: 4:04

World Series Game Five Los Angeles Dodgers at Texas Rangers
Jonah Stickles (12-7 4.83) v Jerry Reuss (16-11 3.73)

A pitchers duel turned into a 2-0 Dodger lead after 5 1/2 innings on a solo HR and RBI groundout from Bob Bailey in the 4th and 5th respectively. Texas tied the game at 2 in their half of the 6th on a 2 run blast by C John Wockenfuss. The game would remain tied at 2 until extra innings, when in the top of the 10th inning, Steve Garvey hit a leadoff HR off of Charlie Hough, giving LA a 3-2 lead that Chuck Machemehl made hold up as LA moved within one win of their first World Series title since 1965.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Texas Rangers
October 31, 1975

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
       Dodgers (LAD) 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1  3  8  0
       Rangers (TEX) 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0  2  9  2

LOS ANGELES          ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
W. Davis (CF)         4  2  1  0  0  0  0  0    .259
J. Lefebvre (2B)      5  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .285
B. Bailey (3B)        5  1  0  1  1  2  0  0    .290
S. Garvey (1B)        4  2  1  1  1  1  0  0    .339
J. Obradovich (DH)    4  0  0  0  0  0  2  0    .223
A. Johnson (LF)       5  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .299
 C. Jones (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .306
G. Moore (RF)         2  0  3  0  0  0  2  2    .297
 J. Jeter (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .213
R. Fosse (C)          3  1  0  1  0  0  1  0    .421
 E. Hendricks (P)     2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .280
C. Salmon (SS)        4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .238
TOTALS               38  8  5  3  2  3  6  2

   2B:  W. Davis
   HR:  S. Garvey, B. Bailey
   CS:  A. Johnson

     LOS ANGELES   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
     J. Stickles  8.0  7  3  1  2  2  4 125   4.83
    C. Machemehl  2.0  2  0  0  0  0  2  23   4.50
          TOTALS 10.0  9  3  1  2  2  6 148

TEXAS                ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
R. Robles (SS)        5  1  0  0  0  0  2  1    .312
A. Gallagher (3B)     5  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .300
J. Wynn (CF)          3  2  1  0  0  0  0  1    .300
C. Cooper (1B)        5  1  0  1  0  0  1  0    .320
J. Wockenfuss (C)     5  2  0  1  1  2  1  0    .195
C. Kusick (DH)        4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .275
F. Wicker (LF)        4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .260
R. Staub (RF)         3  1  1  0  0  0  0  0    .279
J. Martinez (2B)      1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .257
 W. Stargell (P)      0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .255
 E. Brinkman (P)      2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .280
TOTALS               37  9  3  2  1  2  6  2

   HR:  J. Wockenfuss
   CS:  F. Wicker

           TEXAS   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
        J. Reuss  7.0  5  3  1  2  2  5  94   3.73
        C. Hough  3.0  3  2  1  1  1  1  53   2.92
          TOTALS 10.0  8  5  2  3  3  6 147

     WP: C. Machemehl
     LP: C. Hough

     Temperature: 50F
     Wind: 2 MPH (in from center)
     Attendance: 35,698
     Time: 2:58

[bigpapi]

World Series Game Six Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Dodgers
Bill Moran (16-11 3.73) v Geoff Zazh (9-9 4.81)

Bill Moran pitched his 2nd straight 8 inning, zero run performance, and the Rangers scored all 5 of their runs in the 4th inning, an inning capped by a 2 run single from Rusty Staub and 2 run double from Rafael Robles as the Rangers blanked the Dodgers 5-0 and forced a Game Seven to decide who will end up World Champions.

Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Dodgers
November 2, 1975

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
       Rangers (TEX) 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0    5  7  1
       Dodgers (LAD) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0    0  3  1

TEXAS                ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
R. Robles (SS)        5  1  0  0  0  2  0  0    .312
A. Gallagher (3B)     5  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .300
J. Wynn (CF)          4  1  1  1  0  0  0  0    .300
C. Cooper (1B)        4  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    .320
J. Wockenfuss (C)     2  0  2  1  0  0  0  0    .195
R. Staub (RF)         4  1  0  1  0  2  1  0    .279
F. Wicker (LF)        4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .260
J. Martinez (2B)      4  1  0  1  0  0  1  0    .257
B. Moran (P)          3  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 C. Hudson (P)        0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS               35  7  4  5  0  4  2  0

   2B:  J. Martinez, R. Robles

           TEXAS   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
        B. Moran  8.0  3  0  0  0  0  8 101   3.72
       C. Hudson  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  1  11   4.13
          TOTALS  9.0  3  0  0  0  0  9 112

LOS ANGELES          ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
W. Davis (CF)         4  0  0  0  0  0  2  0    .259
A. Johnson (LF)       4  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .299
B. Bailey (3B)        4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .290
S. Garvey (1B)        4  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .339
J. Lefebvre (2B)      3  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .285
E. Hendricks (C)      3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .280
J. Lyttle (RF)        3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .330
T. Martinez (SS)      3  0  0  0  0  0  3  0    .242
G. Zahn (P)           1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .083
 B. Singer (P)        1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .091
 J. Obradovich (P)    1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .223
 A. Foster (P)        0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .200
TOTALS               31  3  0  0  0  0  9  0

   2B:  A. Johnson

     LOS ANGELES   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
         G. Zahn  3.2  3  4  0  5  2  0  61   4.81
       B. Singer  4.1  4  0  0  0  0  2  64   6.12
       A. Foster  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  0  12   3.51
          TOTALS  9.0  7  4  0  5  2  2 137

     WP: B. Moran
     LP: G. Zahn

     Temperature: 52F
     Wind: Calm
     Attendance: 56,000
     Time: 2:24

World Series Game Seven Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Dodgers
Rick Reuschel (13-8 3.14) v J.R. Richard (17-8 4.70)

The Rangers took a 2-0 lead after 3 innings on singles from Jose Martinez in the 2nd and Jimmy Wynn in the 3rd. J.R. Richard was in command until the 4th, when the Dodgers tagged him for 4 runs, capped by a 2 run single from Ellie Hendricks, giving LA a 4-2 lead. The Dodgers would extend the lead to 7-2 in the 8th as Steve Garvey hit a 2 run HR. Alan Foster would come on in the 9th, and after he stabbed the groundball by Rusty Staub and flipped it to first, the Los Angeles Dodgers were World Champions! Former Sox hurler Jonah Stickles was named World Series MVP after going 1-0 1.59 in 2 starts. He pitched 17 innings, allowing 11 hits and 3 walks while striking out 8.

Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Dodgers
November 3, 1975

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
       Rangers (TEX) 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0    2  6  0
       Dodgers (LAD) 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 3 x    7  8  0

TEXAS                ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
R. Robles (SS)        3  1  1  1  0  0  1  0    .312
A. Gallagher (3B)     4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .300
J. Wynn (CF)          3  1  1  0  0  1  0  0    .300
C. Cooper (1B)        4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .320
J. Wockenfuss (C)     4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .195
R. Staub (RF)         4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .279
F. Wicker (LF)        3  1  0  1  0  0  1  0    .260
J. Martinez (2B)      3  1  0  0  0  1  0  0    .257
J. Richard (P)        1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 C. Kusick (P)        0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .275
 C. Hudson (P)        0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 W. Stargell (P)      1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .255
 C. Hough (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS               30  6  3  2  0  2  3  0

   2B:  F. Wicker
   GIDP:  C. Cooper, J. Wynn
   CS:  J. Martinez

           TEXAS   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
      J. Richard  4.0  3  3  0  4  4  2  78   4.70
       C. Hudson  2.0  1  0  0  0  0  1  25   4.13
        C. Hough  2.0  4  2  2  3  3  1  41   2.92
          TOTALS  8.0  8  5  2  7  7  4 144

LOS ANGELES          ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
W. Davis (CF)         3  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .259
A. Johnson (LF)       3  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    .299
 C. Jones (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .306
 J. Obradovich (P)    1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .223
 J. Jeter (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .213
B. Bailey (3B)        2  0  2  2  0  0  2  0    .290
S. Garvey (1B)        3  2  1  2  1  2  0  0    .339
J. Lefebvre (2B)      3  0  1  1  0  1  0  0    .285
E. Hendricks (C)      4  2  0  1  1  3  0  0    .280
J. Lyttle (RF)        4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .330
T. Martinez (SS)      4  3  0  0  0  1  0  0    .242
R. Reuschel (P)       3  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .081
 A. Foster (P)        0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .200
TOTALS               30  8  5  7  2  7  4  0

   3B:  T. Martinez
   HR:  E. Hendricks, S. Garvey
   GIDP:  J. Lefebvre

     LOS ANGELES   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
     R. Reuschel  8.0  6  3  0  2  2  2 118   3.14
       A. Foster  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  1  11   3.51
          TOTALS  9.0  6  3  0  2  2  3 129

     WP: R. Reuschel
     LP: J. Richard

     Temperature: 53F
     Wind: 5 MPH (out to right)
     Attendance: 56,000
     Time: 2:53

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 1975 World Series Champions!!!

