'94 Yanks: Would they have won?

[1TonHumanHamsterWheel]

In the spirit of the SimSeries, I have decided to simulate the 1994 postseason. Teams and seeding will be determined by records as of 8/12/94, as I can't find the schedule for the remainder of the regular season.
Here are the first-round matchups (best of 5, in a 2-3 format, first team plays home first)
Cleveland Indians (66-47) vs. New York Yankees (70-43)
Texas Rangers (52-62) (!) vs. Chicago White Sox (67-46)
Los Angeles Dodgers (58-56) vs. Montreal Expos (74-40)
Atlanta Braves (68-46) vs. Cincinnati Reds (66-48)
I will be using WhatIfSports.com to simulate the playoffs, and I will rotate pitchers as necessary.
May the best team have won!
Edit: D'oh! I can't use the Expos until the 15th because of SimSeries. Looks like I'll have to wait until then.

[Michaels07]

They would have lost. Don`t forget that Buck Showalter was the mgr. He would have found away to lose in the playoffs with a stupid move!

[Nettles]

I have had a theory for several years, that the '94 strike actually made the great Torre run possible.

Here's why: I agree that the 1994 Yankees would have failed to win the World Series, and possible even get to the World Series, for several reasons, which I will not go into right now. I do not think that Steinbrenner would have retained Buck's services for 1995 after an embarassing playoff loss. (Remember, this is the pre-Torre version of Steinbrenner we are talking about.)

In any event, Torre was not available for 1995 (he was still with St. Louis), and other factors present at the time would have ruled against bringing him in then. With another manager in 1995 (not Buck) may have turned out differently, and maybe would have been retained for 1996.

[Michaels07]

I concur with your analysis.

[wexy]

Interesting points gang. Showalter probably woud've found a way to
lose in the playoffs.

[1TonHumanHamsterWheel]

Since the Expos become available tomorrow, I decided to start the other 3 1st-round series today. I will edit this post with the results from the first games as I simulate them.

Indians 2, Yankees 1 (CLE leads series 1-0)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2047589
NYY 000 001 000 -- 1 10 1
CLE 010 000 10X -- 2 5 0
W-Nagy L-Key S-Plunk
HR: CLE-Alomar 2
The Yankees' only run came when Danny Tartabull drove in Luis Polonia with an RBI single to tie the game in the 6th. Jimmy Key allowed only five hits, but two of them were homers by the notorious Sandy Alomar Jr. Charlie Nagy got the win as the Yanks left 8 runners on base.

Rangers 3, White Sox 0 (TEX leads series 1-0)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2047601
CHI 000 000 000 -- 0 5 0
TEX 000 210 00X -- 3 9 0
W-Rogers L-McDowell
HR: None
Kenny Rogers pitched a complete-game shutout as the underdog Rangers tagged Jack McDowell for three runs in the middle innings. Will Clark drove in two of them with a single in the 4th and a double in the 5th, and Dean Palmer's single in the 4th plated another run. Juan Gone was 3-for-4.

Reds 1, Braves 0 (11) (CIN leads series 1-0)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2047608
CIN 000 000 000 01 -- 1 4 2
ATL 000 000 000 00 -- 0 4 1
W-Brantley L-McMichael S-Carrasco
Jose Rijo and Greg Maddux pitched brilliantly, combining for just five hits in eighteen innings, but neither one stuck around long enough for the win. The Braves had a chance to win it in the bottom of the 10th with two on and one out, but Jeff Brantley struck out Fred McGriff and David Justice. Then, in the top of the 11th, Jeff Branson's two-out pinch-hit triple off Greg McMichael scored Deion Sanders with the game's only run. Hector Carrasco retired the Braves in order for the save.

