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AL Post- Americans
Offense
The team has Mantle and Williams so the offense will be just fine. A few pretty good table setters in Carew and Brett, but the team has several weaknesses in the line up. Reggie Jackson can hit for power, but he isn't consistent with contact and his defense is sub-par. Robin Yount can help offensively at SS, but his defense is sub-par as well. Killebrew and Carew are liabilities defensively as well. 3 defensive specialists on the bench, Nellie Fox, Brooks Robinson and Phil Rizzuto aren't going to help much with the bat if they are forced to play. For this team to be good the big guns will have to produce a bunch and do it consistently.
Pitching
No front line starter on this team. Feller, Hunter, Newhouser, Ford, Palmer, Ryan - all great pitchers, but it this league they are lacking. Ryan and Feller probably have the best pedigree of the group, but both issue too many free passes and in this league that will kill you. To be successful this staff will have to pitch above their heads.
Starting Lineup
2b - Carew
3b - Brett
CF - Mantle
LF - Williams
1B - Killebrew
RF - Jackson
SS - Yount
C - Fisk/Berra platoon
Rotation
Feller
Ryan
Newhouser
Hunter
Palmer
Closer
Fingers
Summary
This teams defense is terrible, probably the worst in the league, and their defensive replacements are poor hitters for the league. The pitchers issue too many free passes and combined with the poor defense this team will give up runs in bunches. To be successful they will need to get early leads and put in the defensive specialist and then hope to hold on.
Prediction: 66 - 88
... I turn the page...
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