I was going to do something about the State Farm groomer story and their sudden reverse once their internal emails became public but I figure per Don Surber waiting a day might be a good idea to see if Dell, or Capital One or General Mills decide to reverse themselves before slick ads detailing their corporation with this stuff gets the “Like a creepy neighbor” treatment.
Instead lets focus on opening day of my 1970 League which officially started yesterday. All the weeks of drafting and preparation come down to this day and my opening three game series with the New York Yankees.
With a Pennant under and a world series out of reach by two swings in the last of the 9th of the 7th game Seattle had several disadvantages going into the 1970 season:
- Only five players protected
- A weak rookie crop
- and shy a fifth round draft pick (traded for Ron Fairly)
Meanwhile the Yankees not only had 10 players on their keeper list but had Multiple draft picks from excellent trades last sason.
While Seattle was able to require 2b Dick McAulffe and part time players Catcher Johnny Edwards (and OF Al Ferarra their entire pitching staff with the exception of Holtzman and Mike Torrez who were protected were drafted by other teams.
So if the Pilots were going to have any change to repeat either by a division win or sneaking in via the wild card game they would need Holtzman to carry the ball so to speak.
He did not disappoint not only pitching 9 innings of one run ball against a tough Yankee lineup but contributing with the bat with a one out single in the 5th which was followed by a double from the newly acquired catcher Jack Hiatt who while not having much of an arm has quite the batters eye/ Holtzman was running with the pitch and managed to score all the way from first for the second and decisive run off of Yankees ace Fritz Peterson who pitched well in a losing cause.
Slugging Pitcher Earl Wilson lost game 2 5-3 so the burden will be even grater on Holtzman and fellow Seattle Stater Mike Torrez as the two Pitchers retained in a staff unlikely to intimidate any of their opponents. Yet it will be up to them to keep the Pilots close enough so the bats of Ron Fairly, Pete Rose and Tommy Harper can do enough damage to keep the Pilots in the race to the end.
Cam Torrez do the job? We’ll find out in the rubber game of the Pilots Series against the Yanks later today.
Meanwhile for those of you interested here is the starting nine that the Pilots will be fielding this season by position.
Wish us luck. We’ll need it
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