Up next will be revenue sharing results!

[bigpapi]

1975 Revenue Sharing

Here are the results from the revenue sharing model I chose to use. I think it worked out alright, especially for the teams that didn't make alot of money, which I think is the goal:

The first number below represents the starting points, the numbers in parentheses are the revenue deductions and the final number adds in the $799,583 that each team received from the pool. Any team that ended up with a negative cash amount was given a one time reprieve for this season only, and they were placed at $1.

American League:

Baltimore $1,132,156 ($427,500 Payroll Tax)($930,000 Revenue Sharing) = $574,239
Boston $5,352,126 ($910,000 Revenue Sharing) = $5,241,709
California $1,221,207 ($45,000 Payroll Tax)($840,000 Revenue Sharing) = 1,135,790
Chicago (AL) $740,252 ($45,000 Payroll Tax)($790,000 Revenue Sharing) = $704,835
Cleveland $842,668 ($500,000 Revenue Sharing) = $1,142,251
Detroit $1,288,906 ($780,000 Revenue Sharing) = $1,308,489
Kansas City $603,796 ($390,000 Revenue Sharing) = $1,013,379
Milwaukee $460,947 ($280,000 Revenue Sharing) = $980,530
Minnesota $445,151 ($530,000 Revenue Sharing) = $714,734
New York (AL) $2,491,139 ($517,500 Payroll Tax)($1,060,000 Revenue Sharing) = $1,713,222
Oakland $973,186 ($530,000 Revenue Sharing) = $1,242,769
Texas $1,510,127 ($660,000 Revenue Sharing) = $1,649,710


National League:

Atlanta $-302,650 ($405,000 Payroll Tax)($770,000 Revenue Sharing) = Placed at $1
Chicago (NL) $470,082 ($112,500 Payroll Tax)($690,000 Revenue Sharing) = $467,165
Cincinnati $882,480 ($500,000 Revenue Sharing) = $1,182,063
Houston $305,513 ($580,000 Revenue Sharing) = $525,096
Los Angeles $1,910,537 ($315,000 Payroll Tax)($1,020,000 Revenue Sharing) = $1,375,120
Montreal $426,834 ($390,000 Revenue Sharing) = $836,417
New York $2,587,410 ($337,000 Payroll Tax)($1,180,000 Revenue Sharing) = $1,869,493
Philadelphia $1,020,887 ($760,000 Revenue Sharing) = $1,060,470
San Diego $121,090 ($360,000 Revenue Sharing) = $560,673
Pittsburgh $748,649 ($420,000 Revenue Sharing) = $1,128,232
San Fransisco -$149,475 ($360,000 Payroll Tax)($820,000 Revenue Sharing) = Placed at $1
St. Louis $1,107,521 ($125,000 Payroll Tax)($800,000 Revenue Sharing) = $972,104

So those are the final numbers, it appears the high revenue teams got hit hard and it helped the smaller market teams quite a bit. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Up next though will be off season contract info, and final League Leaders!

[bigpapi]

1975 League Batting Leaders

AL BA: Bruce Bochte (CAL) .338, Bob Christian (DET) .338, Rick Reichardt (CAL) .325
NL BA: Doug Rader (STL) .350, Joe Lahoud (PIT) .340, Steve Garvey (LA) .339

AL HR's: Tony Conigliaro (BOS) 45, George Foster (CLE) 45, Jimmy Wynn (TEX) 41
NL HR's: Bobby Bonds (SF) 54, Darrell Evans (ATL) 45, Dave Kingman (SF) 42

AL RBI: Tony Conigliaro (BOS) 144, Rick Reichardt (CAL) 140, George Foster (CLE) 136
NL RBI: Bobby Bonds (SF) 149, Amos Otis (NY) 146, Steve Garvey (LA) 124

AL AB's: Larry Bowa (BAL) 669, Ron LeFlore (DET) 662, Ken Szotkiewicz (DET) 649
NL AB's: Amos Otis (NY) 627, Dave Concepcion (STL) 623, Bob Boone (PHI) 622

AL Doubles: George Brett (BOS) 48, Dave Robinson (OAK) 44, Ken Szotkiewicz (DET) 43
NL Doubles: Amos Otis (NY) 43, Lute Barnes (NY) 42, Gene Martin (STL) 39

AL Triples: George Brett (BOS) 18, 3 tied with 10
NL Triples: Tim McCarver (STL) 9, 4 tied with 8

AL Hits: Bruce Bochte (CAL) 206, Rafael Robles (TEX) 198, Bob Christian (DET) 193
NL Hits: Amos Otis (NY) 197, Bobby Bonds (SF) 194, Lute Barnes (NY) 190

AL OBP: John Mayberry (KC) .452, John Lowenstien (CLE) .424, Bruce Bochte (CAL) .415
NL OBP: Joe Lahoud (PIT) .495, Darrell Evans (ATL) .474, Doug Rader (STL) .450

AL SLG: Tony Conigliaro (BOS) .636, George Foster (CLE) .625, Jimmy Wynn (TEX) .567
NL SLG: Bobby Bonds (SF) .662, Joe Lahoud (PIT) .636, Steve Garvey (LA) .633

AL OPS: Tony Conigliaro (BOS) 1.032, George Foster (CLE) 1.002, Jimmy Wynn (TEX) .962
NL OPS: Joe Lahoud (PIT) 1.131, Darrell Evans (ATL) 1.100, Bobby Bonds (SF) 1.070

AL Runs: Reggie Smith (BOS) 133, Ted Simmons (BOS) 128, Tony Conigliaro (BOS) 115
NL Runs: Amos Otis (NY) 137, Bobby Bonds (SF) 129, Darrell Evans (ATL) 127

AL Sacrifices: Larry Bowa (BAL) 23, Doug Griffin (CAL) 19, Bert Campaneris (CLE) 16
NL Sacrifices: Frank Taveras (PIT) 21, Dave Nelson (MON) 20, Freddie Patek (CHI) 19

AL Steals: Ron LeFlore (DET) 59, Larry Bowa (BAL) 27, Cesar Cedeno (MI) 27
NL Steals: Frank Taveras (PIT) 48, Freddie Patek (CHI) 43, Dave Nelson (MON) 36

AL Strikeouts: Jim Kennedy (CHI) 130, George Scott (DET) 125, Rafael Robles (TEX) 122
NL Strikeouts: Dave Kingman (SF) 132, Bobby Bonds (SF) 120, Rob Bellior (ATL) 119

AL Walks: John Mayberry (KC) 135, Ted Simmons (BOS) 111, John Lowenstien (CLE) 126
NL Walks: Darrell Evans (ATL) 157, Joe Lahoud (PIT) 118, Joe Ferguson (ATL) 113

Final League Pitching Leaders are next!

