Can He Beat Cy Young?

[jcbarr]

A post on the general discussion forums got me to thinking, and I'm going to see if I can get a guy to break Cy Young's all time win record. I'm not quite sure who I want to work with yet and I haven't worked out all the details of how I am going to handle the team overall, but I don't want this to be too much work. So a few things that I need some input on...

1.) Who is a great pitcher that starts off really good at an early age?
2.) What suggestions for league settings? Should I up hall of fame careers or anything, or just go with the default settings?
3.) Any suggestions on how to handle the team? Should I try to stack it so that he can win as many games a year as possible or just try to keep it a decent team?
4.) What kind of rotation would you want to see him a part of? 4 man, 5 man?

If this generates any kind of interest then I am going to try to break the all time hits record as well. That is one of the few records other than the Wins record that I have had trouble breaking.

Can't wait for your input guys.

Players Suggested:
1. Dwight Gooden (84/94) 1984 19 years old http://forum.sportsmogul.com/showpos...3&postcount=38
2. Felix Hernandez (88/93) 2006 19 years old http://forum.sportsmogul.com/showpos...6&postcount=68
3. Roger Clemens (91/94) 1984 21 years old http://forum.sportsmogul.com/showpos...5&postcount=51
4. Brett Saberhagen (86/93) 1984 19 years old http://forum.sportsmogul.com/showpos...7&postcount=58
5. Babe Ruth (93) 1915 20 years old http://forum.sportsmogul.com/showpos...1&postcount=21
6. Bob Feller (92/93) 1938 19 years old http://forum.sportsmogul.com/showpos...1&postcount=27
7. Phil Hughes (77/93) 2007 21 years old http://forum.sportsmogul.com/showpos...69&postcount=8
8. Fernando Valenzuela (78/90) 1980 19 years old http://forum.sportsmogul.com/showpos...3&postcount=45

[slowpokemcgee]

Use King Felix and just pitch him every game. I'd bet you could get at least 35 wins a year with some injuries involved. I've never tried it myself though.

[jcbarr]

Yeah, but I don't want to pitch a guy every game. I am willing to go with a 4 man rotation, but that is about it. I don't want it to be so totally unrealistic that it just doesn't make sense.

I'll keep him in mind though.

[Yankeesfan924]

Out of those two I'd pick Gooden. You could try: Babe Ruth, Bob Feller, Phil Hughes? lol <---- now that's a homer pick.

[jcbarr]

I'm editing the post above to include all the names mentioned so far...

Now you guys tell me who you like out of this bunch.

[CatKnight]

I don't think any of those guys are capable of breaking the record. If you force me to choose, I'd go with Clemens.

2.) What suggestions for league settings? Should I up hall of fame careers or anything, or just go with the default settings?

Default. Anything else is an exploit.

3.) Any suggestions on how to handle the team? Should I try to stack it so that he can win as many games a year as possible or just try to keep it a decent team?

Give him a decent team then stand back. Again, stacking it would be an exploit. Now if you're GMing his team, you can do whatever you would in THAT role to stack it. Just no commissioner oriented stuff.

4.) What kind of rotation would you want to see him a part of? 4 man, 5 man?

If you don't do three man you can't make it. Even if we give this guy a 25 year career (unlikely), he needs to win 20 games a season from beginning to end. If three is too unrealistic for you, then four. I don't see you having any chance whatsoever with five.

[jcbarr]

Yeah I am going to GM his team. I'm not going to edit any players or anything like that. The plan is to just play out his career and keep signing him and let him play for as long as he will until he retires and see if any of them can break the record.

I agree that I don't think any of them can, but I have decided that I am going to sim with each of them and see what kind of numbers they can come out with.

[jcbarr]

Who can break Young's record?

That is the question that we are asking here. We have compiled a list of 7 players that want to take on the challenge of breaking the all time wins record for pitchers. I have decided to run through each of their careers and see which, if any can do it.