[1TonHumanHamsterWheel]

Sorry I was too busy to keep updating this. I can finally do the 2nd day of the playoffs now:

Indians 7, Yankees 4 (CLE leads series 2-0)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2163676
NYY 010 102 000 -- 4 12 1
CLE 003 010 03X -- 7 9 1
W-Clark L-Abbott S-Plunk
HR: NYY-Stanley, Tartabull; CLE-Belle, Baerga, Ramirez
In a back-and-forth game, the Yanks drew first blood on a solo homer by Mike Stanley. Cleveland tied it up on a Carlos Baerga double and took the lead on a 2-run bomb by Joey Albert Belle. The Yanks struck back on Danny Tartabull's solo shot, but the Tribe scored another run on a balk. The Yanks tied it up against Mark Clark in the 6th on RBI singles by Pat Kelly and Randy Velarde. However, Buck Showalter left Jim Abbott in the game too long, and he allowed a homer to Baerga to lead off the bottom of the 8th. Another tater by Manny Ramirez later in the inning put the game out of reach. The Yanks brought the tying run to the plate in the 9th against closer Eric Plunk but failed to score, as they left 10 runners on base in the game. The Bombers now have to win all 3 games at home to advance in the playoffs.

White Sox 8, Rangers 4 (Series tied 1-1)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2164074
CHI 000 410 300 -- 8 15 0
TEX 003 010 000 -- 4 9 0
W-Bere L-Brown
HR: CHI-Thomas, Jackson; TEX-Rodriguez
The underdog Rangers took an early lead on Ivan Rodriguez' 3-run homer off Jason Bere, but the Sox answered back with a 4-run rally, including dingers by Frank Thomas and Darrin Jackson, who went 5-for-5, all with nobody out to knock Kevin Brown out of the game. Three runs in the 7th sealed the victory for Chicago.

Dodgers 7, Expos 3 (LA leads series 1-0)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2164721
MON 000 000 021 -- 3 6 1
LA 103 111 00X -- 7 13 0
W-Martinez L-Martinez
HR: LA-Wallach
Ramon Martinez pitched a complete game against his older brother Pedro, who allowed five earned runs in only 4 1/3 innings. Tim Wallach opened the scoring with an RBI double in the 1st and a three-run homer in the 3rd. But despite having the best record in the majors, the Expos could not get back in the game and could only score when it was too little, too late.

[1TonHumanHamsterWheel]

Here's Day 3: the 2nd game of each NL series. Hopefully the Yanks can crawl out of their hole.

Reds 12, Braves 4 (CIN leads series 2-0)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2174146
CIN 201 203 040 -- 12 12 1
ATL 031 000 000 -- 4 9 0
W-Smiley L-Glavine
HR: CIN-Sanders; ATL-Kelly
John Smiley gave up a 3-run homer to Roberto Kelly and later a bases-loaded walk, but he settled down and pitched eight innings for the win. Kevin Mitchell's two-run double in the 6th knocked out Tom Glavine and lengthened the Reds' lead to 7-4, and Reggie Sanders' 3-run homer in the 8th put the game on ice. The Reds now head home, needing only one win to finish off the wild-card Braves.

Expos 7, Dodgers 6 (Series tied 1-1)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2174182
MON 000 000 430 -- 7 12 0
LA 012 003 000 -- 6 9 1
W-Scott L-Valdez S-Wetteland
HR: LA-Mondesi
The Montreal Expos, with the best record in baseball, faced going down 0-2 when they fell behind 6-0 to the Dodgers, but they rallied back to win it in the late innings. LA built a lead with a 2-run homer by Rookie of the Year Raul Mondesi and extended it to six runs in the 6th, knocking Ken Hill from the game. Kevin Gross carried a shutout into the 7th, until the Expos' bats finally woke up for a 4-run rally highlighted by Cliff Floyd's triple. With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the 8th and the Dodgers up by a run, Marquis Grissom hit a 2-run single that erased the deficit and gave theExpos the lead. The series now moves to Montreal.

[1TonHumanHamsterWheel]

Here's Day 4 of the playoffs: Game 3 of each AL series.

Yankees 10, Indians 3 (CLE leads series 2-1)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2180523
CLE 000 000 030 -- 3 9 1
NYY 011 024 02X -- 10 12 0
W-Perez L-Martinez
HR: NYY-Stanley, O'Neill, B.Williams, Velarde
Facing elimination, the Bronx Bombers finally turned their hits into runs as four players homered off Dennis Martinez and Jose Mesa. Melido Perez carried a shutout into the 8th inning in this rout of visiting Cleveland. Luis Polonia went 3-for-5 with an RBI triple and a stolen base.