[bigpapi]

1975 Final League Pitching Leaders

AL Wins: Fergie Jenkins (BOS) 20, Roger Moret (BOS) 20, Dave Roberts (BAL), Tommy John (CHI) 18
NL Wins: Don Sutton (LA) 21, Phil Niekro (ATL) 20, Brian Mogford (NY) 19

AL Losses: Dave McNally (KC) 22, Steve Rogers (KC) 19, Dave Boswell (MIN) 19
NL Losses: Frank Tanana (SD) 25, Doyle Alexander (SD) 20, Larry Dierker (HOU) 18

AL ERA: Tommy John (CHI) 2.99, Jim Palmer (BAL) 3.07, Wayne Garland (BAL) 3.07
NL ERA: Gaylord Perry (SF) 3.01, Rick Reuschel (LA) 3.14, Don Sutton (LA) 3.22

AL IP's: Jim Palmer (BAL) 278.1, Fergie Jenkins (BOS) 277.2, Tommy John (CHI) 252.2
NL IP'S; Don Sutton (LA) 260.0, Gaylord Perry (SF) 254.1, Tom Seaver (NY) 254.0

AL Complete Games: Jim Palmer (BAL) 10, Derek Pritchard (NY) 10, Fergie Jenkins (BOS) 9
NL Complete Games: Gaylord Perry (SF) 9, Phil Niekro (ATL) 8, Don Sutton (LA) 7

AL Shutouts: Jim Palmer (BAL) 3, 8 tied with 2
NL Shutouts: Randy Jones (HOU) 4, Mike Torrez (STL) 4, Don Sutton (LA) 3

AL Appearances: Steve Barber (MIN) 69, John Strohmayer (CAL) 61, Jim York (MIL) 60
NL Appearances: Paul Gilliford (CIN) 79, Rollie Fingers (CIN) 76, Bob Reynolds (SF) 75

AL HR's Allowed: Denny McClain (BAL/MIL) 40, Jim Merritt (MIN) 37, Catfish Hunter (CAL) 35
NL HR's Allowed: Frank Tanana (SD) 38, Doyle Alexander (SD) 32, Bert Blyleven (CHI) 30

AL Saves: Horacio Pina (DET) 23, Kent Tekulve (TEX) 23, Mickey Scott (SD/BOS) 22, Cy Acosta (CHI) 22
NL Saves: Steve Simpson (ATL) 30, Mike Jackson (PHI) 28, Al Raffo (LA) 25

AL Strikeouts: Fergie Jenkins (BOS) 238, J.R. Richard (TEX) 193, Mickey Lolich (DET) 192
NL Strikeouts: Tom Seaver (NY) 221, Steve Carlton (SF) 215, Don Sutton (LA) 209

Up next will be Off-Season Rewards followed by Contract Negotiations!!

[bigpapi]

Post Season Awards

AL Gold Gloves
P-Tommy John (CHI) (3rd)
C-Ted Simmons (BOS) (5th)
1B-Reggie Smith (BOS) (3rd)
2B-Doug Griffin (CAL) (1st)
3B-Billy Grabarkewitz (BOS) (2nd)
SS-Rafael Robles (TEX) (1st)
OF-Jimmy Wynn (TEX) (2nd)
OF-Curt Blefary (BAL) (2nd)
OF-Jarvis Tatum (CAL) (1st)

AL Rookie of the Year
Gary Matthews (MIL) .255 20-85

AL Cy Young
Fergie Jenkins (BOS) 20-5 3.24

AL MVP
Tony Conigliaro (BOS) .324 45-144

NL Gold Gloves
P-Gaylord Perry (SF) (1st)
C-Bob Boone (PHI) (2nd)
1B-Rod Carew (SD) (1st)
2B-Jim Lefebvre (LA) (2nd)
3B-Darrell Evans (ATL) (1st)
SS-Don Kessinger (PHI) (2nd)
OF-Gene Clines (CHI) (1st)
OF-Amos Otis (NY) (7th)
OF-Joe Lahoud (PIT) (2nd)

NL Rookie of the Year
Dave Augustine (PIT) .223 4-40

NL Cy Young
Don Sutton (LA) 21-7 3.22

NL MVP
Bobby Bonds (SF) .319 54-149

Contract Info Next!

[bigpapi]

We had plenty of decisions to make this off-season with regards to our current crop of Free Agents. Below is a list of players eligible for either Free Agency or Arbitration, what they were asking for, and what the final outcome was.

Merv Rettemund: Asking for $380,000 for 3 years--He hit .197 (12-61) in 17 games with us after signing him as a Free Agent from New York. Had no extra base hits and just 5 walks, was allowed to persue other options.

Willie McCovey: Asked for $350,000 for 2 years--The 38 year old McCovey hit .211 4-13 this year, in just 109 AB's. Was solid in 1974, hitting .228 10-40, but 350k was a little too steep for a 38 year old who is continuing to decline. The future Hall of Famer was released.

Gary Sutherland: Eligible for Arbitration--Asked for $75,000, we offered $60,000. Sutherland won and was awarded $75,000. He hit .239 (16-67) in 18 games, but is good defensively and can start in a pinch when Petrocelli needs a rest.

Steve Mingori: Asked for $235,000 for 2 years--Spent most of the year at the back of the Sox pen, going 0-1 with a 6.31 ERA in 25 games. Was solid in 18 games in '74 before his injury, going 3-1 2.96. Mingori was let go.

Ken Brett: Eligible for Arbitration--Asked for $305,000, we offered $260,000 and we won so Brett was awarded $260,000. Brett had his best year as a pro, going 6-3 with a 4.17 ERA in 20 games, including 11 starts. He pitched 14 1/3 scoreless innings to end the year last season and also has been a real calming influence on his brother George.

Billy Grabarkewitz: Eligible for Arbitration--Asked for $345,000, we offered $300,000, Grabarkewitz won and was awarded $345,000. Billy had another solid year for the Sox, hitting .271 17-70, playing every infield position and winning his 2nd Gold Glove. We hope to sign him to a multi year deal during Spring Training.

Steve Foucault: Eligible for Arbitration--Asked for $315,000, we offered $285,000. We won and Foucault was awarded $285,000. This deal should be torn up soon as we intend to sign Steve to a long term deal very soon. He was the most reliable bullpen arm this past season, going 6-3 2.95. In 58 innings, covering 49 games, opponents hit just .194 against him and he had a 41/18 K/BB ratio.

Tony Congiliaro: Asking for $1,350,000 for the next 5 years with a No-Trade Clause. This was the toughest decision I have had to make in the 8 years of running this team. Tony C. is the heart and soul of the ballclub, the face of the franchise and the reigning MVP. We were willing to make him the first $1 million dollar man, but he wouldn't budge from the 5 years or the No-Trade Clause, and when we made our final offer at 3 years $1,100,000 without the No-Trade and a Team Option for Year 4, Tony said, "No thanks" and he intended to test the Free Agent Market.
He leaves the Red Sox a career .291 hitter with 349 homeruns and 1,048 RBI. He has played 1,345 career games as a Red Sox, coming to the plate 5,386 times, picking up 1,567 hits, 2 All-Star Games (1968,1975) and two MVP awards (1968,1975).

Up next are the Off-Season Retirements and Hall Of Fame Inductees!

[bigpapi]

MLB Retirements

Tom Tresh: Hit .201 3-16 for San Fransisco a year ago and was a career .257 hitter with 243 HR and 907 RBI for New York (AL), Washington, Houston, Texas and San Fransisco. Best year came in 1968 for Houston when he hit .291 28-100 with 34 doubles and 8 triples.

Leo Cardenas: Hasn't played regularly since 1971 when he hit .233 4-24 for the Dodgers. Was a career .262 with 110 HR and 619 RBI. Played 15 seasons for Cincinnati, Los Angeles, California and Houston. Best year was in 1965 when he hit .287 11-57 with 11 triples for the Reds.

Mike Cuellar: Went 1-19 7.30 last year, a forgettable year for the Expos. Cuellar was a career 123-113 with a 3.71 ERA in 16 seasons for Cincinnati, St. Louis, Houston, Philadelphia, and Montreal. He had back to back 20 win seasons in 1967 (20-7 2.63), and 1968 (21-10 2.88) for the Astros.

