FROM LEO'S DESK
PROLOGUE
And here we come to it. To another season's conclusion.
Here's to filling the pages with the stuff history is made of!
THE POSTSEASON
Congratulations to Michael Gortenberg and the New York Yankees, the
1998 World Series champions! The regular season record of 124-38,
which is among ASFBL's regular season best, was continued in the
postseason, where the 11-1 Yankees only loss came to the Giants in
Game Four of their World Series matchup. And, these ASFBL Yankees
also finished 7th in Wins Above Reality, a full 10 games better than
the real life, record setting 1998 counterparts. The domination of
the 1998 ASFBL Yankees will not soon be forgotten.
And, for the second straight year, Shawn Whalen and the San Francisco
Giants take the National League Pennant, but fall short in the World
Series. Scraping all the way from a three way 89-73 tie in the
regular season, the Giants edged the Astros, Pirates, and then Rockies
to represent the National League once again. To Shawn, the magician
and complacency killer, congratulations on another surprising year!
Casey Cobb and the Colorado Rockies finished the 1998 regular season
with ASFBL's second best record of 102-60. Casey seemed prime to be
the heir apparent National League representative, but suffered what
can only be called an upset of significant proportion in the NL
Pennant Series. Casey, may the grace and poise you exhibit as an
ASFBL owner in times of bitter defeat, as well as victory, be an
example to all ASFBL owners. Casey's brilliant trading also led the
ASFBL Rockies to the second best Wins Above Reality performance, 25
games higher than their real life counterparts. Casey, what can I
say, congratulations on crafting yet another stellar ASFBL team!
Richard Rodriguez and the Boston Bosox also had a brilliant 1998,
with a closing regular season record of 101-61. While the Bosox were
swept in the AL Pennant Series, their performance during the season
and Division Series had provided the Yankees owner with much concern
about their impending matchup. A well done 1998 to you, Rich!
ASFBL's consummate trader, Rick Wynne, led yet another team from its
real life ashes to ASFBL prominence. Rick and the ASFBL Pittsburgh
Pirates had the 4th best regular season record of 96-66, and -- in
what is becoming an expected performance -- the very best Wins Above
Reality record of 27 games better than the real life counterpart.
While the Division Series loss can certainly be called an upset, the
gentlemanly fashion in which you interact with other ASFBL owners and
conduct the affairs of your team can certainly not. Congratulations
Rick, thanks for once again enriching all our ASFBL experiences!
Jon Bruschke and the New York Mets had to be the sentimental favorites
of the 1998 postseason. Jon and the Mets made the ASFBL postseason for
the first time this year, posting the league's 5th best record of 93-69
-- 5 games better than the real life counterpart and an 11th place Wins
Above Reality finish. Jon, your dedication to the Mets is only
surpassed in your dedication to ASFBL. But I can't end the paragraph
without once again sharing Shawn Whalen's comments:
For those of you who have been with us since the inception
of this league, you might recall that this is Jon's first
ever trip to the post season. I wanted to be the first to
extend my congratulations to Jon for finally figuring out
how to play the game that he created! [Shawn started the
league as Jon's Co-Commissioner back when I was chewing on
number crunching pacifiers.]
Jon, congratulations to you and the ASFBL Mets, and thank you once
again for all you do as ASFBL's creator and perpetuator!
John Cunningham and the Seattle M'ners, the 1997 World Series Champion,
actually finished with a 1998 regular season record two games better
than last year's finish. While the Mariners were swept by a strong
Bosox team in the Division Series, a closer look at the boxscores and
statistics reveals how much closer this Series was than indicated by
a three game loss. And John's 3rd place Wins Above Reality finish
– a full 15.5 games better than the disappointing real life team –
indicates the level of managerial expertise this ASFBL owner has.
John, best of luck in 1999!
Cary Richardson came in as a first time ASFBL owner this year. While
Cary and the Cleveland Indians were swept in the Division Series, they
took an AL Central Division title over two very scrappy owners: Tim
Walsh of the Minnesota Twins -- another first year owner -- and Gordon
Leckie of the Chicago Chisox. All three owners kept the ASFBL AL
Central division a race until the very end. Cary, congratulations on
a good start!
And, once again, Patrick Lalor and the Los Angeles Dodgers closed the
1998 season in contention with an 89-73 record. A World Series
champion in 1996, and long time ASFBL owner, Pat lost an NL Wildcard
Series game that was much closer than the final score indicated. One
of the league's members of long standing, he has represented the Dodger
Blue honorably and with pride all of his ASFBL years. But, alas, as
the real life wearers of the Dodger uniform change, as the overall
composition of the team and organization changes, so too do the
priorities and commitments of us all. Patrick, your musings, quips,
and editorials have now gone to the ASFBL halls of history. May your
memory and ideals always live on in the ASFBL pages. You will be
missed!