White Sox 15, Rangers 12 (11) (CHI leads series 2-1)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2180539
TEX 200 020 251 00 -- 12 22 1
CHI 130 330 200 03 -- 15 23 0
W-McCaskill L-Carpenter
HR: TEX-Canseco, Gonzalez, Clark; CHI-Franco, Ventura
In a slugfest that featured a Division Series record 45 hits, the White Sox and Wilson Alvarez led by six runs after six innings, thanks to RBI hits by Joey Cora, Frank Thomas, Julio Franco, and Robin Ventura off Rick Helling and Brian Bohanon. But the pesky Rangers scored five runs in the 8th off reliever Jeff Schwarz, and Jose Canseco tied it up with an RBI double off closer Roberto Hernandez. Kirk McCaskell entered the game and kept Texas at bay for three innings. Then in the bottom of the 11th against Cris Carpenter, Robin Ventura hit a walk-off three-run home run. The Sox can clinch the series at home tomorrow.

[1TonHumanHamsterWheel]

Everybody plays tonight:

Reds 24, Braves 3 (CIN wins series 3-0)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2186621
ATL 010 001 100 -- 3 11 1
CIN 3(10)1 260 20X -- 24 22 0
W-Browning L-Mercker
HR: ATL-McGriff, Oliva; CIN-Larkin 2, Boone, Mitchell 2
The Cincinnati Reds scored an all-time playoff record 24 runs to clinch their Division Series at home against Atlanta. Kent Mercker was removed from the game in the 2nd inning after allowing nine runs, but the bullpen provided no relief. Barry Larkin drove in six runs, and Kevin Mitchell knocked in eight, as both players homered twice, including a grand slam each. Tom Browning pitched eight innings for the win, as the Reds advanced to their first NLCS in four years.

Dodgers 3, Expos 1 (LA leads series 2-1)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2186645
LA 000 200 010 -- 3 5 1
MON 000 100 000 -- 1 9 0
W-Hershiser L-Henry S-Worrell
HR: LA-Piazza; MON-Cordero
The Dodgers moved one step closer to facing the Reds behind the pitching of Orel Hershiser and the clutch hitting of Henry Rodriguez. Bulldog's one mistake was a misplaced pitch to Wil Cordero, but Mike Piazza added some insurance with a solo shot of his own. Todd Worrell pitched the 9th for the save, and Butch Henry went the distance in the loss, as Montreal left 9 runners on base.

Yankees 20, Indians 7 (Series tied 2-2)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2186649
CLE 000 250 000 -- 7 10 0
NYY 362 002 43X -- 20 29 0
W-Pall L-Morris
HR: CLE-Belle, Thome 2, Ramirez; NYY-Velarde, O'Neill, B.Williams
The Yankees fought back with another blowout to tie the series at two apiece and force a deciding Game 5. The Yanks struck quickly with four doubles in the first inning and knocked out Cleveland starter Jack Morris with no outs in the 2nd. But the Bombers' 11-0 lead was tested when starter Scott Kameniecki served up too many gopher balls in the middle innings. The Yanks struck back with some bases-loaded walks and more extra-base hits to give them 12 for the game and a record 29 total hits. Donn Pall got the win in relief, Wade Boggs had six hits, and Paul O'Neill drove in six runs. Jimmy Key and Charlie Nagy pitch for all the marbles tomorrow at Yankee Stadium.

