1980 All Star Ballot

[leecemark]

--Time to vote for the 1980 CKL All Stars. Please vote for first and second teamers at each position, votes will be counted at 5 points fo 1st team and 3 points for 2nd. The will be a DH/wild card position. You may vote for a player who is primarily a DH there or the 3rd best from another position, whichever you think more worthy of making the team.
--Vote for 9 starting pitchers, with votes counted 9,8,7,etc. Vote for 3 releiver pitchers with votes counted 5,3,1.
--Balloting will be open through Sunday, April 15th at midnight EST.
--Attached are leaderboards expanded to top 25. This will be posted again when we actually get to the break for those who want to hold off til then to vote.

[rmadachik]

Here is my preliminary Ballot.

Catcher
Ted Simmons - Beavers
Best offensive numbers behind the plate, and holding his own defensively too.
Gary Carter - Knights
As usual, the cream of the crop with the glove behind the plate. You are already missed. I remember your Allstar game at Cleveland Stadium as one of my favorite childhood memories.

First Base
Cecil Cooper - Knights
So far hanging in the batting title race .... another example of the Knights always producing MVP candidates
Bob Horner - Gamblers
His Power numbers narrowly beat out Hernandez's fine season

2B
Bobby Grich - Dust Bunnies
Best of a relatively weak position this year. Still putting together a fine season.
Willie Randolph - Windy City Thunder
Breakthrough season for Randolph. Beats out Oberkfell for the 2nd spot

3B
George Brett - Skipjacks
Not much to say about the early MVP Favorite. 2 player of the month awards and the class of the league. Limited PA's may keep him from a runaway.
Buddy Bell - Maloy's Boy's
Any other year would be in the MVP discussion ..... this year he's not even the top at his position. It's a shame his numbers are overshadowed.

SS
Robin Yount - Tyrants
Bright spot on a rough Tyrants squad. Great all around SS putting up fine numbers without much support.
Bucky Dent - Corsairs
Great off season trade to add this fine glove who is putting up some good offensive numbers.

LF
Ben Oglivie - Thunder
Easily the best of the LF candidates. Got the thunder off to a scorching start.
Al Oliver - Gamblers
Put him at LF because he has played enough there to qualify anf none of the other candidates are as inspiring. Oliver Has been awesome on a under-achieving Gamblers squad.

CF
Freddy Lynn - Corsairs
Great batting average - a lot of dropoff from his awesome 1979 though. No longer the only stud in CF but clearly still the best
Terry Puhl - Legends
I love making this pick. Puhl's offensive numbers stack up against the best at his position, his glove is solid, and he has the Legends in the hunt for the post season.

RF
Jack Clark - Thunder
Top 10 in runs, rbi's and hr's and higher average than Winfield gives him the edge
Dave Winfield - Jaxx
Best all-around season among the remaining group of 4-5 guys in the upper-tier of RF'ers


DH
Mike Schmidt - Gamblers
Good power numbers being offset by a low batting average. Needs to step it up before a great real-life 1980 goes to waste.
Reggie Jackson - Gold Sox
Batting average only thing keeping him down here


Starting Pitchers

this is the toughest position to grade this year. Lots of great performances so far.

1. Larry Gura - Beavers
Best combination of ERA, wins, and innings pitched and a dominant last month makes him the clear #1
2. Steve Rodgers - Knights
14 wins is 14 wins. Has there been another starter more consistently great for the past 5 years?
3. Rudy May - Beavers
Hot run before the break pushes him past Boggs for the #3 spot. Dominant but will not log the big innings
4. Tommy Boggs - Thunder
may be the biggest surprise of the season. He's good but is playing great
5. Jerry Koosman - Jaxx
At 37 years old he is now in the dictionary under overachieving. Nice to see from the old horse
6. Dave Steib - Badgers
Top pitcher on a pretty nice looking rotation for the badgers
7. Dennis Eckersly - Thunder
He missed on some of my earlier ballots but has certainly earned a spot here for a fine season
8. Rick Reuschel - Beavers
seems to be the recipient of bad offensive support. the ERA speaks for its self
9. Steve Carlton - Badgers
Nice veteran presence for the Badgers. Putting up a great year