Vada Pinson: Pinson had a fantastic career, although his final year .265 (9-34) was nothing special. Pinson hit a career .298 with 250 HR and 1,182 RBI. He played for Cincinnati, Montreal and Baltimore. He ended his career with 2,549 hits, including 6 seasons of 200 hits or more. He finest year came in 1968 when he hit .338 16-95 with 41 doubles and 11 triples. He also stole 303 bases and was caught just 107 times. He made 5 All-Star teams and won one Gold Glove.

Joe Torre: Torre played his entire 16 year career with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. He hit .303 with 237 homeruns and 966 RBI covering 6,628 AB's. He had 1,900 hits including 290 doubles, and a best year of 1969 when he hit .333 with 23-106. He made 9 All-Star Teams and won 4 Gold Gloves.

Jim Pagliaroni: Appeared in just 5 games a year ago for Detroit, going 3-7 with 1 HR and 4 RBI. He hit .253 with 179 homeruns, including 12 straight years of at least 10+. He drove in 629 runs in just under 4,800 AB's while playing for Boston, Pittsburgh, Chicago (AL), and Detroit. His best year came in 1970, when he hit .270 19-85 for the White Sox.

Al Ferrara: Poster child for the one year wonder, when in 1970, for the Detroit Tigers, he hit .323 30-120, when his highs in other seasons were .301 (1972), 25 HR (1973), and 83 RBI (1968). He hit just .183 2-8 for San Diego this past year, and had a career line of .268 with 152 HR and 549 RBI for Los Angeles, Detroit and San Diego.

Frank Robinson: Frank retires as one of the games all time homerun leaders, as he ends up with 567 HR's, good for 6th All-time, and 1,800 RBI (11th overall). He played 20 seasons for Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore again. He played in 2,744 games, had 9,880 AB's and 2,870 hits, including 532 doubles. Robinson also posted a 1,233/1,489 BB/K ratio and stole 221 bases. Frank played in 9 All-Star teams, won the 1956 Rookie of the Year, won one Gold Glove, and was named MVP twice (1961,1966).

Hall of Fame Inductees

Jim Bunning was the lone inductee into the Hall of Fame in 1975. Bunning posted a career line of 246-163 with a 3.01 ERA. He pitched in 584 games, including 527 starts, throwing 3,874 1/3 innings, allowing 3,445 hits, walking 1,060 and striking out 3,003. He pitched 153 complete games, 48 shutouts and even saved 15 games. His finest year came in 1968, when for the he lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series Title, going 23-6 2.37. He pitched 307 1/3 innings that year, allowing only 227 hits and 83 walks while striking out 223 strikeouts with 8 complete games and 4 shutouts.

Up next will be Off-Season Free Agent News!

[bigpapi]

Off-Season Free Agent Signings

Below is a list of the major Off-Season Contract Agreements, along with the teams they came from:

Pitchers:
Phil Niekro (ATL) 2 years/$380,000 per year (20-10 3.54 w/Atlanta)
Santiago Guzman (HOU) 3 years/$360,000 (15-10 3.32 w/Houston)
Greg Shanahan (NYM) 3 years/$303,000 (7-2 2.56 17 saves w/ KC)
Gary Nolan (LA) 4 years/$400,000 (13-10 3.79 w/Boston)
Steve Simpson (LA) 2 years/$316,000 (3-3 2.48 30/31 save chances w/Atlanta)
Carl Morton (CIN) 3 years/$370,000 (11-7 6.40 w/California)
Steve Rogers (CHI NL) 2 years/$235,000 (8-19 6.43 w/KC)
Gary Peters (MIN) 2 years/$380,000 (4-6 6.72 w/Chicago (AL))
Steve Mingori (MIN) 2 years/$133,000 (0-1 6.31 w/Boston)
Ed Sprague (PIT) 2 years/$244,000 (4-10 5.19 14 saves with New York (AL))


Catchers:
John Bateman (CAL) 3 years/$273,000 per year (.236 13-59 w/Houston)
Randy Brown (TEX) 2 years/$250,000 (.283 0-13 w/California)
Gene Tenace (OAK) 2 years/$339,000 (.243 10-41 w/California)


Firstbase:
Roe Skidmore (MON) 4 years/$309,000 per year (.265 10-45 w/Minnesota)
Willie McCovey (SD) 2 years/$76,000 (.211 4-13 w/Boston)
Glen Clark (CIN) 3 years/$322,000 (.278 6-27 w/Philadephia)

Secondbase:
Toby Harrah (TEX) 4 years/$770,000 per year (.284 25-108 w/Boston & Chicago (NL))
Don Money (CHI NL) 4 years/$630,000 (.283 23/94 w/San Diego)
Dan Monzon (DET) 2 years/$265,000 (.235 0-35 15 steals w/Cleveland)

Thirdbase:
Doug Rader (NYY) 5 years/$1,300,000 per year (.350 36-129 w/St. Louis)
Kurt Bevaqua (STL) 3 years/$300,000 (.314 3-37 w/Cincinnati)
Al Gallagher (SD) 3 years/$206,000 (.300 2-40 w/Texas)
Ron Santo (DET) 2 years/$134,000 (.256 10-50 w/San Fransisco)

Shortstop:
Steve Huntz (SD) 4 years/$329,000 per year (.277 25-88 w/San Diego)
Rob Bellior (BAL) 3 years/$480,000 (.300 4-55 w/Atlanta)
Dennis Menke (MON) 3 years/$480,000 (.341 4-20 w/Atlanta)

Outfielders:
Curtis Brown (NY NL) 2 years/$390,000 (.229 3-14 w/Baltimore)
Joe Lahoud (PIT) 6 years/$810,000 per year (.340 31-96 w/Pittsburgh)
Tony Conigliaro (BAL) 4 years/$1,300,000 (.324 44-145 w/Boston)
John Lowenstein (ATL) 4 years/$880,000 (.300 226-98 w/Cleveland)
Adolpho Phillips (DET) 2 years/$252,000 (.238 13-47 w/Minnesota)
Merv Rettemund (SD) 2 years/$217,000 (.197 0-5 w/Boston)
Curt Flood (DET) 2 years/$256,000 (.339 8-51 w/St. Louis)
Jim Qualls (SD) 2 years/$260,000 (.282 9-72 w/Cleveland)
Bernie Carbo (LA) 2 years/$226,000 (.269 11-46 w/Montreal & Cincinnati)
Tom Silverio (SD) 2 years/$192,000 (.318 9-25 w/Pittsburgh)

There are still plenty of superstar quality players waiting to sign contracts with teams as we enter Spring Training as well, below is a list of the best of the rest:

1B-Dave Kingman .276 42-122 w/San Fransisco
1B-John Mayberry .288 37-106 w/Kansas City
OF-Richie Zisk .272 32-119 w/San Diego
OF-Rico Carty .296 21-91 w/Atlanta
OF-Willie Crawford .284 18-64 w/Philadelphia
OF-Andy Kosco .255 24-83 w/Minnesota
OF-Jay Johnstone .318 8-59 w/Cincinnati
OF-Tom Grieve .258 23-76 w/Baltimore
OF-Floyd Wicker .260 12-54 w/Texas
OF-Larry Hisle .229 12-60 w/Philadelphia
OF-Mickey Rivers .292 3-19 w/Houston
OF-Lee Lacy .250 11-42 w/Kansas City

Hopefully these guys can come to terms with some team and get back to playing soon!

Up next will be Off-Season Trade News!

[bigpapi]

MLB Off-Season Trade News

There was plenty of off season moving of players, nothing earth shattering, but there were a few important ones, below is each trade made during the offseason:

Boston sends IF U.L. Washington (64/93), 1B Willie Aikens (67/83), and P Dennis DeBarr (69/82)
Minnesota sends RP Tom Hall (91/93)
After the debacle that was the closer position last year for us, this was a trade that needed to be made. Hall can hit 100 on the speed gun, and hopefully can bring some stability to the closer role. He was 2-5 3.27 with 12 saves a year ago for the Twins, and has a career 128 saves in 150 chances. He also has averaged nearly a strikeout an inning over his career, striking out 212 in 250 innings. After the trade, we immediately signed Hall to a 4 year deal that will take us through the 1980 season, worth $380,000 per year.

