90M, League 3-A (1924 White Sox)
Pre-Season Comment
I really had no idea where I was going to go with this theme, then I remembered a mini-tournament I ran 3-4 years ago, where each team got 3-4 free agents and the playoffs were based on most improved (i.e., sim record vs. real life record). It wasn't exactly the same concept, but it was close and I was able to find an old standings spreadsheet to give me some ideas on teams to consider.
I ended up using a team that I had success with in that mini-tournament... the 1924 White Sox (.431). They had a number of good hitters on that team with 1b Earl Sheely (.320), 2b Eddie Collins (.349), of Bibb Falk (.352), of Harry Hooper (.328). Willie Kamm gives me a solid glove at 3b (A / A-). The White Sox pitching isn't great but I get to add FIVE free agents.
of Babe Ruth (.378, .513, .739)
ss Joe Sewell (.316, .388, .429)
sp Walter Johnson (292 ip, 1.12 whip, 2.32 erc, .224 oav, 0.32 hr/9)
sp Dazzy Vance (324 ip, 1.02 whip, 1.93 erc, .205 oav, 0.32 hr/9)
rp Claude Jonnard (95 ip, 1.16 whip, 2.45 erc, .229 oav, 0.20 hr/9)
I also used Sloppy Thurston and Red Faber from the White Sox but overall, the pitching isn't very strong. Hopefully, with my offense, I can win 75% to 80% of the games that Walter and Dazzy start and be competetive in the other games.
Here are my averages (exlc. 200K players)
Batting: .317 avg, .405 obp, .455 slug
Pitching: 1.24 whip, 2.92 ERC, .25 oav, .33 hr/9 (ugh)
Comments after 68 games
W-L Reord 46-22 (1st place by 10 games)
What's going on?
I thought this team would be decent, but they're way better than I could have imagined. I was hoping to win 75% of the games that Dazzy Vance and Walter Johnson started. Well, Vance is 14-3 and W.Johnson is 13-3. In total, I've won 30 out of 37 games that those two have started (81%). Not surprisingly, Vance and Johnson are 1-2 in the Cy Young race. Even my two bad starting pitchers are a respectable 10-12. The bullpen is bad, but with a league-leading 18 complete games, it hasn't come into play that much.
Clearly, the offense is what is carrying this team. We're ranked #1 in runs scored, averaging 6.2 runs/game, leading #2 by 0.6 runs/game. We're first in AVG, first in OBP and first in SLG. Free agent, '24 Babe Ruth, is leading the MVP voting (.379, .497, .798). He is on a pace for 71 HRs and 229 RBIs. Bibb Falk is also hitting well (.394, .433, .566).