Stat of the day

[Spear]

In short, he declined. Hard.

Thanks for the story Carlos.

It's cool that OOTP has players decline this much. I'm worried that Ivan Arellano will be one of these cases.

I have sympathy for poor old Jose Varada. I guess we don't have any Ricky Henderson rule where players can come out of retirement and attempt a comeback. Too bad because Varada could have a place in my minor league system.

[Carlos]

What's the story on Jose Varada?

He had a short and interesting career with Denver. Great rookie season, signs a 6 year contract, then his game begins to decrease, gets released and eventually retires after only 4 BLB seasons?

I think I can tell this story.


The Rookie Season

Jose Varada joined Denver in 1981 and was a spectacle of a rookie. Never a great AAA hitter, Varada seemed to turn the corner once hitting the BLB. Combined with shear athleticism in the outfield and amazing raw power, Varada hit 17 home runs, drove in 76 RBI, while scoring 121 Runs and swiping 49 bases. He would take home the New Refreshing Brew and the hearts of Denver fans.

The Hernandez Regime
Enter Carlos Hernandez as new GM of the Denver Bulls. Varada quickly becomes the lead off hitter, but struggles offensively in his sophomore season. Defensively, he kicks it up a notch and collects his first of consecutive Glove Wizard Awards at CF.

Enamored by his great defensive skills and convinced by aging head scout, Newton Tickner, that Varada's second season was merely an anomaly, Hernandez locked up the 26-year-old centerfielder to a 6-year contract, effectively buying out three years of arbitration along the process.

Nearly as quickly as his name was inked across the dotted line, experts across the league began to doubt the extension. Scouts began reevaluating talent and determined that Varada would be facing more breaking balls in his third season - a solution most pitchers and opposing teams discovered in his second year. Varada withered in Spring Training and continued to decline. He slipped from lead off down to ninth in the lineup and began hearing boos. His defense kept him in the lineup, but his bat hurt the team. At the end of the year, Varada would win another Glove Wizard Award, but he had already lost much more.

By 1984, Denver had determined to enter into rebuilding mode and Varada's playing time dwindled in exchange for newly acquired veteran Jesus Noboa. At seasons end, with over $3 MM still owed, Denver executed a buy-out, agreeing to pay Varada his entire owed salary for his immediate release. For a year, Varada waited for another phone call, even a minor league invitation, but in 1986, when he had come to the realization that he would never pick up the phone, Varada hung it up.

*

In short, he declined. Hard.

[Spear]

What's the story on Jose Varada?

He had a short and interesting career with Denver. Great rookie season, signs a 6 year contract, then his game begins to decrease, gets released and eventually retires after only 4 BLB seasons?

[BradZ]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=title2><TD>

Most Stolen Bases in Debut Season
(Top 25 Players, Inaugural Season Ignored)

</TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE class=sortable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=795 border=0><THEAD><TR class=headline><TD class=hsc2_l sorttable_columnindex="0">Player</TD><TD class=hsc2_l sorttable_columnindex="1">Team</TD><TD class=hsc2 sorttable_columnindex="2">Year</TD><TD class=hsc2 sorttable_columnindex="3">SB</TD></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Jos Varada</TD><TD class=s1_l>DEN</TD><TD>1981</TD><TD>49</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Dale O'Hegarty</TD><TD class=s2_l>VIR</TD><TD>1983</TD><TD>34</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Robert Abbott</TD><TD class=s1_l>WAS</TD><TD>1987</TD><TD>31</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Artie Rhodes</TD><TD class=s2_l>VIR</TD><TD>1987</TD><TD>29</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Clement Montgomery</TD><TD class=s1_l>CHI</TD><TD>1984</TD><TD>25</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Ray Madonald</TD><TD class=s2_l>CAL</TD><TD>1980</TD><TD>24</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Yan van den Adel</TD><TD class=s1_l>VIR</TD><TD>1986</TD><TD>22</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Joe MacKnight</TD><TD class=s2_l>PIT</TD><TD>1980</TD><TD>19</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Ral Zamora</TD><TD class=s1_l>SYR</TD><TD>1984</TD><TD>16</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Monty Blair</TD><TD class=s2_l>DEN</TD><TD>1985</TD><TD>15</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Roy Madan</TD><TD class=s1_l>HYU</TD><TD>1982</TD><TD>14</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Jed Lynch</TD><TD class=s2_l>MAI</TD><TD>1988</TD><TD>14</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Estanislao Pasilva</TD><TD class=s1_l>WAS</TD><TD>1979</TD><TD>13</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Joe Alca</TD><TD class=s2_l>DAV</TD><TD>1982</TD><TD>13</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Jorge Rebeterano</TD><TD class=s1_l>SYR</TD><TD>1983</TD><TD>12</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Doug West</TD><TD class=s2_l>MIS</TD><TD>1986</TD><TD>12</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Everardo Merrera</TD><TD class=s1_l>LAM</TD><TD>1983</TD><TD>11</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Mel Woodbury</TD><TD class=s2_l>PHI</TD><TD>1980</TD><TD>11</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Clarence Evans</TD><TD class=s1_l>MAI</TD><TD>1985</TD><TD>10</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>John McElhaney</TD><TD class=s2_l>WAS</TD><TD>1979</TD><TD>10</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Ray Provencia</TD><TD class=s1_l>IND</TD><TD>1984</TD><TD>10</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Juan Jose Hidalgo</TD><TD class=s2_l>LAM</TD><TD>1988</TD><TD>10</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Clay Fox</TD><TD class=s1_l>WAS</TD><TD>1979</TD><TD>9</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Frank Rancourt</TD><TD class=s2_l>SYR</TD><TD>1983</TD><TD>9</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Ivn Arellano</TD><TD class=s1_l>DAV</TD><TD>1987</TD><TD>9</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Jim]