Los Angeles sends OF Sixto Lezcano (75/95) and P Joaquin Andujar (74/89)
Boston sends RP Sparky Lyle (92)
One we acquired Hall, we knew Sparky would not be happy as a set up man again, so we found a taker in the Dodgers, who offered us two prime prospects. Lyle really struggled last year, going 3-7 6.07 with just 11 saves in 20 chances, but at the time of his trade, Lyle is the major leagues all time saves leader with 325 over his 9 year career. He moves into the Dodger closing role. Lezcano hit .366 23-104 in AA a year ago, and Andujar was 12-2 2.47 in A ball. Lezcano will start the year in AAA and Andujar in AA.

Boston sends 1B Chris Chambliss (78/79)
San Diego sends OF Dave Winfield (72/79)
Chris was stuck behind Reggie Smith and Dan Driessen, so we moved him for Winfield, a 24 year old in the Padre minor league system who could provide some depth in the future. Winfield hit .328 19-91 in AA last year, and Chambliss hit .382 6-64 for the PawSox last year.

Boston sends OF Lou Brock (81) and $250,000
Houston sends P Pete Ladd (58/80)
We needed to move Brock, who had made it clear he didn't want to sit on the bench, and noone would take him unless we paid most of his salary. Ladd isn't projected to be much more than bullpen depth, but considering we were willing to give Brock away, we'll take it.

Houston sends OF Brett Butler (68/90), 1B Craig Casek (64/84), P Al Severinsen (67/68), LF Gary Martz (61/75), and C Bill Fahey (67/74)
San Diego sends 1B Rod Carew (93), and SS Ed Brinkman (74/75)
Butler was the number 1 overall pick a few years back, but Houston got the edge here as other than Butler, they didn't give up much to acquire the 30 year old Carew, who already has 1,752 hits.

Texas sends P Bob Apodaca (80/82), P Joe Coleman (85), P Steve Busby (68/70)
Montreal sends P Bill Harrelson (84/85)
Good trade for both teams as the Rangers solidify their starting rotation and Montreal fills some holes picking up two quality arms for a pitching staff void of much talent.

Baltimore sends Terry Cornutt (75/90), Jerry Robertson (71/73), Mike Fiore (77/78)
San Diego sends 3B Bruce Miller (88), 2B Joe Gates (57/77)
Another close trade as Miller has hit .300 each of the last two years, and is a plus defender, but Cornutt could end being special. Nothing else in the deal impresses me.

Philadephia sends P Gary Lance (78/82), Eddie Watt (72/73)
San Diego sends P Ben Quinn (80/81)
I give the edge to the Padres here as Quinn posted an ERA of almost 6.5 last year and Lance has a power arm and should be groomed for San Diego's closer role.

Houston sends OF Terry Puhl (58/78) P Ron Cook (74/76) P Bert Roberge (63/80)
Oakland sends P Chuck Dobson (77/78), RP Jeff Reardon (60/75), SS Tommy Sandt (67/69), LF Gary Woods (56/67), C John Wathan (67/68)
Edge to the Astros here as Dobson and Reardon are the two best players in the deal in my opinion. Roberge and Puhl could be above average players, both of which will get PT for a bad Oakland team.

San Diego sends 3B Al Gallagher (79/80), P Tom Johnson (83/84), P Norm Angelini (74/75)
Pittsburgh sends OF Dave Augustine (76/77), Rick Langford (73/86), Jim McKee (75/76)
Langford will probably end up being the best player out of this deal, but for the time being I give the edge to Pittsburgh as they get two solid arms for their pen and Gallagher to play 3rd, moving Art Howe over to 1st.

Cincinnati sends P Dave Campbell (78/82)
San Diego sends 1B Mike Fiore (77/78) P Brian Tuchman (82)
Edge to the Reds as Tuchman and Campbell basically are the same pitcher and they also get some bench help in Fiore, who has just acquired by the Pads earlier in the offseason.

Atlanta sends P Jim Geddes (73/75), P Warren Bogle (76/78), Jose Alvarez (60/81)
New York (NL) sends P Brent Strom (86/88)
Edge to the Braves as Strom is by far the best player in the trade, the Mets just get minor league depth with this deal.

Montreal sends OF Jeff Gillbard (63/69), 1B Tom Chism (53/70), Mike Davey (52/59). OF Cleo James (72/73)
Oakland sends P Mike Wegener (70/73)
Really?

San Diego sends 3B Shawn Simons (71/73)
Cincinnati sends P Lance Clemons (71/74), P Ben Hayes (49/59)
Another "who cares" trade, although the Padres I think have the edge.

Montreal sends OF Wayne Comer (82/83), P Geoff Lang (62/67), SS Bobby Wine (71/72), LF Bernie Williams (67/70), C Bobby Ramos (54/74), P Gary Wheelock (80/81), OF Mike Page (72/73)
Atlanta sends P Joe McLaughlin (57/71), 2B Frank White (77/79), P Jim Strickland (77/79), P Pat Osburn (59/62), P Jerry Cram (79)
I would give the edge to the Braves as Comer is the only above average player in this 12 player garbage trade.

Chicago (NL) sends P Don Shaw (81/82), 3B Ken Rietz (80/81), 1B Chris Nyman (57/71), P Gary Lucas (66/82), P Jim Ellis (72/75)
San Diego sends OF Jim Qualls (80/81), OF Jose Cruz (89/93)
Big edge to the Cubs here as they get 2/3 of their starting OF with this deal and give up froom a position of strength, their bullpen and Reitz, while a solid player is stuck behind Mike Schmidt.

San Diego sends P Jerry Robertson (71/73), 1B Willie McCovey (83), OF Dave Augustine (76/77)
Kansas City sends 2B Efrain Gubasi (78/80), C Vic Correll (78/80)
Pretty even deal as the Royals get the reigning NL Rookie of the Year and, in McCovey, somone who has the drive to get to 400 career HR's, while the Pads get their starting 2B in Gubasi.

Up next will be Team by Team 1976 Previews!

[bigpapi]

National League East Team Previews

New York Mets (Projected 93-69)
C-Frank Estrada (.307 2-46)
1B-Ed Kranepool (.316 12-65 3)
2B-Lute Barnes (.325 2-60 19)
3B-Ken Poulsen (.283 10-64 5)
SS-Sonny Jackson (.304 2-57 20)
LF-George Theodore (.294 8-65 5)
CF-Amos Otis (.314 39-146 26)
RF-Dave Parker (.314 12-53 4)
Bench1-Curtis Brown (.229 3-14 4 w/Baltimore)
SP1-Tom Seaver (17-12 3.33)
SP2-Brian Mogford (19-7 4.12)
SP3-Dick Woodson (14-4 3.73)
SP4-Gary Gentry (10-6 4.15 4)
Closer-Danny Frisella (4-4 1.23 22)

Could this be the year the Mets get caught? They didn't make any significant changes, and although Otis had another fantastic year, and young Dave Parker looks like a budding superstar, it seems New York keeps doing it with mirrors.

St. Louis Cardinals (projected 88-74)
C-Tim McCarver (.263 6-67 3)
1B-Tony Horton (.258 25-90)
2B-Tom Heintzelman (.294 4-62 10)
3B-Kurt Bevacqua (.314 3-37 3 w/Cincinnati)
SS-Dave Concepcion (.281 3-69 18)
LF-Gene Martin (.315 23-84 10)
CF-Boots Day (.388 0-3 2)
RF-Tom Paciorek (.281 10-51 3)
Bench1-Joe Keough (.277 1-29 3)
SP1-Mike Torrez (13-11 3.51)
SP2-Joe Gast (18-7 4.00)
SP3-Monty Montgomery (14-9 3.38)
SP4-Jim Bibby (5-5 3.45 1)
Closer-Horacia Pina (3-3 2.08 23)

Pitching is going to be the key for the Cards. Their staff top to bottom is better than the Mets, but if they struggle, the lineup isn't strong enough, especially with the losses of Doug Rader and Curt Flood to win many high scoring games.

