One of my teams just lucked out in a three-way tie for a division pennant in one of the few Open Leagues I've entered for a while. Its final record: 86-78.

The remarkable thing about it is that it was a waiver-wire reconstruction project. In the end, I don't know if I improved the team through using the wire or if my luck simply turned.

The team, Tres Pedros, began with three Pedro Martinez starters, but went 3-13. I pulled the plug on two of the Pedros ('05 and '07) and overhauled the team. I also dropped Arky Vaughan '40, Richie Ashburn '54, Roger Conner 1889, Brian Giles '05 and Jing Johnson '27. I acquired Addie Joss '09, Mike Krukow '86, Rob Dibble '88, Lou Gehrig '38, Earl Averill '30 and Sparky Adams '28.

I then ran the team with two mopup pitchers, in order to hide my worst pitchers as much as possible. And I made no more changes.

The team finished the first half at 37-44, but then played .590 the rest of the way going 49-34. In the final game for the championship, Joss was the WP and Krukow pitched the ninth for a save in a 3-2 decision.

Obviously, my luck included the fact that the team was not in a strong division.

Whether the wire deals made the difference or not, I enjoyed the reconstruction effort and the end result.

Post your final roster please

Not to argue with success, but you pulled the plug after 16 games?  That seems kinda quick to me - but who am I to judge ...

Posted by pinotfan on 9/15/2010 11:57:00 PM (view original):
Not to argue with success, but you pulled the plug after 16 games?  That seems kinda quick to me - but who am I to judge ...

I use the WW infrequently anymore, but in this league, I just couldn't stand the bad streak at the start and concluded that I had spent too much on Pedros and needed a different lineup. All I can say in hindsight is that it worked out...

Freehan '74  Gehrig '38  H Reitz '94 S Adams '28 Averill '30  Heilmann '24 Dilone '80
D Hill '92 H Clark '02 + 3 AAA

P Martinez '97 Joss '09 Krukow '86 Pastorius '08
Dibble '88 Resiling '04 B Castro '78 I Hutchinson '41 D Hale '02 Vargas '09 Feliz '09 + 2 AA

And then this team upended a 100-win pennant winner and has moved up to the LCS...

Now, the question is how much luck this team can have.

It is in the World Series against a redwingscup team that won 111 games, named "Good Luck Catching This Team."

Tres Pedros' record is 9-1 since tying for first place in its division...

This team won the championship, edging Good Luck Catching These Guys (and '08 Joss), 1-0. GLCTG had winning run at the plate in the bottom of the 9th. Pedro Martinez pitched an 8-inning shutout starting at 97% and Feliz closed. Feliz gave up no runs in the playoffs.