Post by Sha-Le Unique on Jun 24, 2015 17:47:27 GMT -5
Thus far into the 1960s, we've seen big names such as Dick Allen, Pete Rose Sr., Joe Torre, Lou Brock, Tony Oliva, Joe Morgan, Rod Carew, Jim Palmer, Steve Carlton and Don Sutton already being drafted and becoming a part of HOFFBL.
With the 1960s halfway through, let's see the big names that at least most of us will be looking forward to from the 1965 through 1969 drafts.
Honorable Mentions: Amos Otis (1965), Don Baylor (1967), Vida Blue (1968), George Foster (1968), Thurman Munson (1968), J.R. Richard (1969)
* - Denotes FPR prediction
*10. C Carlton Fisk (1967)
Possible Talents: A/A/F/G/A/G, C/C Running/Stealing, B catching range, B catching arm, .988 fielding %, Durable
There won't be too many more catching studs in future drafts generally speaking, so Fisk will be a nice pick in the 1967 draft. However, this pick could end up being reserved by the White Sox if Mark chooses to do so. With Frank Thomas being the White Sox' only real obvious FPR candidate, Mark could afford to reserve Fisk as well before his eventual departure to the Blue Jays. Whether he chooses to do so and how exactly Fisk ends up being rated will be interesting to see, but if these ratings are what Fisk gets, I see an FPR happening.
9. RF Bobby Bonds (1965)
Possible Talents: A/A/G/G/G/F, B/C Running/Stealing, B range RF .977 fielding %, B range CF .976 fielding %, "A" OF throwing arm
He's not the most famous player named Bonds that we will see, but Bobby had a very solid career in reality and should be a top 10 pick in the upcoming 1965 draft. His talents should be solid after a talent increase to hits and he will swipe some bases with a secondary increase to his stealing ability. Solid outfield defense makes him a solid future contributor for whichever team drafts him.
8. RF Dwight Evans (1969)
Possible Talents: A/G/A/G/B/A, D/E Running/Stealing, A range RF .987 fielding %, "A" OF throwing arm, E range 1B .984 fielding %, Durable
The 1969 draft won't be strong at all, so Tom Selleck-look-a-like Dwight Evans should easily be a top 3 pick in that draft class, if not 1st overall. After a talent increase to his hits, Evans could become a cornerstone outfielder for any team and should be a great dual threat both offensively and defensively.
7. SP Catfish Hunter (1965)
Possible Talents: G/G/G/B/B, A duration
Catfish Hunter should be one of the top 5-10 picks in what should be a very good 1965 draft class. Statistically, he could be deserving of brilliant hits, but with Chris already stating that only a select 10 or so starting pitchers will even receive brilliant hits in future drafts, Hunter probably won't be 1 of them. Hunter should become a dependable innings eater for whoever drafts him and with a good PD or 2, could even be an ace. He won't be the best pitcher in this draft, but still a very good selection regardless.
6. SP Bert Blyleven (1969)
Possible Talents: G/G/G/B/B, A duration
Bert Blyleven will be by far the top pitcher in the 1969 draft and should go top 3 overall, if not #1 overall. He possessed a rare blend of great control and the ability to strike out thousands of hitters throughout his career and he currently ranks 5th all-time in reality. Blyleven wasn't as famous as some of his counterparts because he pitched for smaller market teams like the Twins and Pirates, but he should be a great pick here and again one of the very top picks in the 1969 draft.
5. CL Rollie Fingers (1965)
Possible Talents: B/B/B/B/B, A relief duration, Durable
Statistically, I really don't think that all 5 brilliant talents should a stretch for one of the best closers all-time in reality. And unless I'm mistaken, didn't Chris say that the 10 or so pitchers receiving brilliant hits only applied to starting pitchers? Rollie Fingers was 1 of the best closers of his era and certainly had a rubber arm. He averaged 102 hits allowed, 9 home runs allowed and 34 walks allowed in a career average 118 innings per season. The interesting part for him is that if he starts with "A" relief duration, would the person drafting him try to convert him into a SP immediately? If that conversion ends up being successful, Fingers' value clearly would go up that much more. Fingers fell to 9th in LBB's 1965 draft, but I see him being possibly a top 5 pick in this upcoming 1965 draft.
