GOWDY CHAPTER 8: CAN A GENTLE GIANT LEAD THE TWINS TO THE PLAYOFFS

                                 HARMON KILLEBREW 944 OPS 

THE PROJECT 

Hello baseball fans....
This project is named after Curt Gowdy, my favorite broadcaster.  Gowdy made sure his listeners understood every ballplayer's story of their journey to the majors and their virtues and vices on the field.

PROJECT TOOLS 

Digital Diamond Board Game Companion 
Google Dice Roller 
Liberty IP League Rules ( Modified) 
King of the Hill Schedule Format 
1966 Inside Pitch Game and Cards 

PROCESS 

I play 180 games made up of 9 chapters of 20 games each.  The more a team wins, the more games they play.  When I was a kid back in Northeast KC, we only had 1 basketball court in Budd Park so we played some pick up games and  your team stayed on the court as long as the team won.  The king of the hill format works the same way. 

The 6 teams with the most wins at the end of the 180 games qualify for the playoffs ranked 1 thru 6.  Here is the playoff schedule:

Team 6 vs Team 5 ( 1 Game) 
Winner  vs Team 4  ( Best of 3 ) 
Winner vs Team 3   ( Best of 5  ) 
Winner  vs Team 2   (  Best of 5 ) 
Winner   vs Team 1  ( Best of 7 ) 

CHAPTER 8 NOTES 

160 games in the book and the 6 top contenders going down the stretch look like this:

1. Pirates 19-8  (4-1) 
2. Orioles 17-9  (2-1) 
3. Athletics 16-7 (0-1)
4. Astros    14-8  (0-1) 
5.  Dodgers 14-9  (3-1) 
6.  Twins     12-8  (2-1) 

1. Pirate Notes 

OPS  1st 
ERA  4th 
FLD  5th 
RDIF  87 

Bob Bailey ( 385/407/635/1042) is on a tear and is just another hot bat in the Pittsburgh arsenal.   Alou, Clendenon, Stargell, Clemente and Mota just take turns battering opponents.  

The rotation of Veale, Blass, Law and Fryman is solid enough to take them all the way.  With no apparent weakness, they look like the favorite to win the 1966 title. 

2. Oriole Notes 

OPS 17th 
ERA 4th 
FLD  12th 
RDIF 24 

Boog Powell continues to lead the computer MVP voting thanks to a 1045 OPS stat while leading the project with 8 HRs and 26 RBIs.  Brooks Robinson is close behind with 7 HRs and 23 RBIs.  The supporting cast needs to improve the offensive production if the Orioles can win the project title. 

Steve Barber leads the computer voting for the Cy Young award with a 4-1 record while McNally and Palmer are solid rotation pieces.  Stu Miller is a top notch closer with 4 saves. 

3. A's Notes 

OPS 6th 
ERA  1st 
FLD  3rd 
RDIF  50 

Growing up as a kid in KC I remember the young pitchers coming up from the minors and having great hope for the future.  But as history showed, the As broke our hearts and moved to Oakland.  

Anyway, the trio of Catfish Hunter, Jim Nash and Lew Krausse have the As in a great position to go all the way.  Danny Cater ( 307/358/534/892) and Campy (856 OPS and 12 SB) lead a surprising offense.  Jack Aker (3 saves) is a reliable closer. 


4.  Astro Notes 

OPS  2nd 
ERA  8th 
FLD  16th 
RDIF  32

Jimmy Wynn (954), Joe Morgan (824), Rusty Staub (938) and Lee Maye (828) are a formidable offensive group and seem to be working on all cylinders at the present time.  Turk Farrell (2.31) and Mike Cuellar (1.93) are strong contenders for the Cy Young award but the supporting cast may not be strong enough to take the crown. 


5. Dodger Notes 

OPS  11th
ERA   5th 
FLD   4th 
RDIF  12 

The Dodgers continue to live and die with the trio of Koufax (2.40) , Drysdale (2.05) and Sutton (2.48).  They just do not appear to  have enough offensive fire power to make it all the way.    


6.  Twin Notes 

OPS  3rd 
ERA  9th 
FLD   6th 
RDIF  12 

Harmon Killebrew (944) and Tony Oliva (894) are heating up and the Twins are a team riding the wave of momentum.  Jim Perry (2.78) and Mudcat Grant (2,29) are Cy Young candidates but they need the rest of the pitching staff to pull their own weight if the Twins are going to make the playoffs and make some noise.

