To Rule in Kansas City

[Coach Owens]

So, aren't you glad I asked you to create Thompson, Cat?

[CatKnight]

gosensgo101: I'm not in critical danger. I have $2.6m in cash. I'm just over $1m over budget. Still, that number MUST come down. Here are my top salaries as of now:

Blyleven 327 / Torre 281 / Robinson 252 / Piniella 250 / Hart 245
Andrews 240 / Mays 221 / Bunker 216 / Kelly 200 / Splittorff 190

There will have to be some salary dumps. Mays and Piniella are likely choices if Rice keeps developing, as they're both bench players. Soderholm's definitely made Hart expendable, and if Martinez can really step forward than Torre may be as well.

Coach Owens: Aren't you glad I based Thompson off one of an All Star and not, say, Mike Fiore?
*******

Free Agency 1972

History would remember the 1972 postseason for an ungodly Free Agency period. Teams let lots of people go, including some of the biggest names in the game. I couldn't believe it when I saw who was looking for new teams:

1. RF Bobby Bonds (94) (.318 39-123 25 with SF) (signed with ATL for 480)
2. SS Rico Petrocelli (94) (.266 23-62 1 with BOS) (PHI for 350)
3. CF Ron LeFlore (86/94) (.297 9-65 88 with NYY) (CLE for 347)
4. RF Hank Aaron (84) (.281 36-100 3 with ATL) (SD for 329)
5. SP Bob Gibson (89) (15-12 3.82 10 CG with STL) (LAA for 336)

6. SP Larry Dierker (90) (12-10 4.15 4 with KC) (Unsigned as of Winter Meetings)
7. 1B John Young (80/81) (.293 17-79 3 with DET) (Unsigned)
8. LF Lou Brock (84) (.296 9-51 35 with STL) (Unsigned)
9. LF Art Shamsky (86) (.249 28-85 0 with NYM) (Unsigned)
10. SP Mudcat Grant (76/77) (3-12 5.24 1 CG 1 SV with MON/DET) (Unsigned)

Bonds? LeFlore? Aaron? Gibson? Brock? What the h***!?

The story was the same league wide: Drops in revenue - attendance didn't go well in many Major League cities - and all these unexpected arbitration cases blindsided us, forcing some very tough decisions regarding older, more established players. No one would have batted an eyelash if I dumped Mays' $221K salary.

Gary Gregg and I talked by phone. "I'm still $500,000 over budget," he growled. "There was nothing I could do. Agents and the union are feeding numbers into everyone's head about what they're worth, and the money just isn't there. We need to discuss finances at the Winter Meetings. All of us do."

(When I first pulled up this list, I was...very, very angry. Half of this would never happen in real life. I figured the aforementioned arbitration bug broke the dynasty and was about to tell you that it's pretty well smashed.)

(Last year's Noll-Scully number was 2.28 - above predictions, suggesting a league still in trouble. Yesterday I realized why all the awkward moves: The league's finally resetting itself by redistributing talent. I ran a one year test: 1.82 for 1973, which is about right for this era. Only one team broke 100 wins, no team had 100 losses, and we had three new division champions. So...maybe the sim engine is finally getting everything sorted out. I hope so.)

The Royals remained mostly quiet, at least until Winter Meetings. We talked to John Young as possibly a better alternative to Fiore, but he wants too much money. Dierker is still hopeful of finding a team. Why he doesn't like us anymore...well, he won't say.

I finally nabbed a prospect, SP Marc McNabb (71/86) (minor leaguer): $81,000 for two years, plus a PO of $80,000 for two more. We'll see how he develops.
*******

Trades

Only one trade before Winter Meetings (besides the one involving Congliaro: )

PIT to CHC: SP George Stone (81) [26] (7-10 4.52 3 CG)
CHC to PIT: CF Don Young (70/80) [27] (Last played ML 1971)

Advantage Cubbies. I understand Pit's looking to the future, but Young's too old to be it.
*******

Retirements

Along with the unholy amount of free agents were a number of people who saw the writing on the wall and stepped aside. Among the more notable cases:

3B Max Alvis (LA Angels): Age 34, 10 years
Last played ML 1971
Lifetime: .253 161-545 54 with 1192H
Teams: Indians (62-71)
Honors: All Star 65,67

SS Luis Aparicio (Cincinnati): Age 38, 17 years
1972: .125 0-1 1 in 8 AB
Lifetime: .262 74-657 491 2234H
Teams: White Sox (56-62), Orioles (63-67), White Sox (68-70), Reds (71-72)
Honors: RoY 1956, All Star 1958-64, 1969, Gold Glove: 1958-62, 64, 66, 68

Future HoFer?

