Quote: Originally Posted By ceez on 3/11/2006
in "69 , we win the Wildcard with 97 victories but lose a 5 game series to the 101 win eventual W.S champ St. Louis Cardinals 3-1
'70 , we again , win the W.C with the same amoint of wins , 97
the 1st Rd , we beat the 114 win Chicago Cubs 3-2
NLCS , we take out the 91 win S.F Giants 4 -3
W.S , a subway series! Mets vs. Yankees....we win 4-2
the 1970 WORLD CHAMPS
'71 we came out gangbusters , but were eventually passed in the standings by both Atlanta and Pittsburgh before turning it on late to win the W.C for the 3rd year in a row with a 98-64 record
1st rd , we beat the 94 win L.A Dodgers 3-1
NLCS , we lose a heartbreaking series to the 90 win Cincinatti Reds , who go on to lose the W.S in heartbreaking fashion themselves...we were up 3-2 but lost the series 4-3 when we twice couldnt convert series winning double plays between Harrelson and Morgan....I'm still bitter
'72 , only 2 games out of the W.C spot w/ 20 games to go , injuries , fatigue and bullpen woes strike hard and the team fizzles , misses the playoffs for the 1st time even with a nice 92-70 record
'73 , we add 3B Bob Bailey , Hank Aaron , Reggie Cleveland , Jerry Bell and Roger Moret
we go on to dominate the regular season with a 107-55 record , we're #2 in team era and #1 in runs scored , 2B Joe Morgan wins the league MVP
in a reverse situation of the 1970 1st rd series vs. the cubs , they beat us 3-0....my most disapointing moment on wifs
the papers dubbed us " the N.Y Mess"
1974
1st qtr - after a sluggish start , the team turns it on and grabs 1st place at 25-15...Koosman 7-0 2.19era
Bob Bailey .323 5hr 33rbi
2nd qtr - we build a 10 gm lead over the rest of the division and then blow it as the pen ( most notably McGraw) cant hold leads....we go 23-18 but are 1 gm behind a scorching hot Atlanta
we have 4 all-stars
Morgan .303 11hr 50rbi 39sb
c/1b Earl Williams 11hr 50rbi
Jerry Koosman 10-2
Tug McGraw!?!?!?!? 19svs 6.21era
3rd qtr - we acquire a new closer in Roger Nelson but it doesnt matter , this team is burnt out , we're tired and unmotivated , we go 16-20 and are now 10gms behind Atlanta and 6 behind WC leading L.A
4th qtr - 18-27...we limp to a 82-80 record
the lineup
2B Joe Morgan - the '73MVP backs it up with another fine year , .285 .404 24hr 93rbi 83sb
CF Amos Otis - another great year in the 2 spot , didnt hit as many homers as '73 .286 .351 12hr 86rbi 22sb
LF Ken Singleton - lost his '73 power stroke as well but still produced .283 .387 10hr 101rbi
3B Bob Bailey - starting to show his age .273 .390 14hr 94rbi
RF Hank Aaron - the hr king still had some gas in the tank .283 21hr 79rbi
1B Earl Williams - only 14rbi in the 2nd half .279 14hr 64rbi
C Jerry Grote - great defensively, if only he could hit better.230 3hr 32rbi
SS Bud Harrelson - his glove is steady , his bat is killin the teams rallies .177 0hr! 18rbi!!
bench
a strong group
1B Norm Cash accepted the backup role and excelled .282 .398 5hr 36rbi
OF Andy Kosco .288 .348 4hr 31rbi
SS larry Lintz 35rbi 38sb
rotation
Tom Seaver 12-10 3.05era 1.20whip - snakebitten all year!!
Jerry Koosman 18-11 3.48era - went 11-11 after a 7-0 start
Mike Cuellar 19-12 3.35era - with a better bottom of the batting order , these 3 guys coulda carried us to another championship...what a waste
Reggie Cleveland 2-8 4.76era - MAJOR DISAPOINTMENT
Roger Moret 8-13 4.38era - picked up Clevelands slack but shouldnt've been in that position
bullpen
Longrelief - Charlie Williams 8-7 7.33era and mac scarce 1-0 7.71era SUCKED!
Setup - Jerry Bell 5-8 3.74era was o.k...he's retiring for '75
ramon Hernandez 8-5 3.70era , also just o.k
Closer - 1st half was McGraw 1-6 19svs 5.21era teh syck
2nd half Roger Nelson 15svs 4.88era.....not much better
so , in hindsight , less power and weaker batting avg's + a sh*t pen = our 1974 downfall
hopefully 1975 , people will be fresh and ready to make another serious run