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr class="title2"><td>Most .600+ Seasons</td></tr> <tr><td> <table class="sortable" width="664" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" height="176"> <thead><tr class="headline"><td class="hsc2_l">Team</td><td class="hsc2">.600 Seasons</td></tr></thead> <tbody><tr class="s1"><td class="s1_l">Maine Guides</td><td>8</td></tr> <tr class="s2"><td class="s2_l">Windy City Playboys</td><td>5</td></tr> <tr class="s1"><td class="s1_l">Pittsburgh Millers</td><td>3</td></tr> <tr class="s2"><td class="s2_l">Washington Bats</td><td>3</td></tr> <tr class="s1"><td class="s1_l">Wilmington Wildcats</td><td>3</td></tr> <tr class="s2"><td class="s2_l">Carolina Tobs</td><td>2</td></tr> <tr class="s1"><td class="s1_l">Hyundai Dinos</td><td>1</td></tr> <tr class="s2"><td class="s2_l">Los Lunas Javelinas</td><td>1</td></tr> <tr class="s1"><td class="s1_l">Sin City Gamblers</td><td>1</td></tr> <tr class="s2"><td class="s2_l">Davenport Brawlers</td><td>1</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

[Clay]

Love that list.... wait.... nevermind....

[Carlos]

Dane Browning's inclusion on this list is his own fault.

Also, thanks to his setback, it's looking like he might miss all of 1989.

[Lintyfresh85]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=title2><TD>

Most All-Star Appearances Without Appearing in the Postseason

(Top 25 Players)

</TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE class=sortable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=935 border=0><THEAD><TR class=headline><TD class=hsc2_l sorttable_columnindex="0">Player</TD><TD class=hsc2 sorttable_columnindex="1">All-Star Appearances</TD></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Dale O'Hegarty</TD><TD>5</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Tejano Egbuhuzo</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Joshua Poling</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Nathan Athey</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Dane Browning</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Herbert Dunlop</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Pedro Eires</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Jeff Franklin</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Larry LaRochelle</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Nate Magness</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Joe Sargentini</TD><TD>2</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Delandis]

O'Hegarty with 5 All-Star and no post-season. Is '89 the year that he breaks the streak?

[BradZ]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=title2><TD>

Most Runs Batted In Over A Five Year Span
(Top 25 Players)

</TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE class=sortable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=795 border=0><THEAD><TR class=headline><TD class=hsc2_l sorttable_columnindex="0">Player</TD><TD class=hsc2 sorttable_columnindex="1">From</TD><TD class=hsc2 sorttable_columnindex="2">Through</TD><TD class=hsc2 sorttable_columnindex="3">Total</TD></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Harry Keppel</TD><TD>1979</TD><TD>1983</TD><TD>626</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Dani lvarez</TD><TD>1984</TD><TD>1988</TD><TD>622</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Harry Keppel</TD><TD>1980</TD><TD>1984</TD><TD>622</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Harry Keppel</TD><TD>1978</TD><TD>1982</TD><TD>614</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Harry Keppel</TD><TD>1981</TD><TD>1985</TD><TD>592</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Johnny Buzzell</TD><TD>1981</TD><TD>1985</TD><TD>576</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Pedro Eires</TD><TD>1980</TD><TD>1984</TD><TD>572</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Sergio Lumar</TD><TD>1979</TD><TD>1983</TD><TD>569</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Johnny Buzzell</TD><TD>1982</TD><TD>1986</TD><TD>565</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Sergio Lumar</TD><TD>1980</TD><TD>1984</TD><TD>564</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Pedro Eires</TD><TD>1982</TD><TD>1986</TD><TD>558</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Toby Rochester</TD><TD>1978</TD><TD>1982</TD><TD>553</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Toby Rochester</TD><TD>1979</TD><TD>1983</TD><TD>553</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Dave Robbins</TD><TD>1979</TD><TD>1983</TD><TD>550</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Sergio Lumar</TD><TD>1978</TD><TD>1982</TD><TD>550</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Vincent Nino</TD><TD>1982</TD><TD>1986</TD><TD>549</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Pedro Eires</TD><TD>1979</TD><TD>1983</TD><TD>547</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Vincent Nino</TD><TD>1981</TD><TD>1985</TD><TD>547</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Sergio Lumar</TD><TD>1981</TD><TD>1985</TD><TD>546</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Johnny Buzzell</TD><TD>1983</TD><TD>1987</TD><TD>546</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Bill Fallon</TD><TD>1978</TD><TD>1982</TD><TD>545</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Everardo Gremades</TD><TD>1980</TD><TD>1984</TD><TD>541</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Harry Keppel</TD><TD>1982</TD><TD>1986</TD><TD>539</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Bill Fallon</TD><TD>1979</TD><TD>1983</TD><TD>536</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Pedro Eires</TD><TD>1981</TD><TD>1985</TD><TD>527</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Clay]

Eric Cafferty holds it for two.