1B Chuck Hinton (Cleveland): Age 38, 12 years
1972: .111 0-3 0 in 18 AB
Lifetime: .264 51-117 144 1126H
Teams: Senators (61-64), Indians (65-67), CAL Angels (68), Indians (68-72)
Honors: All Star 1964

1B Bill White (San Diego): Age 38, 16 years
1972: .263 4-20 4
Lifetime: .283 235-1040 119 1995H
Teams: NY Giants (56), SF Giants (58), Cardinals (59-65), Phillies (66-68), Cardinals (69), Padres (70-72)
Honors: All Star 1959-61, 63-64, Gold Glove 1960-66

C Tom Haller (LA Angels): Age 35, 12 years
1972: .000 0-0 0 in 4 AB
Lifetime: .254 143-520 11 1013H
Teams: Giants (61-67), Dodgers (68-70), Angels (70-72)
Honors: All Star 1966-68

RF Leon Wagner (San Francisco): Age 38, 15 years
1972: .333 0-4 0 in 9 AB
Lifetime: .271 223-756 55 1312H
Teams: Giants (58-59), Cardinals (60), Angels (61-63), Indians (64-68), White Sox (68), Giants (69-72)
Honors: All Star 1962-63, AS MVP 1962

SS Jackie Hernandez (Washington): Age 32, 6 years
1972: .250 0-0 0
Lifetime: .198 2-26 8 59H
Teams: CAL Angels (65-66), Twins (67-68), Royals (69), Senators (70-72)
Honors: None

[Coach Owens]

Hurry up, loser!

[CatKnight]

Coach Owens: Eh?
*******

November 1972


A strange few days in news.

First, the important stuff:

AL Cy Young: Dave McNally (BAL) (19-7 3.30 8 CG)
AL MVP: Carlton Fisk (BOS) (.329 40-127 4 SB)
AL RoY: Doug DeCinces (BAL) (.280 11-62 1)

AL Gold Gloves:
P: Carl Morton (BOS)
C: Carlton Fisk (BOS)
1B: George Hendrick (OAK)
2B: Bobby Grich (BAL)
3B: Aurelio Rodriguez (LAA)
SS: Rico Petrocelli (BOS)
OF: Roy White (NYY)
OF: Paul Blair (BAL)
OF: Brian Downing (MIL)

NL Cy Young: Fergie Jenkins (CHC) (28-6 1.89 15 CG)
NL MVP: Reggie Jackson (LAD) (.325 52-150 5)
NL RoY: Jerry Morales (SD) (.280 12-70 6)

NL Gold Gloves:
P: Rick Reuschel (CHC)
C: Johnny Bench (CIN)
1B: Wes Parker (LAD)
2B: Steve Huntz (CHC)
3B: Van Kelly (SD)
SS: Rich Hacker (MON)
OF: Pete Rose (CIN)
OF: Jim Howarth (SF)
OF: Dusty Baker (ATL)
*******

On the less important front, Richard Nixon easily won reelection.

The economy had a rough year or two, but inflation's down to 3-odd percent and unemployment's in the mid-5s. Nixon pulled us out of Vietnam, and opened wary relations with China. Reports that someone broke into Democratic HQ in Washington are just that - reports, and a few papers finally suggested those were fabrications.

Alabama governor George Wallace entered the race in September after losing the Democratic bid, relaunching his "American Independent" party. He briefly led his home state until supporters saw the writing on the walls. He lost control in the last weeks of the campaign, referring to the n***** menace affecting American society. Ultimately only the diehards supported him.

Richard Nixon (R): 39,646,760 votes (56%) (531 EV) (All states but..)
George McGovern (D): 26,687,452 votes (38%) (7 EV) (DC, RI)
George Wallace (I): 3,988,476 votes (6%)

(I played the election out using 'President Elect 1988,' a now abandon-ware game originally by SSI. Unfortunately it ONLY goes up to 1988.)
*******

And something bizarre from the Star.