League leaders listed below.  So it is on to Chapter 9. 

Digital Diamond Baseball Report: 1966-League-Leaders-Batting

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [AVE] (Combined PA>=49)

Name	AVE
Bob Bailey (1966-PIT)	.385
Matty Alou (1966-PIT)	.379
Tim McCarver (1966-SLN)	.367
Donn Clendenon (1966-PIT)	.366
Willie Horton (1966-DET)	.362

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [OBP] (Combined PA>=49)

Name	OBP
Norm Cash (1966-DET)	.438
Matty Alou (1966-PIT)	.412
Bob Bailey (1966-PIT)	.407
Orlando Cepeda (1966-SFN)	.407
Bobby Knoop (1966-CAL)	.405

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [SLG] (Combined PA>=49)

Name	SLG
Boog Powell (1966-BAL)	.642
Bob Bailey (1966-PIT)	.635
Don Pavletich (1966-CIN)	.608
Jim Wynn (1966-HOU)	.604
Joe Torre (1966-ATL)	.604

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [OPS] (Combined PA>=49)

Name	OPS
Boog Powell (1966-BAL)	1.045
Bob Bailey (1966-PIT)	1.042
Don Pavletich (1966-CIN)	.997
Donn Clendenon (1966-PIT)	.993
Willie Horton (1966-DET)	.972

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [RISP] (PA With Runners In Scoring Position>=50)

Name	RISP

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [LOADED] (PA When Bases Are Loaded>=5)

Name	LOADED

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [HR]

Name	HR
Boog Powell (1966-BAL)	8
Brooks Robinson (1966-BAL)	7
Jim Wynn (1966-HOU)	7
Jim Lefebvre (1966-LAN)	6
Rusty Staub (1966-HOU)	6

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [R]

Name	R
Matty Alou (1966-PIT)	22
Willie Stargell (1966-PIT)	22
Roberto Clemente (1966-PIT)	20
Donn Clendenon (1966-PIT)	20
Boog Powell (1966-BAL)	20

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [RBI]

Name	RBI
Boog Powell (1966-BAL)	26
Donn Clendenon (1966-PIT)	23
Brooks Robinson (1966-BAL)	23
Roberto Clemente (1966-PIT)	22
Gene Alley (1966-PIT)	21

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [SB]

Name	SB
Bert Campaneris (1966-KCA)	12
Sonny Jackson (1966-HOU)	10
Lou Brock (1966-SLN)	9
Maury Wills (1966-LAN)	6
Tommie Agee (1966-CHA)	3

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [H]

Name	H
Donn Clendenon (1966-PIT)	41
Boog Powell (1966-BAL)	38
Matty Alou (1966-PIT)	36
Willie Stargell (1966-PIT)	33
Manny Mota (1966-PIT)	32

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [SO]

Name	SO
Willie Stargell (1966-PIT)	33
Roberto Clemente (1966-PIT)	26
Donn Clendenon (1966-PIT)	25
Gene Alley (1966-PIT)	22
Boog Powell (1966-BAL)	22

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [Doubles]

Name	Doubles
Brooks Robinson (1966-BAL)	8
Jim Wynn (1966-HOU)	8
Donn Clendenon (1966-PIT)	7
Paul Blair (1966-BAL)	6
Jim Fregosi (1966-CAL)	6

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [Triples]

Name	Triples
Glenn Beckert (1966-CHN)	4
Tony Conigliaro (1966-BOS)	4
Danny Cater (1966-CHA)	3
Donn Clendenon (1966-PIT)	3
Lee Maye (1966-HOU)	3

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [BB]

Name	BB
Joe Morgan (1966-HOU)	13
Jim Pagliaroni (1966-PIT)	12
Frank Robinson (1966-BAL)	11
Willie Stargell (1966-PIT)	10
Norm Cash (1966-DET)	9

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [IBB]

Name	IBB
Tommie Agee (1966-CHA)	1
Gene Freese (1966-CHA)	1
Harmon Killebrew (1966-MIN)	1
Dick McAuliffe (1966-DET)	1
Hank Aaron (1966-ATL)	0

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [SH]

