Player Anecdote - Ed Smith & Rich Leach

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ttreese
Posts: 1277
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 7:51 am
Location: New Orleans

Player Anecdote - Ed Smith & Rich Leach

Post by ttreese »

Each of these teams in the league has completed 261 seasons. I find it interesting to look at the historical stats in the team almanac.

Team Almanac

I've been managing the Nationals for 37 seasons which sounds like a long time but in reality is less than 15% of the team's total existence. I also find the almanac is a good tool for giving insight into your team's history, achievements, strengths, and how past ownership developed the team. For instance, the Nationals ranked both in top three for total wins and prestige but also ranked in top three for fewest 100 loss seasons. They're also tied for 4th for most championships (20). This team has had a lot of success but also done it while maintaining consistency even in down years and avoiding the 100 year loss seasons.

Keeping in line with that history, the Nationals were struggling to avoid delegation in 2204. They avoided it by one game and that came down to last series of the season. Almost as exciting as a playoff series. They avoided the delegation and entered the 2205 season with potential for another losing season. In keeping with our team concept; maintaining a spot in the Majors and avoiding 100 loss seasons, management traded away a top young pitching prospect (Ed Smith) for a top veteran (Rich Leach) to stabilize the pitching staff and honestly help buy enough wins to avoid delegation. The story is below.

Ed Smith
Ed was traded by the Nationals as an OS19 B/C Starting Pitcher coming off a 21/68 improvement as an OS18. Clearly a player with development potential.

Rich Leach
Rich was a strong starting pitcher on the then Detroit Gale who were headed towards delegation. Starting the 2205 season, Rich was an OS33 A+ Endurance, A+/A- SP with A mentoring. A true ace starting pitcher.

Over the next four seasons, the Gale built up their team and returned to the Majors as a perennial 90+ win team with eyes on a championship. Ed Smith is a key contributor on the pitching staff now being an A+/B starting pitcher.

Rich Leach did his job which was help a developing Nationals team avoid delegation and help give the team time to develop into a contender. Rich didn't win any championships prior to retirement but did post a solid 68-45 record over last 4 years of his career posting a 3.33 ERA during that time. In 2207 he helped the Nationals reach the World Series but the championship came four years later after his retirement.

While Rich Leach didn't win any championships as part of the Nationals; he was a key piece in the development and a reminder you can trade away youth for veterans not only for immediate championship needs...

Cheers and good luck to all in the OCL this season...
Eric1546
Posts: 61
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2017 1:22 am

Re: Player Anecdote - Ed Smith & Rich Leach

Post by Eric1546 »

Thanks for this. I enjoy the player focused stories in the game.
glu24
Posts: 542
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 3:31 pm

Re: Player Anecdote - Ed Smith & Rich Leach

Post by glu24 »

Very nicely put together ttreese and very interesting.
ttreese
Posts: 1277
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 7:51 am
Location: New Orleans

Re: Player Anecdote - Ed Smith & Rich Leach

Post by ttreese »

Thanks. Am interested in hearing others stories as well including team development and philosophies...
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