Chicago Cubs (projected 87-75)
C-Bruce Look (.313 1-49 2)
1B-John Milner (.267 35-91 7)
2B-Don Money (.283 23-94 4 w/San Diego)
3B-Mike Schmidt (.266 36-101 6)
SS-Freddie Patek (.283 2-40 43)
LF-Gene Clines (.318 2-68 14)
CF-Jim Qualls (.282 9-72 17 w/Cleveland)
RF-Joe Campbell (.323 17-85 6)
Bench1-Jose Cruz (.267 3-34 17 w/San Diego)
SP1-Bert Blyleven (17-16 4.80)
SP2-Mike Pazik (13-10 3.66)
SP3-Steve Rogers (8-19 6.43 w/Kansas City)
SP4-Fred Norman (11-12 4.40)
Closer-Dan Spillner (6-3 2.55 6)

If the Cubs pitching can hold up, this is the team I choose to represent the National League in the World Series. Their lineup 1-8 is downright scary and the best in the National League if not all of baseball. They have it all, power, average, speed, solid bench.

Philadephia Phillies (projected 87-75)
C-Bob Boone (.283 18-83 1)
1B-Joe Lis (.282 21-75 2)
2B-Felix Millan (.298 0-38 1)
3B-Dick Allen (.265 23-103 5)
SS-Don Kessinger (.259 0-36 11)
LF-Johnny Briggs (.335 31-118 10)
CF-Elliott Maddox (.289 0-7 2)
RF-Fred Rico (.256 4-19 3)
Bench1-Byron Browne (.198 6-21)
SP1-Chris Zachary (13-13 4.96)
SP2-Rick Wise (9-7 4.91)
SP3-Lynn McGlothen (9-10 4.43)
SP4-Wilco Rhodes (7-8 5.71 w/Kansas City)
Closer-Mike Jackson (5-6 3.42 28)

The Phillies, despite Briggs, Lis, Boone and Allen have too many question marks to compete this year I believe. Their pitching staff had a terrible year across the board in '75, and they bring back the same group, adding just Rhodes from the Royals.

Pittsburgh Pirates (projected 74-88)
C-Dennie Paepke (.261 0-36)
1B-Skip James (.307 9-36 1)
2B-Bill Stein (.306 7-65 2)
3B-Art Howe (.354 11-58 3)
SS-Frank Taveras (.285 1-41 48)
LF-Dick Smith (.345 5-52 4)
CF-Joe Lahoud (.340 31-96 4)
RF-Andre Dawson (.193 2-12 3)
Bench1-Al Gallagher (.300 2-40 2 w/Texas)
SP1-Bruce Houston (12-9 4.68)
SP2-Ed Halicki (11-14 4.65)
SP3-Craig Swan (12-15 4.71)
SP4-Gary Schoen (1-1 3.58 1)
Closer-Ed Sprague (4-10 5.19 10 w/New York NL)

Resigning Lahoud was a huge deal to this franchise. They lack a real power hitter, and although Dawson is projected to hit 25-30 a year, for now the pressure to hit the longball falls on Lahoud's shoulders. This team could surprise if pitching holds up and a .500 record is in reach.

Montreal Expos (projected 61-101)
C-Earl Williams (.240 25-78)
1B-Mike Jorgensen (.261 14-44 5)
2B-Dave Nelson (.263 1-22 36)
3B-Eric Soderholm (.247 13-56)
SS-Dennis Menke (.341 4-20 1 w/Atlanta)
LF-Hal McRae (.319 19-90 3)
CF-Rusty Torrez (.750 (3-4))
RF-Bill Robinson (.256 9-42 1)
Bench1-Roe Skidmore (.265 10-45 3 w/Minnesota)
SP1-Bob Forsch (10-16 4.35)
SP2-Don Nottebart (14-16 4.80 w/Philadephia)
SP3-Juan Marichal (9-6 4.36 w/San Fransisco)
SP4-Joe Coleman (4-1 3.63 6 w/Texas)
Closer-Tim Plodinec (2-3 5.20 8)

A completely revamped pitching staff, featuring 3 new starters, won't help this team out of the NL East cellar. There are too many holes on both offense and in the pitching. McRae and Forsch could be stars, but that's about it.

Up next will be the NL West Team Previews!

[bigpapi]

National League West Team Previews:

San Fransisco Giants (projected 91-71)
C-Johnny Hairston (.259 5-51 1)
1B-Ed Goodson (.306 7-42)
2B-Ted Kubiak (.316 0-27 4)
3B-Roy Howell (did not play in majors last year)
SS-Tito Fuentes (.312 1-31 4)
LF-Oscar Brown (.297 8-47 2)
CF-Jim Nettles (.265 5-25 5)
RF-Bobby Bonds (.319 54-149 19)
Bench1-Art Shamsky (.222 6-35)
SP1-Gaylord Perry (18-11 3.01)
SP2-Steve Carlton (18-13 4.47)
SP3-Dick Bosman (8-5 3.96)
SP4-Sam McDowell (9-4 3.76 1)
Closer-Mike Davison (3-6 4.44 11)

Although projected to win the division, I can see the Giants having a weak season. Bonds has no protection with Kingman being allowed to walk and he could be intentionally walked 100 times this year. Perry starts the season on the DL making Carlton the ace. This could be the year the Giants drop into the bottom half of the division.

Atlanta Braves (projected 85-77)
C-Joe Ferguson (.290 29-95)
1B-Bill Buckner (.237 3-19 1)
2B-Billy Harris (.262 1-41 8)
3B-Darrell Evans (.321 45-120 3)
SS-Bobby Wine (.236 3-22 1 w/Montreal)
LF-John Lowenstein (.300 26-98 13)
CF-Cito Gaston (.301 23-76 1)
RF-Joe Rudi (.258 18-81)
Bench1-Wayne Comer (.310 9-60 17 w/Montreal)
SP1-Phil Niekro (20-10 3.54)
SP2-Al Autry (2-2 2.38)
SP3-Wade Blasingame (9-9 5.44)
SP4-Pat Jarvis (13-18 4.52)
Closer-Phil Hennigan (6-4 4.94 4)

Atlanta could win this division this year, they have a better lineup, rotation and bullpen than the Giants. If Buckner and Autry can be league average at their respective positions, I can't see why the Braves won't win 90 games this year.

Cincinnati Reds (projected 85-77)
C-Johnny Bench (.280 37-121)
1B-Glen Clark (.279 6-27 1)
2B-Chip Coulter (.297 5-65 15)
3B-Ken McMullen (.237 1-4 1)
SS-Frank Duffy (.278 2-31 10)
LF-Don Baylor (.286 30-90 7)
CF-Glenn Burke (.247 0-19 7)
RF-Pete Rose (.320 2-73 7)
Bench1-Tony Perez (.253 6-50 3)
SP1-Ross Grimsley (11-11 4.40)
SP2-Dennis Martinez (9-15 5.88)
SP3-Reggie Cleveland (8-16 5.54)
SP4-Tom Carroll (9-8 4.09)
Closer-Rollie Fingers (8-6 3.18 8)

The Reds have a couple of holes in their lineup, but it's overall solid. The pitching staff, young and inconsistent, has the ability to be great, and if they are, the Reds could compete.

Houston Astros (projected 84-78)
C-Larry Howard (.220 1-21 1)
1B-Rod Carew (.298 8-71 15 w/San Diego)
2B-Joe Morgan (.243 12-34 22)
3B-Sal Bando (.269 15-59 4)
SS-Ray Busse (.229 2-37 7)
LF-Mike Easler (.303 22-75 4)
CF-Rick Monday (.287 27-89 10)
RF-Angel Mangual (.303 8-76 2)
Bench1-Bobby Tolan (.289 11-52 5)
SP1-Larry Dierker (12-18 3.84)
SP2-Randy Jones (12-12 4.50)
SP3-Santiago Guzman (15-10 3.32)
SP4-Chuck Dobson (3-8 4.40 w/Oakland)
Closer-Terry Forster (4-5 4.35 10)

Houston, Atlanta, and Los Angeles should be battling it out for the NL West crown this year as the Astros have the best 1-3 starters in the division and the best offense this side of the Chicago Cubs in the National League. Picking up Carew should catapult this offense from good to great.