Name	SH
Jim Perry (1966-MIN)	4
Catfish Hunter (1966-KCA)	3
Sammy Ellis (1966-CIN)	2
Joe Horlen (1966-CHA)	2
Tommy John (1966-CHA)	2

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [SF]

Name	SF
Gene Alley (1966-PIT)	2
Bob Aspromonte (1966-HOU)	2
Jose Cardenal (1966-CAL)	2
Orlando Cepeda (1966-SFN)	2
Jim Davenport (1966-SFN)	2

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [GIDP]

Name	GIDP
Dick Green (1966-KCA)	8
Frank Robinson (1966-BAL)	6
Tommie Agee (1966-CHA)	5
Roberto Clemente (1966-PIT)	5
Ron Fairly (1966-LAN)	5

League Batting Leaders All Leagues - [E]

Name	E
Sonny Jackson (1966-HOU)	8
Jim Fregosi (1966-CAL)	6
Donn Clendenon (1966-PIT)	5
Boog Powell (1966-BAL)	5
Tommy Helms (1966-CIN)	4

 

 

Digital Diamond Baseball Report: 1966-League-Leaders-Pitching

League Pitching Leaders All Leagues - [ERA] (Combined IP>=16)

Name	ERA
Lew Krausse (1966-KCA)	1.25
Steve Blass (1966-PIT)	1.59
Jim Nash (1966-KCA)	1.80
Mike Cuellar (1966-HOU)	1.93
Milt Pappas (1966-CIN)	1.96

League Pitching Leaders All Leagues - [IP]

Name	IP
Jim Palmer (1966-BAL)	52.2
Vern Law (1966-PIT)	49.2
Dave McNally (1966-BAL)	49.1
Bob Veale (1966-PIT)	48
Mike Cuellar (1966-HOU)	46.2

League Pitching Leaders All Leagues - [W]

Name	W
Steve Barber (1966-BAL)	4
Steve Blass (1966-PIT)	4
Turk Farrell (1966-HOU)	4
Woodie Fryman (1966-PIT)	4
Catfish Hunter (1966-KCA)	4

League Pitching Leaders All Leagues - [CG]

Name	CG
Mike Cuellar (1966-HOU)	3
Mudcat Grant (1966-MIN)	3
Steve Blass (1966-PIT)	2
Bucky Brandon (1966-BOS)	2
Don Drysdale (1966-LAN)	2

League Pitching Leaders All Leagues - [SV]

Name	SV
Stu Miller (1966-BAL)	4
Jack Aker (1966-KCA)	3
Bob Lee (1966-CAL)	3
Billy O'Dell (1966-ATL)	3
Eddie Fisher (1966-BAL)	2

League Pitching Leaders All Leagues - [SO]

Name	SO
Bob Veale (1966-PIT)	53
Catfish Hunter (1966-KCA)	39
Sandy Koufax (1966-LAN)	38
Jim Palmer (1966-BAL)	35
Mike Cuellar (1966-HOU)	32

League Pitching Leaders All Leagues - [HR]

Name	HR
Woodie Fryman (1966-PIT)	10
Dave Giusti (1966-HOU)	7
Fergie Jenkins (1966-CHN)	7
Jim Kaat (1966-MIN)	7
Jim Lonborg (1966-BOS)	7

League Pitching Leaders All Leagues - [H9] (Combined IP>=16)

Name	H9
Earl Wilson (1966-BOS)	4.99
Dave Boswell (1966-MIN)	5.19
Pete Richert (1966-WSA)	5.55
Jim Bunning (1966-PHI)	6.00
Catfish Hunter (1966-KCA)	6.17

League Pitching Leaders All Leagues - [SO9] (Combined IP>=16)

Name	SO9
Bob Veale (1966-PIT)	9.94
Mickey Lolich (1966-DET)	9.43
Bob Gibson (1966-SLN)	9.32
Sonny Siebert (1966-CLE)	8.73
Pete Richert (1966-WSA)	8.51

League Pitching Leaders All Leagues - [BB9] (Combined IP>=16)

Name	BB9
Pete Richert (1966-WSA)	0.37
Jim Bunning (1966-PHI)	0.38
Milt Pappas (1966-CIN)	0.39
Jim O'Toole (1966-CIN)	0.46
Juan Marichal (1966-SFN)	0.72