KANSAS CITY MONARCHS SOUTHERN DIVISION ROYALS STADIUM JIM DOYLE 93-127
PLAYOFFS 1971 WC (3-0) WDIV LOSS (2-4)
ROSTER
HITTERS
Bench AA5 Blomberg A2 Carbo B-2 Helms D+4 Hisle A3 Johnson C. B+2 Kingman C+ Lum C4 Otis B+3 Petrocelli C+2 Stanley F-5 Valentine D3 White B+3 Yeager B-5
PITCHING
Borbon C Busby A Bryant C- Hamilton C Hands B Gura B Kaat A Lyle B Matlack A McGlothen A- Pitlock C- Woodson F Zahn B
NOTES
It seems like just punishment when the owner doing the season previews only managed 11 wins last year . I should have learned a lesson when I got Johnny Bench's rookie card.
Dad used to smoke a lot and I would always ask for a pack of baseball cards. The guilt trip worked and I loved opening those packs. One year I opened a pack with Johnny Bench's rookie card staring me in the face. My brother would not be born for several years and my 3 sisters did not understand what the big deal was so I jumped on my bike filled with pride and joy and peddled as fast as I could for the Stasi brother's house. Unfortunately, a cop literally turned on his lights, stopped me and reminded me I was still on the face of the earth so slow down. So it took me longer than I thought but I still made it to my destination.
After sharing my discovery with the Stasi brothers, John, the oldest, explained to me he had a valuable Tom Haller card, the Giants' starting catcher, you know, Willie Mays team. Since Haller had as many home runs as Bench that year, it seemed like a good trade since Haller played on Mays' team. When I reported the transaction to my father, he explained why it was a terrible trade. I have been trying to understand how to value a baseball player ever since. ( Save the jokes until the end of the season previews... 😀)
Although last year was a disaster, I did manage to prepare for 74 by trading for Johnny Bench, the best catcher in baseball and ranked 3rd in RC+. In addition, he is rated at the corners so Steve Yeager will get some time behind the plate. Thank God John Stasi is not an owner in the league.
Bench and Yeager will be calling pitches for one of the best rotations in the league. Matlack (3), Busby (7), Kaat (18) and McGlothen (32) were all ranked among the top leaders in FIP so they provide a playoff caliber starting rotation.
The rest of the staff is a question mark. Larry Gura can make 4 starts in high leverage situations. For example, in an important series against the Chicago Colts, Gura hurled 8 shutout innings for a 2-1 win. Hopefully, I will use the last 3 starts in key situations.
My bullpen must have blown more than 10 saves last year so it is easy to understand why I suffer from PTSD anytime I have to warm up the bullpen. 74 can't be any worse and may actually be pretty good with a bullpen of Lyle (B), Zahn (B) and Hands (B). Hamilton (C), Pitlock (C-) and Borbon (D) need to avoid becoming cannon fodder.
A number of the hitters are playoff caliber. Bench (AA), Blomberg (AA), Hisle (A-) and White (A-) lead the way while Carbo (B-), Cliff Johnson (B), Amos Otis (B) and Yeager (B-) provide some strong support.
The defense has some holes on the corners so look for some trades to fill those holes.
I know I am jinxing my team but I have to follow the numbers so I will stick with the 5 league and 1st division ranking in the South. I am sure the Chicago Colts will do their best to shatter those dreams. If John Stasi could do it, you know Joe Ingersoll can.
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