Translation: Shit happens

[Pat]

Joe O'Connelan holds the record for three seperate teams.
Joe Chavarraga holds the record for two.

Translation, pitchers named "Joe" are good.

[BradZ]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=title2><TD>

Single Season Franchise Records for Strikeouts
(Earliest Occurrence Shown)

</TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE class=sortable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=795 border=0><THEAD><TR class=headline><TD class=hsc2_l sorttable_columnindex="0">Team</TD><TD class=hsc2_l sorttable_columnindex="1">Player</TD><TD class=hsc2 sorttable_columnindex="2">Year</TD><TD class=hsc2 sorttable_columnindex="3">K</TD></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Hyundai Dinos</TD><TD class=s1_l>David Rumsey</TD><TD>1978</TD><TD>319</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Dallas Snappers</TD><TD class=s2_l>Joe Chavarraga</TD><TD>1978</TD><TD>294</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Syracuse Slammers</TD><TD class=s1_l>Mutsohito Kuramochi</TD><TD>1978</TD><TD>283</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Windy City Playboys</TD><TD class=s2_l>Dunmore Theodore</TD><TD>1987</TD><TD>281</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Washington Bats</TD><TD class=s1_l>Joe Chavarraga</TD><TD>1984</TD><TD>280</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Philadelphia Freedom</TD><TD class=s2_l>Joe Aurillo</TD><TD>1984</TD><TD>280</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Los Lunas Javelinas</TD><TD class=s1_l>Donato Guardamagni</TD><TD>1986</TD><TD>267</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Wilmington Wildcats</TD><TD class=s2_l>John McNeilage</TD><TD>1978</TD><TD>264</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Maine Guides</TD><TD class=s1_l>Gil O'Moore</TD><TD>1987</TD><TD>258</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>California Kodiaks</TD><TD class=s2_l>Conan Wilkerson</TD><TD>1988</TD><TD>255</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Virginia Colonials</TD><TD class=s1_l>Eric Cafferty</TD><TD>1978</TD><TD>249</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Hartford Whalers</TD><TD class=s2_l>Dan Jones</TD><TD>1978</TD><TD>245</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Baltimore Bulldogs</TD><TD class=s1_l>Jeff Franklin</TD><TD>1982</TD><TD>241</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Denver Bulls</TD><TD class=s2_l>Tommy Lang</TD><TD>1983</TD><TD>232</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Carolina Tobs</TD><TD class=s1_l>Joe Ponte</TD><TD>1978</TD><TD>230</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Pittsburgh Millers</TD><TD class=s2_l>Joe O'Connelan</TD><TD>1985</TD><TD>230</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Los Alamos Mayhem</TD><TD class=s1_l>Joe O'Connelan</TD><TD>1978</TD><TD>226</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Davenport Brawlers</TD><TD class=s2_l>Walter Lacour</TD><TD>1979</TD><TD>223</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Pawtucket Patriots</TD><TD class=s1_l>Eric Cafferty</TD><TD>1985</TD><TD>221</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Sin City Gamblers</TD><TD class=s2_l>Joe O'Connelan</TD><TD>1981</TD><TD>211</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Mississippi Storm</TD><TD class=s1_l>Don Leonard</TD><TD>1988</TD><TD>195</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Batavia Muckdogs</TD><TD class=s2_l>Nathan Athey</TD><TD>1987</TD><TD>191</TD></TR><TR class=s1><TD class=s1_l>Indianapolis Clowns</TD><TD class=s1_l>Joe Gauina</TD><TD>1986</TD><TD>181</TD></TR><TR class=s2><TD class=s2_l>Morgantown Mohawks</TD><TD class=s2_l>ngel Caramillo</TD><TD>1984</TD><TD>165</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Carlos]

Exactly. This is a bad stat. That's why the OLD Colonials are on it and none of the new teams.

This is saying, in a nutshell, "your team is slow and your Catcher sucks."

Ah, I was confused. I read SBA as Stolen Base Attempted. Not Against.

edit: Or rather that A is probably Allowed. Same difference.

[Jistic]

IMO it doesn't matter. I have two teams on there. One won the division, the other won 71 games. I don't think stolen bases, and the risks involved in attempting them are usually worth it in the long run. I'd rather keep my baserunner and not give up an out if it doesn't work.

Obviously there are situation where it's the right thing to do, I'm only speaking generally. I used to, heck I still might I'll have to check, but I had my stolen bases on never or very little on my team strategy.