Relief
Joe Sambito - Gold Sox
Unhittable . . . best closer for the first half by far. only 2 blown saves too
Rick Gossage - Gamblers
Exactly what the Gamblers were looking for when they signed him last year
Tom Hume - Dust Bunnies
only one blown save to go with a miniscule ERA

[catcher24]

This is how I see it. I agree with Rich that starting pitcher was the toughest to select. I see it a bit differently than Rich, but would have no problem putting the guys he has that I don't on my ballot too. BTW, Rich, I was also very happy to put Terry Puhl on my ballot. He was one of my favorite players of the late 70s/early 80s. Just went out and did his job every year. Also BTW, very entertaining ballot too, Rich. I enjoyed reading it.

Catcher:
Ted Simmons, Beavers: Unquestionably the best bat behind the dish in the CKL this season. Leads all catchers in OPS by a huge margin. Also has the third lowest stolen base percentage among starting catchers, so is doing the job defensively as well.
Alan Ashby, Legends: Yup, probably a homer vote, but his OPS is 76 points higher than Carter’s and he’s done the job defensively as well. One of the primary reasons the Legends stayed in the race as long as they did.

First Base:
Cecil Cooper, Knights: The obvious choice. He is pounding the cover off the ball; his OPS is 103 points higher than the next highest starter. Leads league in hits; second in batting and OPS. Playing a decent first base, too.
Bob Horner, Gamblers: Edges out Keith Hernandez. Tied for league lead in HR, near the top in RBI. Thought Hernandez’s glove would give him a huge edge, but Horner has been almost as good, but doesn’t have Keith’s range.

Second Base:
Willie Randolph, Thunder: His bat is so much better than anyone else at this position that he earns the start. Second in OBP in league. One of the reasons the Thunder have a big lead in the Hulbert.
Bobby Grich: Second best bat at second base and a great glove.

Third Base:
George Brett, Skipjacks: Easiest choice at any position. OPS is 155 points above the next guy, Mike Schmidt, who also happens to be fifth in the league in OPS. Brett leads in every percentage (BA, OBP, SP, OPS) category as well as runs created. Great glove on top of everything else.
Mike Schmidt, Gamblers: Picked a poor season to have his best year to date. Putting up huge numbers and will undoubtedly garner some support as MVP.

Shortstop:
Robin Yount, Thunder: Yet another easy choice. Easily the best bat at his position this year and is flashing the leather as well.
Bucky Dent, Corsairs: Just edges out Chris Speier of the Gold Sox for the backup slot due to much more playing time. Everything else is pretty even.

Left Field:
Ben Oglivie, Thunder: Yet another easy pick. Has been a hitting machine all season. Leads league in RBI by a huge margin and is tied for the lead in homers. A pick part of the thunder that has been in the Thunder bats all season.
Dusty Baker, Bunnies: Nudges out Al Woods of the Hard Cider due to a more productive bat, as well as the fact he has been much more important to his team.

Center Field:
Fred Lynn, Corsairs: There should be a LOT of unanimous picks this year. Every position has one guy who really stands out, and Lynn is the guy in center field. Far and away the best stick in CF and a great glove makes a complete package.
Terry Puhl, Legends: Probably another homer vote, but Puhl, Cedeno and Murphy are all pretty close with the bat this season and Puhl has the best glove to date. He has also been more crucial to his team than either Cedeno or Murphy – and the friggin’ Thunder already have enough starters!

Right Field:
Al Oliver, Gamblers: Just nudges Reggie for the starter spot on this ballot. A little better bat and a little better base running give him the nod.
Reggie Jackson: An easy backup at the position and nearly made it on this ballot as the starter.

DH/Reserve:
Buddy Bell, Boys: Well Dan, you’ve got one guy on my ballot, which is more than the Lumberjaxx can say. Bell has up very nice numbers for the Boys and is their best hitter (IMHO), plays a great third base – but is lost behind Brett and Schmidt at his position.
Jack Clark, Thunder: He can back up Bell but could just as easily have gotten the nod as starter at DH. I gave Bell the nod because (1) he plays a tougher position and plays it better, and (2) I already have enough friggin’ Thunder starters on this ballot (wait, I’ve heard that before somewhere….).

