In the first five replays, I used generic HAL managers, with the best closer in the 9th inning role. I also tweaked some of the usage after the first replay, since some were playing at over a 200% clip. I have also tracked the top 2 in each division in April, June, July, August and season's end. Here's what's happening so far ...
Babe Ruth - Aaron
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ALT has been in first or second 20 out of 25 times, including winning the division three times. The Aces have also had two 90+ win seasons, averaging 87 wins per replay. Win totals range from 81 to 93.
BSK has averaged 83.5 wins, between 81 and 92. BSK had one 90+ win season, and was first or second 17 times. In four of the seasons, BSK won either 81 or 82. BSK won one replay and finished second once.
DEN has averaged 82.4 wins, but has been more eratic, ranging from 76 to 90. The 90 win season didn't win the division, however. The Strokers have finished second twice, and have been in first or second 10 times during the season.
HSD has averaged 81 wins over the five replays. HSD has one one division (91 wins) and two seconds. The Salty Dawgs have also finished fourth twice, with a low win total of 69. HSD was in first or second just 8 times, but made them count.
Just a six win average separates first from last in this division. Oddly, two of the seasons were runaway wins, once for ALT, once for BSK.
Babe Ruth - Williams
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FFF is the class of the Williams. The Fighting Falcon was in first or second 24 of 25 times, won the divion four times, and finished second once. FFF had two 90+ win seasons, topping out at 96.
RBC is the wild card favorite for the Babe Ruth, averaging 85.2 wins (just 1.6 wins more than BSK). However, RBC seemed to always be playing catch-up, finishing first once and second three times, but was only in first or second 14 times total. RBC had between 78 and 93 wins.
BWC has been in first or second just 7 times, with a single second place finish (85 wins). 65 wins was their low total. The Wampus Cats have averaged 76 wins, putting them squarely in the hunt for the last lottery spot.
BBM comes next, averaging just 72 wins per replay. The Blood Monkeys were in second place in June and July of replay three, but that was the high point. BBM has won between 65 and 78 games, finishing last once.
CLE has an uphill struggle in this divison, averaging just 69 wins. However, the totals have been 64 to 73. The Buckeyes have sniffed second three times, but have never finished higher than fourth.
Cy Young - Koufax
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OTT is averaging a whopping 96.6 wins through five replays, finishing first four times, and tying for first once. However, the Beavers seem to start out slow, never holding first in April. OTT was in first or second 23 out of 25 times. OTT has four seasons of 95+ wins, topping out at 102.
ELR is also averaging a huge amount of wins, 94.2 to be exact. ELR has taken every punch OTT has thrown and has come back swinging. ELR, along with FFF, have been in first or second 24 times, most in the DBA. In the lead early, the Racers fade ever-so-slightly in the final months. A full 10 wins above the next CY team, ELR is a lock for the WC, if not the division. ELR has had three seasons of 95+ wins, topping out at 99 (in the same season OTT got their 102).
RID is locked in a battle for the lottery at a 76 win average. In a division with two titans, the Rattlers are just mortal, winning 69 to 86 games. They have been in first or second five times, but never at season's end. In RID's best year (86 wins), they would have won two other divisions, but settled for a disappointing third instead.
WHW is the only team in the DBA to have no first or seconds, even mid-year. The Whitecaps have been eerily consistent, winning 63, 63, 65, 69 and 65 games. In four of the five seasons, WHW has finished with the DBA's lowest win total (CLE "beat" them by two games in #4).
Cy Young - Gibson
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CDC has been in first or second 17 of 25 times, averaging just 83 wins. However, the Dog Catchers have finished second three times, and tied for first once. CDC has a high win mark of 87 and a low mark of 75.
NLL is a close second, averaging 82.6 wins. The Landsharks have been in first or second 13 times, winning the divison twice (only team to do that in the Gibson) and finishing second once. NLL has the divisions lone 90+ win season, at 94. However the Landshark have also had a 74 win season.
LVP has averaged 80.6 wins, two games back of NLL. The Iron Pigs have won the division once, tied for the lead once, and finished second once. They also have 74 and 73 win seasons. With a high of 89 wins, you just don't know what to expect from this club, as they have been in first or second 16 times (second most).
ILL has averaged 76.6 wins, but that is deceiving, since its two best seasons (84 and 84 wins) came before the purge of talent. After, the Apostles have 64, 75 and 76 win seasons. In those three, ILL has finished last twice.
LEB hasn't finished in first or second and has sniffed second just four times during the season. However, the team has improved from 70 wins in #1 to 75 in #5, with a 78 win season in the middle. Averaging 75 wins won't cut it, but a few breaks could see the Lugnuts in the battle.
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It is interesting to note that the battle for first and second has been the closest in the CY-K, averaging just 1.9 games over five replays. That division also has the two teams with four 90+ win seasons, OTT and ELR. NLL is the other CY team with 90+ at 94. In the BR, six of the nine teams have at least one 90+ win season under their belts. FFF has 90 and 96, ALT has 91 and 93 and RBC, HSD, DEN and BSK all have one apiece.
Four out of five BR WC have come from the Williams (RBC 2, FFF, BWC) and all five of the CY WC have been either ELR or OTT.
More replays will follow. First impression is that we should have some really good races this year.
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