Child Killed in Weasel Attack

DAYTON, Ohio- Roger Clemens, 10, of Dayton was found gnawed to death on the outskirts of a local forest Saturday night.

A park ranger described the grisly scene: "I knew instantly it was weasels. They lined the forestline and glared at me. Hundreds of them! Some frothing at the mouth."

KC veternarian Andrew MacKay said that frothing is a warning that the animal may be rabid. "The ranger is lucky they didn't attack him as well."

After clearing away the animals, they recovered Clemens, who'd suffered several hundred bites to face, hands and body. Officially no reason (other than rabidity) has been given for the attack, though another ranger reported finding an injured underage weasel kit nearby.
*******

And something even more bizarre from Andy.

"Hey, boss! Got a minute?"

I looked up from my desk. My new office was otherwise barren, with most of my belongings still packed away. "Sure, Andy. What's up?"

For the first time..well, since I struck him...he seemed nervous. "I need some honesty here." He glanced around. "How do you think I did?"

"You mean, how did Dale do?" I smiled. "Other than the fiasco with the outfield grass you did fine, Andy. Straightened the contractors out and everything's almost done." Why was he fishing for compliments? I stared at him. He looked.. "Is something wrong?"

"No, no." He looked around. "Let me put it another way. Do you think I can run a team?"

A chill stole over my heart. "Like the Royals?" Was Ewing looking for my replacement too?"

"Oh no. Well...yes. LIKE the Royals, but not the Royals."

I considered. He clenched his fists and stared at me, expecting some sort of easy rebuke. Did I think he could be GM? Well...good ideas, but maturity issues. "I think you have potential, Andy. Maybe in another year or..." six.

"Alright, let me put it another way. If other teams ask about me, are you going to shoot me down?"

My brows arched. "You've already applied? With whom?"

"All of them."

All of them. Five teams were looking for GMs this year. San Diego offered me A LOT to jump ship. "Uh....no, I won't 'shoot you down,' but do you think you're rea...?"

"Thanks, boss!" He left.

[gosensgo101]

Is your plan to kill off anyone who used steroids?

I'm pretty sure the A's minor leaguers will put their foot down if Finley wants to sign a rabid weasel.

As for Kraft, let him go!

[petrel]

Clemens was killed by an old and increasingly injured weasel who had come out mid-weasel-season, a weasel who still put up good numbers among weasels but was no longer dominating.

--Pet

[Coach Owens]

Is McGwire next? Or Sosa?

[gosensgo101]

Is McGwire next? Or Sosa?

Or maybe even Palmeiro or Canseco.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

Guys, we ALL know that the next one will be Larry Bigbie.

[gosensgo101]

It just dawned on me that you have future manager Joe Torre on your team. Maybe a player-manager? That would be interesting.

Or maybe you should let McKeon manage until he's 90 (ok it was like 80 but whatever)

[CatKnight]

gosensgo: Nope, my petty revenge was/is done with Clemens. It's tempting to go after any and all steroid users, but there's just too many, and I'd quickly run out of strange animals to kill them with.

petrel: Exactly.

Coach/gosensgo: Nah, as above

PotatoofCouch: Rats, you figured it out.

gosensgo: Torre is definitely an option.
*******

COMMENTS:

Guys, I'm gonna let this dynasty rest for awhile. There are lots of reasons... rather than trigger a debate, let's just say I need to do something else for a bit. I'm not ending this at this time and am saving all my notes, just not really up to going any further.

I do have something I may want to try in the meantime. I'm working on what notes I would need to set up. If I do get something going, I'll let you know.

Thanks, and see you soon.

[petrel]

Well, definitely let us know what you come up with. I'm sure it will be cool.

--Pet

[gosensgo101]

Take as much time as you need. I'll always read your dynasties, even if you only make like one post a year.

[SrMeowMeow]

You are the best. Please come back soon. This is basically the only dynasty I still follow regularly!

[bwburke94]

Hey, I was the one who suggested you kill someone off. Maybe you should have realized McNamee was lying.