*4. RF Reggie Jackson (1966)
Possible Talents: A/A/F/B/G/F, C/C Running/Stealing, C range RF, "A" throwing arm, .968 fielding %
Reggie Jackson was one of the most arrogant players in baseball history, but here in HOFFBL, he will clearly be the top hitter in the 1966 draft and could very well be reserved by the A's if Noah chooses to do so. A talent increase to his hits and a pair of running and stealing ability increases could make Jackson easily a 30/30 candidate each season. Jackson's winning desire is likely to be strong, which would be understandable, but maybe not if Noah specifically indicates that he wants to reserve him. If so, he would add to an up and coming A's lineup already full of sluggers.
*3. C Johnny Bench (1965)
Possible Talents: A/G/F/B/G/G, D/D Running/Stealing, A catching range, A catching arm, .990 fielding %
Did I mention the 1965 class will be loaded? The most anticipated hitter in the next 5 drafts will arguably be Johnny Bench, who should be the top hitter selected in the 1965 draft. However, he may not even get selected because I strongly believe Jeff will use his 1st FPR on Bench, especially if he gets brilliant home runs, which is he on the border of receiving. He should get the benefit of the doubt though for being widely considered the greatest all-around catcher to ever exist. Bench unfortunately fell apart in LBB due to bad PD's, but with the reversal system here, he will become a mainstay for the Reds for many seasons to come.
*2. SP Tom Seaver (1966)
Possible Talents: B/B/B/G/B, A duration, Durable
I've already decided I will be using my 1st Mets FPR on Seaver, which is no-brainer selection. I'm pretty much waiting on drafting him because he should be close to major league ready at the start and will become my ace of the future. Anyway, Seaver, a top 3-5 all-time pitcher in reality is more than deserving of these talents and again, I cannot wait to have him.
*1. SP Nolan Ryan (1965)
Possible Talents: B/B/B/A/B, A duration, Durable
But among all the great players coming in the 1965 draft, the crown jewel could certainly be Nolan Ryan, whom Stutter already said he plans on FPR'ing for the Angels. The only question with Ryan is what will happen with his walks rating. His career walks rating was pretty bad, but will Chris actually make him with fair or even poor walks? Doing so would essentially ruin one of the true all-time greats.
What I did for Ryan in LBB (which of course does not have a rewards system) was generously give him a good walks rating, but made the number ratings very low because of how long it took to really find control with his pitches. I personally feel that average walks and super low 1's ratings would be fair for someone like Ryan, but if Chris disagrees, then so be it. It would be a shame to see a top 10 all-time pitcher not be particularly useful in this league, but hopefully, he will get the benefit of the doubt and start with average walks.
Have fun drafting these studs!
With the 1960s halfway through, let's see the big names that at least most of us will be looking forward to from the 1965 through 1969 drafts.
Honorable Mentions: Amos Otis (1965), Don Baylor (1967), Vida Blue (1968), George Foster (1968), Thurman Munson (1968), J.R. Richard (1969)
* - Denotes FPR prediction
*10. C Carlton Fisk (1967)
Possible Talents: A/A/F/G/A/G, C/C Running/Stealing, B catching range, B catching arm, .988 fielding %, Durable
There won't be too many more catching studs in future drafts generally speaking, so Fisk will be a nice pick in the 1967 draft. However, this pick could end up being reserved by the White Sox if Mark chooses to do so. With Frank Thomas being the White Sox' only real obvious FPR candidate, Mark could afford to reserve Fisk as well before his eventual departure to the Blue Jays. Whether he chooses to do so and how exactly Fisk ends up being rated will be interesting to see, but if these ratings are what Fisk gets, I see an FPR happening.
9. RF Bobby Bonds (1965)
Possible Talents: A/A/G/G/G/F, B/C Running/Stealing, B range RF .977 fielding %, B range CF .976 fielding %, "A" OF throwing arm
He's not the most famous player named Bonds that we will see, but Bobby had a very solid career in reality and should be a top 10 pick in the upcoming 1965 draft. His talents should be solid after a talent increase to hits and he will swipe some bases with a secondary increase to his stealing ability. Solid outfield defense makes him a solid future contributor for whichever team drafts him.
8. RF Dwight Evans (1969)
Possible Talents: A/G/A/G/B/A, D/E Running/Stealing, A range RF .987 fielding %, "A" OF throwing arm, E range 1B .984 fielding %, Durable
The 1969 draft won't be strong at all, so Tom Selleck-look-a-like Dwight Evans should easily be a top 3 pick in that draft class, if not 1st overall. After a talent increase to his hits, Evans could become a cornerstone outfielder for any team and should be a great dual threat both offensively and defensively.