Los Angeles Dodgers (projected 77-85)
C-Bob Stinson (.333 17-64 1)
1B-Steve Garvey (.339 34-124 1)
2B-Jim Lefebvre (.285 16-77)
3B-Bob Bailey (.290 24-96 4)
SS-Bill Russell (.328 3-41 10)
LF-Ron Cey (.280 25-91 1)
CF-Willie Davis (.259 12-69 11)
RF-Gary Moore (.297 10-57 10)
Bench1-Cleon Jones (.306 5-29 4)
SP1-Don Sutton (21-7 3.22)
SP2-Rick Reuschel (13-8 3.14)
SP3-Gary Nolan (13-10 3.79 w/Boston)
SP4-Pete Broberg (8-5 4.90 1)
Closer-Sparky Lyle (3-7 6.01 11 w/Boston)

I don't agree with this projected record at all as they Dodgers have a great offense and one of the best pitching staffs in the National League. They added Nolan and Lyle from Boston and they get Stinson back from injury. The Dodgers are primed to repeat.

San Diego Padres (projected 59-103)
C-Vic Correll (.270 2-11)
1B-Chris Chambliss (did not play in majors last year)
2B-Efrain Gubasi (.257 3-24 4 w/Kansas City)
3B-Ken Reitz (.318 3-21 w/Chicago NL)
SS-Steve Huntz (.277 25-88 1)
LF-Mike Lum (.364 0-3 1)
CF-Tom Silverio (.319 9-25 5)
RF-Frank Baker (did not play in majors last year)
Bench1-Roger Repoz (.218 9-36 3)
SP1-Jim McKee (11-14 5.44 w/Pittsburgh)
SP2-Frank Tanana (5-25 7.89)
SP3-Doyle Alexander (11-20 6.19)
SP4-Rick Langford (2-1 3.86 w/Pittsburgh)
Closer-Don Shaw (3-3 2.22 20 w/Chicago NL)

This team will struggle to win 50 games. The offense is void of any talent at all outside of Huntz. Silverio is a nice 4th outfielder, but playing everyday will expose him. Langford and the injured Bruce Berenyi will make a nice 1-2 punch next year, but this year is going to be real tough in Southern California.

Up next will be the American League West Team Previews!

[bigpapi]

American League West Team Previews

California Angels (projected 96-66)
C-John Bateman (.236 13-59 w/Houston)
1B-Bruce Bochte (.338 25-132 3)
2B-Doug Griffin (.312 0-55 7)
3B-Graig Nettles (.262 19-77 4)
SS-Jim Fregosi (.247 8-67 8)
LF-Rick Reichardt (.325 30-140 3)
CF-Jarvis Tatum (.282 7-50 12)
RF-Carlos Lopez (.267 13-56 21)
DH-Chris Coletta (.272 11-70 7)
Bench1-Mack Jones (.250 9-31 4 w/San Fransisco)
SP1-Catfish Hunter (14-16 4.24)
SP2-Andy Messersmith (14-7 3.53)
SP3-Marcelino Lopez (11-2 3.32)
SP4-Vida Blue (3-2 4.55 w/San Fransisco)
Closer-Tom Burgmeier (3-5 5.82 10)

A solid offense and excellent 1-2-3 at the top of the rotation is setting the Angels up to regain their grasp on the AL West crown. The 1-2 punch of Bochte and Reichardt is the best in baseball now that Kingman is gone form San Fransisco.

Chicago White Sox (projected 94-68)
C-Johnny Edwards (.245 5-45 2)
1B-Cotton Nash (.282 10-67 2)
2B-Jorge Orta (.309 13-71 2)
3B-Bill Melton (.269 36-116 3)
SS-Jim Kennedy (.296 3-57 16)
LF-Carlos May (.314 18-99 3)
CF-Tommy Agee (.282 23-71 5)
RF-Walt Williams (.324 6-57 3)
DH-Bill Madlock (.300 7-59 9)
Bench1-Tommy Harper (.284 10-40 7)
SP1-Tommy John (18-9 2.99)
SP2-Wilbur Wood (13-6 3.64)
SP3-Mike Caldwell (10-10 3.77)
SP4-Roger Nelson (5-2 3.24 1)
Closer-Cy Acosta (2-2 1.67 22)

No changes for the Southsiders this offseason. They are booking on Agee staying healthy all year and a rebound year from Caldwell. Those two things should allow the White Sox to compete with the Angels and Rangers all summer.

Texas Rangers (projected 94-68)
C-John Wockenfuss (.195 26-73 1)
1B-Cecil Cooper (.320 30-105 2)
2B-Toby Harrah (.283 25-108 13 w/Boston & Chicago NL)
3B-Mike Cubbage (.294 9-52 1)
SS-Rafael Robles (.312 1-47 21)
LF-Lew Beasley (.266 8-36 4)
CF-Jimmy Wynn (.300 41-126 9)
RF-Rusty Staub (.279 15-78 1)
DH-Craig Kusick (.275 24-81 1)
Bench1-Willie Stargell (.255 7-35)
SP1-J.R. Richard (16-8 4.70)
SP2-Jerry Reuss (16-11 3.73)
SP3-Bill Moran (16-11 3.72)
SP4-Bill Harrelson (10-15 4.57 w/Montreal)
Closer-Kent Tekulve (2-4 3.06 23)

The defending American League Champions got better in the offseason with the acquisitions of Harrah and Harrelson. These reasons should be enough to allow the Rangers to defend their title. The offense could be record setting as they are so stacked they have Rusty Staub batting 9th.

Minnesota Twins (projected 75-87)
C-Ed Herrmann (.275 5-50)
1B-Tom Kelly (.239 6-25 1)
2B-Bob Randall (.160 0-3)
3B-Van Kelly (.270 2-48 4)
SS-Bucky Guth (.245 2-43 5)
LF-Steve Braun (.294 6-28 2)
CF-Lyman Bostock (.324 1-33 5)
RF-Tony Oliva (.313 18-91 6)
DH-Rick Dempsey (.226 5-29)
Bench1-Steve Brye (.264 2-30 1)
SP1-Buzz Stephen (7-3 2.35)
SP2-Gary Peters (4-6 6.72 w/Chicago AL)
SP3-Dave Boswell (5-19 6.42)
SP4-Jim McAndrew (8-16 6.47)
Closer-Steve Barber (5-3 3.91 9)

Not alot to be excited about if you are a Twins fan this summer. Oliva keeps plugging along, attempting to reach 2,500 hits, and there are some youngsters in the minor league system that should make a difference in a couple years, but it will be a long 6 months for the Twinkies.

Kansas City Royals (projected 71-91)
C-Tom Hosley (.295 14-64 1)
1B-Willie McCovey (.211 4-13 w/Boston)
2B-Jerry Remy (.173 0-7 1)
3B-Brooks Robinson (.297 13-66)
SS-Dwain Anderson (.267 0-5)
LF-Jim Hutto (.312 8-65 4)
CF-Dave Augustine (.223 4-40 9)
RF-Johnny Callison (.231 13-65 4)
DH-Walt Hriniak (.188 0-6)
Bench1-Tom Ragland (.218 4-25 7)
SP1-Mel Behney (7-12 4.99)
SP2-Dave McNally (10-22 6.00)
SP3-Jim Hannan (2-7 7.97)
SP4-Bobby Bolin (0-1 5.40)
Closer-Jim Kerley (1-2 5.59 1)

Another team with some youngsters in the minors hoping to make an impact soon, but it won't be this year, and the Royals will struggle again. There should be at least one memorable moment this year as Brooks Robinson needs just 51 hits to reach 3,000 for his great career.