White Sox 6, Rangers 3 (CHI wins series 3-1)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2186650
TEX 010 000 200 -- 3 7 2
CHI 020 100 03X -- 6 10 1
W-Fernandez L-Smith S-Hernandez
HR: TEX-Clark; CHI-Thomas
The White Sox clinched the Division Series in dramatic fashion. Chicago took a 3-run lead on bases-loaded walks to Ron Karkovice and Tim Raines and a sac fly by Frank Thomas, but starter Alex Fernandez allowed Texas to tie it up on back-to-back doubles by Manuel Lee and Doug Strange and a single by David Hulse. Since Ranger ace Kenny Rogers was pitching on three days' rest, he was unable to come to the mound for the eighth inning, when Dan Smith allowed back-to-back doubles to Rock Raines and Joey Cora, as the Sox retook the lead. When Frank Thomas followed with a homer off Brian Bohanon, it was all over. Roberto Hernandez allowed the tying run to reach the plate but finished off the Rangers for the save and put the White Sox back in the ALCS, which they lost to Toronto last year.

[1TonHumanHamsterWheel]

Only 2 first-round series are still going. Can the Yanks finish the comeback?

Expos 2, Dodgers 1 (Series tied 2-2)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2190274
LA 000 000 001 -- 1 7 0
MON 010 000 001 -- 2 5 1
W-Wetteland L-Candiotti
HR: LA-Mondesi; MON-Cordero
Jeff Fassero and Tom Candiotti faced off in a pitchers' duel after those 20-run games yesterday. The Expos carried a 1-0 lead into the 9th thanks to Wil Cordero's homer, but Fassero allowed a dinger to rookie Raul Mondesi in the top of the 9th, and John Wetteland replaced him. Candiotti ran into trouble in the bottom of the 9th, loading the bases with one out. Then, he walked Cordero, allowing Marquis Grissom to score. This sets up a deciding game, as the Martinez brothers face each other again.

Indians 7, Yankees 3 (CLE wins series 3-2)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2190389
CLE 010 001 023 -- 7 12 1
NYY 000 002 001 -- 3 8 0
W-Nagy L-Key
HR: CLE-Thome, Belle 2, Murray
Well, that's it, folks. The Yankees, despite having the best record in the American League, fell to Charlie Nagy and the potent Indians lineup after outscoring them 30-10 in the last two games. The Tribe built a 2-0 lead on dingers by Jim Thome and Albert Belle, but Don Mattingly tied it up with a 2-run single. However, Buck Showalter left Jimmy Key in the game too long, and he gave up a 2-run blast to Belle in the 8th inning. Next, Buck made another mistake by bringing in overworked reliever Donn Pall, who allowed three runs in the 9th to put the game out of reach. Cleveland advances to its first ALCS ever, where they play their division rivals, the White Sox.

OK, you all were right. Buck did find a way to screw it up, and against Cleveland of all teams. I'll still simulate the rest of the playoffs just for the fun of it, even though the Yanks are out.

[1TonHumanHamsterWheel]

Here's the final 1st-round game:

Expos 7, Dodgers 5 (MON wins series 3-2)
http://www.whatifsports.com/mlb/boxs...GameID=2192788
LA 221 000 000 -- 5 11 1
MON 140 110 00X -- 7 9 1
W-Martinez L-Martinez S-Wetteland
HR: MON-Grissom
The Expos came back from a 2-1 series deficit to advance to their 2nd NLCS in franchise history and first since 1981. Pedro Martinez struggled early on, allowing four earned runs in the first three innings, but he settled down and pitched seven innings for the win. The Expos tagged Ramon Martinez for four runs in the second and took the lead for good when Marquis Grissom homered in the fourth. Neither team scored after the fifth as John Wetteland picked up his second save of the postseason.

The league championship series are now set. The format is 2-3-2, with the first team listed playing at home first, and Game 1 starters as indicated:
Chicago White Sox (3-1) vs. Cleveland Indians (3-2): McDowell vs. Clark
Montreal Expos (3-2) vs. Cincinnati Reds (3-0): Hill vs. Rijo
Unlike the actual playoffs, I will simulate the two series simultaneously, so both leagues play the same numbered game on the same day.

[koko]

I don't want to step on any toes here, but had the 94' playoffs gone on, there would not have been a division series. 95 was the first year that was supposed to be instituted.
Also, I don't know that the 94' squad was ready to win, or even equipped to win. the Braves would have taken us at the very best case scenario.

Plus Showalter would have micromanaged us out of the ALCS anyhow.