I may add more players as this thing goes on if people want to see it, doesn't matter to me, I love this game and any reason to keep playing it is fine with me. The ground rules for their careers are as follows;

Career Ground Rules

1. I will GM the team.
2. No players will be edited with Commissioner Mode.
3. No changes will be made to the league options.
4. All players will take part in a 4 man rotation.
5. I will limit myself to one FA signing each year to fill holes.
6. The autosort option will be used to set the offensive lineups.
7. Only trades offered by the CPU teams to his team will be considered.
8. The player involved with breaking Young's record will remain on the same team for his entire career.
8. Each player will be resigned and will maintain his spot in the rotation until he retires on his own.
9. I will post with an update for each player after they complete each season in the starting rotation.

Okay, those are the rules. Pretty realistic, except for the fact that I am going to let these guys start as long as they want, and the fact that I'm going to keep paying them no matter how horrible they do. It will be interesting to see how some of these guys differ in their careers with their respective teams.

So now with all that said...

First up is Phil Hughes

It will be interesting to see how Hughes does with the team that he has around him. Even though he is 2 years older than some of the other guys listed here he does stand a pretty good chance. He has a very good chance of picking up some easy wins in his early career even though he isn't rated as high. We will have to see how that all pans out for him.

2007: 11-15 5.28 ERA
2008: 8-7 5.38 ERA
2009: 8-11 4.61 ERA
2010: 15-12 4.81 ERA
2011: 16-6 3.77 ERA
2012: 10-3 3.11 ERA
2013: 19-6 3.43 ERA
2014: 23-10 3.70 ERA
2015: 17-5 3.54 ERA
2016: 15-9 3.61 ERA
2017: 22-4 3.62 ERA
2018: 17-3 3.77 ERA
2019: 19-8 4.29 ERA
2020: 17-9 5.25 ERA
2021: 23-9 3.86 ERA
2022: 14-9 3.77 ERA
2023: 11-8 4.31 ERA
2024: 18-10 5.57 ERA
2025: 2-3 6.46 ERA
2026: 6-14 7.98 ERA
2027: 3-3 9.69 ERA
2028: 8-18 10.37 ERA
2029: 5-14 11.67 ERA
2030: 8-19 10.26 ERA

Injuries:
2007 - Strained Knee (2 weeks)
2008 - Broken Elbow (3 months)
2009 - Wrist Stress Fracture (4 weeks)
2010 - Sprained Finger (2 weeks)
2011 - Torn Hamstring (3 weeks)
2011 - Dislocated Shoulder (3 weeks)
2012 - Ruptured Cervical Disc (3 months)
2015 - Wrist Stress Fracture (5 weeks)
2016 - Foot Stress Fracture (2 weeks)
2017 - Hand Stress Fracture (2 weeks)
2018 - Spiked Achilles Tendon (3 weeks)
2018 - Torn Knee Ligament (2 months)
2019 - Sprained Lower Back (2 weeks)
2020 - Ankle Stress Fracture (3 weeks)
2022 - Spiked Achilles Tendon (2 weeks)
2023 - Broken Fibula (3 months)
2025 - Severed Knee Ligament (9 months)
2026 - Mild Shoulder Separation (2 weeks)
2027 - Wrist Stress Fracture (4 weeks)
2027 - Broken Hip (4 months)
2028 - Foot Stress Fracture (2 weeks)
2028 - Sprained Back (2 weeks)
2029 - Sprained Finger (2 weeks)
2029 - Dislocated Shoulder (3 weeks)

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
8 Time All Star
10 World Series Rings
1 Division Series MVP
3 Time ALCS MVP
1 WS MVP
Lead the AL in K's 3 times
Lead the AL In Wins 1 time
0 Cy Youngs
Inducted In To The Hall Of Fame in 2035 (84%)

So as we can see Phillip Hughes had one heck of a career. He never won a Cy Young and he only managed to lead the league in wins once in his 23 years as the #1 starter on the Yankees squad. He won 10 World Series which is great by any standards and as a pitcher he was named ALCS MVP an amazing three times. Even with this long and successful career he still wasn't even close to catching up with Cy Young and his win record. The final tally comes to;

RECORD: 315 W 215 L

[Yankeesfan924]

I'm editing the post above to include all the names mentioned so far...