Oakland Athletics (projected 57-105)
C-Gene Tenace (.224 17-63 2)
1B-Bob Watson (.307 12-54)
2B-Buddy Hunter (.275 1-30 4)
3B-Wayne Gross (.161 3-14 2)
SS-Leon McFadden (.234 3-30 12)
LF-Dave Robinson (.270 20-94 4)
CF-Cleo James (.300 3-13 8 w/Montreal)
RF-Reggie Jackson (.265 25-87 4)
DH-Andre Thornton (.264 31-94 1)
Bench1-Frank Fernandez (.204 18-50)
SP1-Danny Fife (10-10 5.62)
SP2-Fred Newman (9-14 4.69)
SP3-Mathew Loudermilk (6-8 7.06)
SP4-Jerry Stephenson (5-12 6.00)
Closer-Larry Anderson (8-9 3.12 18)

A solid offense will be more than offset by a horrific pitching staff. This team will lose alot of 10-7 baseball games this year, although the bullpen is decent and there are a couple of promising prospects in AA that could help, this is going to be a tough year in Oakland.

American League East Team Previews Next!

[bigpapi]

American League East Team Previews

Boston Red Sox (projected 91-71)
C-Ted Simmons (.291 26-97)
1B-Reggie Smith (.296 33-118 6)
2B-Billy Grabarkewitz (.271 17-70 12)
3B-Ray Knight (.277 3-14)
SS-Rico Petrocelli (.250 21-72)
LF-Billy Conigliaro (.319 20-100)
CF-Gorman Thomas (.193 29-80 2)
RF-Dwight Evans (.256 17-55 1)
DH-George Brett (.300 18-101 7)
Bench1-Ken Griffey (.257 0-16 5)
SP1-Fergie Jenkins (20-5 3.24)
SP2-Roger Moret (20-7 3.60)
SP3-Vern Ruhle (9-2 3.42)
SP4-Rick Mahler (1-0 1.29)
Closer-Tom Hall (2-5 3.27 12 w/Minnesota)

Losing Tony Conigliaro will hurt, but this lineup is still stacked 1-9. This could be a huge breakout year for Brett and Evans, and there isn't a better 1-2 combo than Jenkins and Moret at the top of a rotation. Hall should also help Boston avoid the closer problems that plagued them all year last year.

Detroit Tigers (projected 89-73)
C-Bill Freehan (.261 21-87)
1B-Paul Jata (.260 7-48 2)
2B-John Knox (.241 0-25 12 w/Milwaukee)
3B-Wayne Garrett (.172 0-13 w/Houston)
SS-Ken Szotkiewicz (.285 3-78 4)
LF-Willie Horton (.315 30-103 1)
CF-Ron LeFlore (.278 12-65 59)
RF-Bob Christian (.338 24-117 5)
DH-George Scott (.275 32-106 2)
Bench1-Ron Santo (.256 10-50 w/San Fransisco)
SP1-Mickey Lolich (12-13 4.29)
SP2-Ken Forsch (14-9 3.68)
SP3-Dave Lemanczyk (13-12 3.84 1)
SP4-Mike Krukow (missed last year due to injury 8-15 5.84 in 1974)
Closer-Jim Foor (5-4 5.14 2)

It's going to have to be the pitching staff, primarily the starting rotation to keep the Tigers in it and help them break Boston's stranglehold on the AL East. 1 through 4 the Tigers are as solid as any team in the majors. The offense is tough for the most part as well, they have speed (LeFlore) and power (Horton, Scott and Christian) to compete with anyone.

Baltimore Orioles (projected 82-80)
C-Manny Sanguillen (.333 6-53 5)
1B-Boog Powell (.295 29-102)
2B-Davey Johnson (.297 11-45 3)
SS-Rob Bellior (.300 4-55 6)
3B-Bruce Miller (.300 0-41 3 w/Atlanta)
LF-Curt Blefary (.259 19-69 3)
CF-Paul Blair (.279 13-72 12)
RF-Bernie Smith (.216 15-43 7)
DH-Tony Conigliaro (.324 45-144 1 w/Boston)
Bench1-Jose Cardenal (.255 10-51 14)
SP1-Jim Palmer (14-14 3.07)
SP2-Dave Roberts (18-11 4.06)
SP3-Wayne Garland (12-9 3.07)
SP4-Denny McClain (12-15 4.77)
Closer-Elias Sosa (2-4 1.91 18)

The Orioles added Tony Conigliaro from the Red Sox, and their starting rotation 1-5 is the best in the American League, but Powell is getting older, and and there isn't much power outside of those two. With that said, their pitching should keep them in the race most of the year.

Cleveland Indians (projected 81-81)
C-Ken Rudolph (.279 0-16 1)
1B-Bob Robertson (.241 5-35)
2B-Woody Woodward (.236 0-43 w/Minnesota)
3B-Buddy Bell (.255 11-73 1)
SS-Bert Campaneris (.243 1-22 11)
LF-George Foster (.320 45-136 1)
CF-Scott Northey (.250 0-9 5)
RF-Champ Summers (.298 28-94 3)
DH-Jim Hibbs (.256 4-59 6)
Bench1-Ken Suarez (.200 4-14 2)
SP1-John Denny (9-16 4.58)
SP2-Ray Burris (12-8 3.25)
SP3-Jack Morris (1-11 5.84)
SP4-Jerry Koosman (13-10 4.87)
Closer-Bob Terlecki (5-4 3.33 10)

The Indians lost alot this offseason in Qualls and Lowenstein and it's probably a little too much to ask their replacements to come even close to their production. Expect to see a drop in hitting for the Indians and expect to see a rise in their pitching as Morris finally seems to be comfortable as a major leaguer and Burris surprised everyone by becoming an all-star caliber starter.

New York Yankees (projected 79-83)
C-Thurmon Munson (.312 20-107)
1B-Bob Hansen (.266 6-65 5)
2B-Bobby Grich (.259 32-109 8)
3B-Doug Rader (.350 36-129 1 w/St. Louis)
SS-Jerry Davanon (.266 0-8)
LF-Roy White (.297 19-88 5)
CF-Al Bumbry (.302 6-48 22)
RF-Jerry Morales (.291 14-83 4)
DH-John Young (.272 11-55 1)
Bench1-Jim Ray Hart (.250 9-31)
SP1-Derek Pritchard (13-11 3.83)
SP2-Wayne Simpson (12-7 4.01)
SP3-Mel Stottlemyre (8-4 4.45)
SP4-Chris Nelson (7-0 1.60)
Closer-Greg Thayer (3-3 3.34 19)

Another projection I don't agree with as the Yankee offense is as good as anyones and their pitching staff, while not super is solid. A full year of Nelson and the addition of Rader should make the Yankees a lock for 90 wins and a shot at the AL East title.

Milwaukee Brewers (projected 66-96)
C-Steve Yeager (.228 14-63)
1B-Ed Brown (.325 0-12 1)
2B-Jim Gantner (did not play in majors last year)
3B-Richie Hebner (.315 28-113 3)
SS-Dick MacAuliffe (.246 8-51 3)
LF-Danny Godby (.311 5-14)
CF-Cesar Cedeno (.267 7-65 27)
RF-Ron Fairly (.298 11-73 2)
DH-Gary Mathews (.255 20-85 4)
Bench1-Tim Foli (.251 1-18 3)
SP1-Dennis Leonard (14-17 4.39)
SP2-Zack MacFadden (9-15 5.63)
SP3-Bob Knepper (4-12 9.06)
SP4-Pete Vuckovich (2-7 5.52)
Closer-Jim York (6-7 4.45 4)

It's going to be the same story in Milwaukee this year as once again, their pitching staff is way below average and it won't be able to support an above average lineup. Hebner is a stud, Mathews is getting better, and Cedeno at the top of the lineup can wreak havoc, but it shouldn't matter and it should be another last place finish for the Brew Crew.

And finally we are back to Opening Day 1976!!! The Red Sox open up with 3 on the road against the Baltimore Orioles, followed by a 3 game set at home to open Fenway against the Detroit Tigers!