Starting Pitchers:

Larry Gura, Beavers: Rather surprised me when I started looking at the stats. First in wins; fourth in ERA; third in innings pitched; second in complete games. Doing a great job on the hill, and a prime reason the Beavers have started running away with the Cartwright Division.
Rudy May, Beavers: League leading 2.36 ERA and 0.89 WHIP good for ten wins. Would be first on the ballot if he was closer to Gura in innings worked.
Jerry Koosman, Lumberjaxx: The only Jaxx player to appear on my ballot, unfortunately. Second in league with a 2.37 ERA, third with a 0.97 WHIP, plus 148 innings and ten wins. Leading pitcher on the Jaxx staff, and it wouldn’t be pretty without him.
Floyd Bannister, Hard Cider: 2.47 ERA/0.96 WHIP in 128 innings have helped keep the Hard Cider within shouting distance in the Cartwright. Perhaps not surprisingly, based on his raw stats, he leads the league in OPS, runs created ERA and component ERA.
Steve Carlton, Badgers: Only has seven wins to show for his fine 2.73 ERA and league leading 175 innings due to the Badgers weak support.
Dave Stieb, Badgers: How on earth are the Badgers in last with Carlton, Stieb and Blue on their staff? The bats must be non-existent. Stieb has a 2.60 ERA, 145.1 innings – and eight wins.
Steve Rogers, Knights: Doesn’t have some of the fine underlying numbers he usually produces, but is tied for the top in wins and has given the Knights 158 innings. Just keeps on winning.
Tommy Boggs, Thunder: Top pitcher for the powerful Thunder and a top Rookie of the Year contender has a 2.37 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and nine wins in 114 innings.
Jim Clancy, Legends: Leading Legends hurler with 3.09 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, eight wins, eleven complete games, 149 innings pitched.

Relief Pitchers:

Joe Sambito, Gold Sox: 18 for 20 in saves, 1.59 ERA and league best 0.86 WHIP (100+ batters faced) makes him my choice as top reliever on the squad.
Tug McGraw, Badgers: 12 of 15 in saves, five wins, lowest ERA among relievers and 0.91 WHIP. Also has not had an inherited runner score all year – in 24 games.
Tom Hume, Bunnies: 13 of 15 in save opps, has had only two of 25 inherited runners score.

[leecemark]

C: Ted Simmons - towers above the field
C: Gary Carter - a bit of a disappointment with the low BA/OBP, but has provided good power and great defense

1B: Cecil Cooper - easy choice and MVP candidate
1B: Rod Carew - lost abit in Brett's shadow, but putting up excellent season for Skipjacks

2B: Willie Randolph - best player on best team, another very easy pick
2B: Bobby Grich - best of the best, really only the 2 standout 2B this season

3B: George Brett - clear frontfunner for MVP
3B: Mike Schmidt - having one of best 3B season in CKL history, but not quite as great as Brett's

SS: Bucky Dent - one of few overachievers on an extremley underachieving Corsairs squad. Bucky was probably our 1st half MVP
SS: Robin Yount - cornerstone of Tyrants rebuild effort

LF: Ben Oglive - pacing fearsome Thunder attack with almost 100 RBI already
LF: Dusty Baker - solid season at a fairly weak position this season

CF: Fred Lynn - not quite at last year's MVP pace, but still raking and playing good D
CF: Cesar Cedeno - nice rebound season helping Gold Sox stay in hunt

RF: Al Oliver - old pro having his best season
RF: Dale Murphy - former #1 pick coming into his own

DH: Reggie Jackson - one of the top half dozen hitters so far
DH: Tery Puhl - solid all around season

SP
1) Larry Gura - near the top of every category and easy #1 choice
2) Steve Rogers - home fans stuffign the ballot box for 15 game winner
3) Jerry Koosman - veteran having a terrific season
4) Rudy May - Beavers hit the jackpot with journeyman's career season
5) Steve Carlton - Beavers offense keeping him out CYA discussion
6) Dave Stieb - ditto
7) Tommy Boggs - exciting Thunder rookie could be higher except for missing time on DL
8) Dennis Eckersley - Thunder ace having another fine season
9) Floyd Bannister - flame throwing lefty having brekout season