Now you guys tell me who you like out of this bunch.

Before I saw this post, I saw all the names I suggested on top, and I was like, "Wow, I am an idiot."

[bjohn13]

I might have gotten to this thread a bit late, but I'll give my answers nonetheless.

1.) Who is a great pitcher that starts off really good at an early age?

My vote goes to Fernando Valenzuela.

2.) What suggestions for league settings? Should I up hall of fame careers or anything, or just go with the default settings?

Default.

3.) Any suggestions on how to handle the team? Should I try to stack it so that he can win as many games a year as possible or just try to keep it a decent team?

You want your pitcher to break such a monstrous record? You need to stack your position players. Pay whatever it takes to get great defense and great offense. Do not compromise (but do not cheat either) Pay whatever it takes to get 2 great relievers, and ignore the rest of your pitching staff. Remember, the only games you need to win are the games your ace starts. Seriously, in order to pull this off, you're going to have to Pete Rose it a bit. If you don't, you'll end up with a pitcher who has a stellar career and falls shy of 400.

4.) What kind of rotation would you want to see him a part of? 4 man, 5 man?

Well, I'd like to see a 5 man rotation, but I'm realistic. You need a 4 man rotation, and you need him to start every 4 days.

[jcbarr]

As you can see above, poor Phil can't seem to stay healthy enough to even come close. I'm going to finish out his career just to see how he ends up though. I'm curious to see if numbers like this will land him in the hall of fame.

[jcbarr]

I might have gotten to this thread a bit late, but I'll give my answers nonetheless.

1.) Who is a great pitcher that starts off really good at an early age?

My vote goes to Fernando Valenzuela.

2.) What suggestions for league settings? Should I up hall of fame careers or anything, or just go with the default settings?

Default.

3.) Any suggestions on how to handle the team? Should I try to stack it so that he can win as many games a year as possible or just try to keep it a decent team?

You want your pitcher to break such a monstrous record? You need to stack your position players. Pay whatever it takes to get great defense and great offense. Do not compromise (but do not cheat either) Pay whatever it takes to get 2 great relievers, and ignore the rest of your pitching staff. Remember, the only games you need to win are the games your ace starts. Seriously, in order to pull this off, you're going to have to Pete Rose it a bit. If you don't, you'll end up with a pitcher who has a stellar career and falls shy of 400.

4.) What kind of rotation would you want to see him a part of? 4 man, 5 man?

Well, I'd like to see a 5 man rotation, but I'm realistic. You need a 4 man rotation, and you need him to start every 4 days.

I decided on one FA a year, and I normally go out and get the best one that is available no matter what it costs. I am going to stick with that rule so that teams don't have unfair advantages over other players.

I agree with the pitchers part, no need to pay them except for your bullpen. You have to have some decent guys in the pen. No decisions really kill a pitchers win total.

[jcbarr]

Phil Hughes retired at the ripe old age of 44.

You can check out how he did in this post;

http://forum.sportsmogul.com/showpos...69&postcount=8

[JustinB0716]

That was pretty interesting. I would simulate EACH of their careers to see who comes the closest. This was a good little read.

[jcbarr]

Yep, that is what I am going to do. I am working on Babe Ruth as we speak. I ran in to a little problem though, after two seasons of simming every pitcher on the staff was sporting an ERA in the high 10s so I had to shut it down and restart. I'm fairly certain that Babe Ruth, Smokey Joe Wood and Dutch Leonard are slightly better than that. If it happens again though I guess I will have to run with it and see what happens.