The Pequot Lakers…Any Color, as long as it’s Gray.

Colt Stadium was an awful place for baseball. Players referred to it as Mosquito Heaven. It also was considered the hottest place to play baseball. The stadium remained standing for five years after the team moved to the Astrodome. The team owner had the entire stadium painted gray so that in aerial photos of the Astrodome, old Colt Stadium would blend into the background.

What could work: A strong and balanced bunch of hitters. They have speed (Cobb and LeFlore) and RBI men (Aaron, Garvey, Cobb, Traynor). The lineup is almost completely right-handed, but that’s okay as lefties struggled with a stiff wind blowing in from right. This team will easily lead the division and perhaps the whole league in batting average.

What could fail: Pitching for this squad will be the key. They have two exceptional starters in Cy Young and Lefty Grove. The team invested in a couple of good middle relievers (Howe and Jackson) and a good closer in Dan Quisenberry. It all hinges on the performance of the remaining starters. The pitchers may fade in the heat. Bob Horner may be key. If he doesn’t produce the offense will be just ordinary.

Result: 84-78. Lefty and Cy will handle things just fine. The remaining starters will limp along, then turn the game over to the bullpen. Catcher Buck Ewing is so highly regarded that people said his throws looked like he had handed the ball to the second baseman.