THE SEASON
Here's to the new owners! In addition to Cary Richardson's division
capturing performance in 1998, four other first time owners finished
among the top 9 Wins Above Reality positions this year. Jack Kelley
and the Tampa Bay Drays finished 7 games better than their real life
counterparts, Tim Pittman and the Montreal Expos closed out 13 games
better, Tim Walsh and the Minnesota Twins closed out 14 games better,
and Justin Kaplan and the Florida Marlins finished 15 games better
than their real life counterparts. Congratulations to each of you for
a fine ASFBL year. May the results only get better!
And to the owners who are there week after week, tweaking their lineups
and adjusting their pitching to push for that one extra victory, to
keep their players among the league's leaders, and to give no ball an
easy ride or player an easy walk, to you Josh Hoe and the Texas
Rangers, Gordon Leckie and the Chicago Chisox, Robert Perkins and the
Philadelphia Phillies, Alex Canas and the Cincinnati Reds, Jim Casey
and the Chicago Cubs, Judd Choate and the Kansas City Royals, and Russ
Morris and the Oakland A's, to each of you, thanks for sustaining and
perpetuating the integrity of ASFBL and the competitive edge of this
league, year after year!
Just look at the competition this year! The AL Central -- where the
Indians edged the Twins by 1 game -- and NL Wildcard -- where the
Giants, Astros, and Dodgers tied at 89-73 and competed in a three way
series – indicate just how competitive ASFBL is, and can be. To
everyone who so aptly represents ASFBL owner and managerial commitment,
thanks for another great season!
1998 MVP & CY YOUNG
1998 PRIZES
Yankees Michael Gortenberg World Series Champion $375
Giants Shawn Whalen World Series Runnerup $275
Rockies Casey Cobb Pennant Runnerup $175
Bosox Richard Rodriguez Pennant Runnerup $175
Pirates Rick Wynne Division Runnerup declined
Mets Jon Bruschke Division Runnerup declined
M'ners John Cunningham Division Runnerup $125
Indians Cary Richardson Division Runnerup declined
Pirates Rick Wynne #1, Wins Above Reality $250
Rockies Casey Cobb #2, Wins Above Reality declined
M'ners John Cunningham #3, Wins Above Reality $150
Marlins Justin Kaplan #4, Wins Above Reality $75
Twins Tim Walsh #5, Wins Above Reality $75
Expos Tim Pittman #6, Wins Above Reality $50
Yankees Michael Gortenberg #7, Wins Above Reality declined
Bosox Richard Rodriguez #8, Wins Above Reality declined
Drays Jack Kelley #9, Wins Above Reality $50
Dodgers Patrick Lalor #10, Wins Above Reality $50
Orioles Steve Meeder #11, Wins Above Reality $50
Mets Jon Bruschke #12, Wins Above Reality declined
Phillies Robert Perkins #13, Wins Above Reality $50
Reds Alex Canas #14, Wins Above Reality $50
Giants Shawn Whalen #15, Wins Above Reality declined
1999 TEAMS
Current team owners have until Thursday, November 19, to reclaim the
same team. Teams are reclaimed when Leo receives your entire $100
entry fee. After the November 19 date, all teams that have not been
claimed by receipt of the entry fee are open. Those teams can then be
claimed when Leo receives your entire $100 entry fee. We hope this
addresses the problematic trend of entry fee nonpayment and payment
postponing.
The best way to reclaim your same team or claim a new team is to apply
your 1998 prize to your 1999 entry fee and, then, either receive your
1998 remaining balance or complete payment of your 1999 entry fee.
Be sure to let Leo know what you would prefer to do. As of the date
of this newsletter, the Yankees, Astros, and Mets have been reclaimed
for 1999.
EPILOGUE
New York Yankees, Michael Gortenberg, 1998 World Series Champion
versus San Francisco Giants, Shawn Whalen, 5-1
Seattle Mariners, John Cunningham, 1997 World Series Champion
versus San Francisco Giants, Shawn Whalen, 4-1
Los Angeles Dodgers, Patrick Lalor, 1996 World Series Champion
versus New York Yankees, Mark Yee, 4-2
Houston Astros, Casey Cobb, 1995 World Series Champion
versus Chicago White Sox, Gordon Leckie, 4-0
Pittsburgh Pirates, Rick Wynne, 1994 World Series Champion
versus Kansas City Royals, Judd Choate, 4-3
Montreal Expos, Mike Friedman, 1993 World Series Champion
versus Texas Rangers, Mark Yee, 4-3
Minnesota Twins, 1992 World Series Champion
versus Montreal Expos, Mike Friedman, 4-2
During the offseason, I will compiling as comprehensive an
ASFBL archive as possible. Any and all contributions to and
recommendations for this endeavor are appreciated.
Snow is approaching.
An ASFBL owner lies dormant.
Dreams of managing rising batting averages and falling ERAs dance.
Who will contribute to the mighty cause this spring?
How much closer are we now?
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