1998 Regular Season Standings
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Division number
1
TEAM
NEW YORK METS
ATLANTA BRAVES
MONTREAL EXPOS
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
FLORIDA MARLINS
Division number
LOSS
69
77
84
84
93
PCT GB
.574 0
.524 8
.481 15
.481 15
.425 24
LAST
1
2
1
2
2
WEEK
- 2
- 1
- 2
- 2
- 2
OWNER
Jon Bruschke
Scott Treffer
Tim Pittman
Robert Perkins
Justin Kaplan
WIN
96
89
80
78
78
62
LOSS
66
73
82
84
84
100
PCT GB
.592 0
.549 7
.493 16
.481 18
.481 18
.382 34
LAST
2
2
2
1
1
1
WEEK
- 2
- 1
- 1
- 2
- 2
- 3
OWNER
Rick Wynne
Leo Leckie
Mike Friedman
Alex Canas
Jim Casey
Jeremy Moore
WIN LOSS PCT GB
102 60 .629 0
89
73 .549 13
89
73 .549 13
88
74 .543 14
55
107 .339 47
LAST
1
3
3
2
1
WEEK
- 2
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 2
OWNER
Casey Cobb
Patrick Lalor
Shawn Whalen
Gordon Stables
Mark Yee
WIN LOSS PCT GB
124 38 .765 0
LAST WEEK
4 - 0
2
TEAM
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
HOUSTON ASTROS
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
CINCINNATI REDS
CHICAGO CUBS
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Division number
WIN
93
85
78
78
69
3
TEAM
COLORADO ROCKIES
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
SAN DIEGO PADRES
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Division number
4
TEAM
NEW YORK YANKEES
Gortenberg
BOSTON RED SOX
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Division number
61
78
92
96
.623
.518
.432
.407
23
40
54
58
0
4
0
2
-
4
0
4
1
Rich Rodriguez
Steve Meeder
Jack Kelley
Rico Rosado
5
TEAM
CLEVELAND INDIANS
MINNESOTA TWINS
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
DETROIT TIGERS
Division number
101
84
70
66
OWNER
Michael
WIN
85
84
79
71
43
LOSS
77
78
83
91
119
PCT GB
.524 0
.518 1
.487 6
.438 14
.265 42
LAST
2
2
1
3
1
WEEK
- 2
- 2
- 3
- 1
- 2
OWNER
Cary Richardson
Tim Walsh
Gordon Leckie
Judd Choate
Brian Ethridge
WIN
92
80
71
LOSS
70
82
91
PCT GB
.567 0
.493 12
.438 21
LAST
0
4
2
WEEK
- 4
- 0
- 2
OWNER
John Cunningham
Josh Hoe
Chris
71
91
6
TEAM
SEATTLE MARINERS
TEXAS RANGERS
ANAHEIM ANGELS
Highlander
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
.438
21
2 - 2
Russ Morris
Wins Above Reality
TEAM NAME
1 PITTSBURGH PIRATES
2 COLORADO ROCKIES
3 SEATTLE MARINERS
Cunningham
4 FLORIDA MARLINS
Kaplan
5 MINNESOTA TWINS
6 MONTREAL EXPOS
REALITY
FANTASY
GAMES AHEAD
OWNER
69 - 93
77 - 85
76 - 85
96 - 66
102 - 60
92 - 70
27
25
15.5
Rick Wynne
Casey Cobb
John
54 - 108
69 - 93
15
Justin
70 - 92
65 - 97
84 - 78
78 - 84
14
13
Tim Walsh
Tim Pittman
7 NEW YORK YANKEES
Gortenberg
8 BOSTON RED SOX
Rodriguez
9 TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAY
10 LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Lalor
114 - 48
124 - 38
10
92 - 70
101 - 61
9
Rich
63 - 99
83 - 79
70 - 92
89 - 73
7
6
Jack Kelley
Patrick
11 BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Meeder
11 NEW YORK METS
Bruschke
13 PHILADELPHIA PHILLI
Perkins
14 CINCINNATI REDS
15 SAN FRANCISCO GIANT
Whalen
79 - 83
84 - 78
5
Steve
88 - 74
93 - 69
5
Jon
75 - 87
78 - 84
3
Robert
77 - 85
89 - 74
78 - 84
89 - 73
1
16
17
18
18
20
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
CLEVELAND INDIANS
80
72
74
83
89
-
82
89
88
79
73
79
71
71
80
85
-
83
91
91
82
77
21
22
22
24
25
26
27
28
29
29
TEXAS RANGERS
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACK
SAN DIEGO PADRES
CHICAGO CUBS
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
HOUSTON ASTROS
ANAHEIM ANGELS
ATLANTA BRAVES
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
DETROIT TIGERS
88
65
98
90
74
102
85
106
88
65
-
74
97
64
73
88
60
77
56
74
97
80
55
88
78
62
89
71
85
66
43
-
82
107
74
84
100
73
91
77
96
119
.5
Michael
Alex Canas
Shawn
-1
-1.5
-3
-3
-4
-8
-10
-10
-11.5
-12
-13
-14
-21
-22
-22
Final Newsletter
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
Giants
Michael Gortenberg
Shawn Whalen
World Series Champion
World Series Runnerup
$375
$275
Rockies
Bosox
Casey Cobb
Richard Rodriguez
Pennant Runnerup
Pennant Runnerup
$175
$175
Pirates
Mets
M'ners
Indians
Rick Wynne
Jon Bruschke
John Cunningham
Cary Richardson
Division
Division
Division
Division
Runnerup
Runnerup
Runnerup
Runnerup
declined
declined
$125
declined
Pirates
Rockies
M'ners
Marlins
Twins
Rick Wynne
Casey Cobb
John Cunningham
Justin Kaplan
Tim Walsh
#1,
#2,
#3,
#4,
#5,
Above
Above
Above
Above
Above
$250
declined
$150
$75
$75
Expos
Yankees
Bosox
Drays
Dodgers
Tim Pittman
Michael Gortenberg
Richard Rodriguez
Jack Kelley
Patrick Lalor
#6, Wins Above Reality
#7, Wins Above Reality
#8, Wins Above Reality
#9, Wins Above Reality
#10, Wins Above Reality
$50
declined
declined
$50
$50
Orioles
Mets
Phillies
Reds
Giants
Steve Meeder
Jon Bruschke
Robert Perkins
Alex Canas
Shawn Whalen
#11,
#12,
#13,
#14,
#15,
$50
declined
$50
$50
declined
Wins
Wins
Wins
Wins
Wins
Wins
Wins
Wins
Wins
Wins
Reality
Reality
Reality
Reality
Reality
Above
Above
Above
Above
Above
Reality
Reality
Reality
Reality
Reality
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?