****LINEUP****
1. WClark 1B (.329 .431 .501)
2. BBonds LF (.312 .426 .647)
3. Griffey CF (.323 . 402 .674)
4. Mitchell DH (.326 .429 .681)
5. Williams 3B (.607 slg.)
6. Mondesi RF (.306 ba)
7. Alomar 2B (.306 .386 .452)
8. Cordero SS (.294 .363 .489)
9. Steinbach C +5 throw
OK, I’ll admit it may have been a mistake to protect Mondesi, but based on the team I fielded in 95A, I didn’t really have a lot of choices. My bench here is where I finally started to think ahead for the long run and draft a team, and manage accordingly. I had a 3-headed monster at short, with Cordero (SS-7) starting, Clayton (C-31) pinch-running, and Bordick (SS-9) coming in for late inning defense. I also had Piazza (.319 .370 .541) playing an offensive/defensive game with Steinbach at C. Puckett was a super-sub available to play all 3 OF positions. I had J-4 star Brogna (.351 ba, .636 slg) as a part-time DH, and pinch-hitter extraordinaire Chili Davis (.311 .410 .561) also on the bench. I am not sure why I drafted 3 quality DHs like that, but I’m known to make a lot of questionable moves.
****PITCHING****
My rotation consisted of Ontiveros, McDowell, ZSmith, Fassero, and Gross, who were all graded 11-14, and none of which were a memorable standout. My pen was Howe (21 Z), and Brewer, Plunk, and Ayala who were 15, 16 and 17 I think.
I jumped out to an early lead, and probably held as much as a 4-5 game lead over Keith, which he slowly wore down, and we were neck and neck throughout much of the 2nd half of the season. If I remember correctly, he had a 2-game lead with 2 to go, head-to-head, and I won both to force a tie. I know I won game 80 against him to force a tie, as I blew open a close game in the 8th by hitting like 5 homers back-to-back. Unfortunately the one game playoff wasn’t even close, and he went on to win it all. Pitching as usual was my downfall, and I also don’t think I was real aggressive on the basepaths all year. But again it was a learning situation, and I took my knocks this season, only to come back stronger the next year. And the next. And so on.....