7. SP Catfish Hunter (1965)
Possible Talents: G/G/G/B/B, A duration
Catfish Hunter should be one of the top 5-10 picks in what should be a very good 1965 draft class. Statistically, he could be deserving of brilliant hits, but with Chris already stating that only a select 10 or so starting pitchers will even receive brilliant hits in future drafts, Hunter probably won't be 1 of them. Hunter should become a dependable innings eater for whoever drafts him and with a good PD or 2, could even be an ace. He won't be the best pitcher in this draft, but still a very good selection regardless.
6. SP Bert Blyleven (1969)
Possible Talents: G/G/G/B/B, A duration
Bert Blyleven will be by far the top pitcher in the 1969 draft and should go top 3 overall, if not #1 overall. He possessed a rare blend of great control and the ability to strike out thousands of hitters throughout his career and he currently ranks 5th all-time in reality. Blyleven wasn't as famous as some of his counterparts because he pitched for smaller market teams like the Twins and Pirates, but he should be a great pick here and again one of the very top picks in the 1969 draft.
5. CL Rollie Fingers (1965)
Possible Talents: B/B/B/B/B, A relief duration, Durable
Statistically, I really don't think that all 5 brilliant talents should a stretch for one of the best closers all-time in reality. And unless I'm mistaken, didn't Chris say that the 10 or so pitchers receiving brilliant hits only applied to starting pitchers? Rollie Fingers was 1 of the best closers of his era and certainly had a rubber arm. He averaged 102 hits allowed, 9 home runs allowed and 34 walks allowed in a career average 118 innings per season. The interesting part for him is that if he starts with "A" relief duration, would the person drafting him try to convert him into a SP immediately? If that conversion ends up being successful, Fingers' value clearly would go up that much more. Fingers fell to 9th in LBB's 1965 draft, but I see him being possibly a top 5 pick in this upcoming 1965 draft.
*4. RF Reggie Jackson (1966)
Possible Talents: A/A/F/B/G/F, C/C Running/Stealing, C range RF, "A" throwing arm, .968 fielding %
Reggie Jackson was one of the most arrogant players in baseball history, but here in HOFFBL, he will clearly be the top hitter in the 1966 draft and could very well be reserved by the A's if Noah chooses to do so. A talent increase to his hits and a pair of running and stealing ability increases could make Jackson easily a 30/30 candidate each season. Jackson's winning desire is likely to be strong, which would be understandable, but maybe not if Noah specifically indicates that he wants to reserve him. If so, he would add to an up and coming A's lineup already full of sluggers.
*3. C Johnny Bench (1965)
Possible Talents: A/G/F/B/G/G, D/D Running/Stealing, A catching range, A catching arm, .990 fielding %
Did I mention the 1965 class will be loaded? The most anticipated hitter in the next 5 drafts will arguably be Johnny Bench, who should be the top hitter selected in the 1965 draft. However, he may not even get selected because I strongly believe Jeff will use his 1st FPR on Bench, especially if he gets brilliant home runs, which is he on the border of receiving. He should get the benefit of the doubt though for being widely considered the greatest all-around catcher to ever exist. Bench unfortunately fell apart in LBB due to bad PD's, but with the reversal system here, he will become a mainstay for the Reds for many seasons to come.
*2. SP Tom Seaver (1966)
Possible Talents: B/B/B/G/B, A duration, Durable
I've already decided I will be using my 1st Mets FPR on Seaver, which is no-brainer selection. I'm pretty much waiting on drafting him because he should be close to major league ready at the start and will become my ace of the future. Anyway, Seaver, a top 3-5 all-time pitcher in reality is more than deserving of these talents and again, I cannot wait to have him.
*1. SP Nolan Ryan (1965)
Possible Talents: B/B/B/A/B, A duration, Durable
But among all the great players coming in the 1965 draft, the crown jewel could certainly be Nolan Ryan, whom Stutter already said he plans on FPR'ing for the Angels. The only question with Ryan is what will happen with his walks rating. His career walks rating was pretty bad, but will Chris actually make him with fair or even poor walks? Doing so would essentially ruin one of the true all-time greats.
What I did for Ryan in LBB (which of course does not have a rewards system) was generously give him a good walks rating, but made the number ratings very low because of how long it took to really find control with his pitches. I personally feel that average walks and super low 1's ratings would be fair for someone like Ryan, but if Chris disagrees, then so be it. It would be a shame to see a top 10 all-time pitcher not be particularly useful in this league, but hopefully, he will get the benefit of the doubt and start with average walks.
Have fun drafting these studs!