RP
1) Tug McGraw - 1.40 ERA in 45 IP and has allowed NO inherited runners to score
2) Joe Sambito - tops in save percentage with a better ERA in slightly more IP than Gossage.
3) Goose Gossage - leads league in saves and 2nd in save percentage

[J W]

C
Ted Simmons
Alan Ashby - I don't see a homer vote. OPS is over 800

1B
Cecil Cooper
Rod Carew - second in both runs created and RC/27 at the position

2B
Willie Randolph
Bobby Grich

3B
George Brett
Mike Schmidt

SS
Robin Yount
Bucky Dent

LF
Ben Oglivie
Al Woods - tough choice here; one of few

CF
Fred Lynn
Terry Puhl - with apologies to Murphy

RF
Al Oliver
Reggie Jackson

DH/WC
Keith Hernandez - strange to put him here but oh well
Jack Clark - all Thunder all the time

SP
Larry Gura
Jerry Koosman - (!!) :cap:
Rudy May
Floyd Bannister
Steve Rogers - I'm guessing his stats show better when park adjusted
Dave Steib
Tommy Boggs
Steve Carlton
Dennis Leonard - 13th in ERA, 6th in WHIP, and above .500 for what it's worth

RP
Joe Sambito
Tug McGraw
Gary Lucas - 1.54 ERA, 0.94 WHIP w/ 90 batters faced.

[Windy City Fan]

C Simmons, Ashby
1B Cooper, Carew
2B Randolph, Grich
3B Brett, Schmidt
SS Yount, Dent
LF Oglivie, Baker
CF Lynn, Murphy
RF Oliver, Jackson
DH Clark, Horner

P Gura, Koosman, Rogers, Boggs, Stieb, Carlton, May, Bannister, Eckersley
RP Sambito, McGraw, Gossage

[dust bunnies]

C Carter, Ashby
1B Cooper, Carew
2B Randolph, Grich
3B Brett, Schmidt
SS Yount, Dent
LF Oglivie,Oliver
CF Lynn, Cedeno
RF Oliver, Jackson
DH Clark, Horner

P Gura, Koosman, Rogers, May, Boggs, Stieb, Carlton, Bannister, Eckersley
RP Sambito, McGraw, Gossage

[leecemark]

Balloting is closed. Don't have time to get full results up before work, but 1B Cecil Cooper, 3B George Brett, LF Ben Oglive, CF Fred Lynn and SP Larry Gura were all unanimous choices. Simmons, Randolph, Yount, Oliver and Sambito all missed by one, so there was a pretty strong consensus. Rest up tonight.

[rmadachik]

I am really bummed that we are getting such a low response to ballots lately.

[buppers]

Sorry. Kept putting it off. Started it a few minutes ago. Just checked in and saw I am too late.
Ed

[scubadan]

Sorry guys. It's April 16th and it's been tax crunch time for me for the last few weeks. All I've done is work and sleep for a while now and it's all I can do just to check in from time to time. I didn't feel like I had the time to put together a fair ballot. I'll do better next time...until next April anyway.

[Erik Bedard]

April is exam time at Canadian schools (just finished my last one, in fact!), so that's where the vast majority of my attention has been lately. I'll get an end of season award ballot in for sure.

[leecemark]

1st Team
C: Ted Simmons
1B: Cecil Cooper
2B: Willie Randolph
3B: George Brett
SS: Robin Yount
LF: Ben Oglive
CF: Fred Lynn
RF: Al Oliver
DH: Jack Clark
SP: Larry Gura
SP: Jerry Koosman
SP: Steve Rogers
SP: Rudy May
RP: Joe Sambito

2nd Team
C: Andy Ashby
1B: Rod Carew
2B: Bobby Grich
3B: Mike Schmidt
SS: Bucky Dent
LF: Dusty Baker
CF: Terry Puhl
RF: Reggie Jackson
DH: Bob Horner
SP: Dave Stieb
SP: Tommy Boggs
SP: Steve Carlton
SP: Floyd Bannister
SP: Dennis Eckersley
RP: Tug McGraw
RP: Goose Gossage