6/4 - Athletics Fire McKeon
Saturday, June 4, 1977
Jack McKeon's time as Oakland manager came to an end earlier today when GM Charlie Finley fired him after an 18-31 start. McKeon, in his first season with the team, had a 215-205 record in three seasons with Kansas City and was given the task of leading a team ravaged of talent by free agency. Unfortunately, winning just eight games in the month of May seemed to seal McKeon's fate.
"The bottom line is about performance and our performnace is not up to my expectations. Jack is a fine coach, but there just doesn't seem to be any connection with the players." Finley said at a press conference at Oakland Coliseum.
So now the job search begins anew in Oakland, where no manager has lasted longer than three seasons since Connie Mack in 1950.
"There is no timetable for finding a replacement, but it will be done quickly. Until that time, Cal Ermer will run the club on a temporary basis." Finley said.
McKeon could not be reached for comment after being told of his dismissal.
American League News
Baltimore (21-29, 12-14 away) at Kansas City (24-22, 16-10 home)
Paul Splittorff (4-6, 3.35 ERA) will be the first to tell you, when he's on - he's outstanding. But when he's not - he's just plain awful. In Kansas City's 4-0 win over the Orioles, Splittorff was on the good side as he strikes out six while allowing eight hits in 8 2/3 shutout innings.
Jim Palmer (4-7) takes the loss in what has become an extremely trying season for the former 20-game winner.
Tom Poquette (.241, 12 RBI) hits a single and a double, scoring once and driving in two runs to lead the Royals offense.
Baltimore (21-30, 12-15 away) at Kansas City (25-22, 17-10 home)
In game two,
Darrell Porter (.293, 23 RBI) hammered his former team with four hits - including his fourth homer of the season - scoring three runs and driving in two runs to lead the Orioles to an 11-9 slugfest win.
Kiko Garcia (.243, 9 RBI) hits two singles and a double, driving in three runs and scoring two more himself in the win. The other member of the Porter trade,
Lee May (.378, 2 HR, 9 RBI), also homered for Kansas City.
Detroit (24-25, 10-14 away) at California (32-17, 12-11 home)
Dennis Leonard (4-6, 4.01 ERA) shows flashes of when he was in a Royals uniform as he strikes out seven, allows six hits and gives up one run through eight innings while
Jason Thompson (.263, 29 RBI) drives in three runs on a pair of singles to lead Detroit to a 4-1 win over the Angels.
Nolan Ryan (7-5) strikes out 10 hitters in 7 2/3 innings, but also walks eight while throwing 152 pitches in taking the loss.
Toronto (28-21, 10-11 away) at Oakland (18-31, 11-14 home)
In their first game since the firing of manager
Jack McKeon, Oakland's
Bob Heise (.302, 22 RBI) doubles in the bottom of the ninth off
Jerry Garvin (1-2) to score
Mitchell Page (.333) from second and give the A's a 5-4 victory over Toronto.
Otto Velez (.277, 30 RBI) had tied the game in the top of the inning with his tenth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left off of closer
Bob Lacey (1-2, 3 BS). Oakland starter
Vida Blue (2.77) goes eight innings, giving up two unearned runs, but loses the decision on the home run by Velez.
Cleveland (27-22, 13-11 away) at Seattle (22-32, 12-14 home)
Cleveland scores four runs in the top of the ninth as
Enrique Romo (1-4, 4 BS) gives up four singles, a walk and hits a batter to hand the Tribe a 7-4 victory.
Bill Melton (.261, 11 RBI) has three hits on the day, driving in a run and
Rick Manning (.245, 24 RBI) brings home two more on two hits as Cleveland delivers 11 hits as a team - all singles. The win puts Cleveland into a tie for first place in the division with Toronto, the first time they have been in first this late in the season since 1966.
Boston (24-26, 11-13 away) at Minnesota (21-28, 7-12 home)
Minnesota's
Dave Goltz (6-3, 3.17 ERA) outpitches
Reggie Cleveland of the Red Sox (6-4, 3.61 ERA) in leading the Twins to a 2-1 win at the Metrodome.
Goltz goes eight innings, allowing eight hits and a
Bernie Carbo (.236, 8 HR, 26 RBI) eighth inning home run while
Cleveland goes the distance in the loss, giving up seven hits and both earned runs.
New York (26-26, 13-11 away) at Chicago (19-29, 9-13 home)
Chicago wins their sixth game in their last nine as
Lance Johnson (.265, 13 RBI) hits a go-ahead, two-RBI double in the sixth inning to lead the White Sox to a 6-4 victory over New York.
Ralph Garr (.331, 14 SB) hits a triple and two singles while
Thurman Munson (.271, 3 HR, 20 RBI) hits a three-run home run for the Yankees, but New York can only manage five other hits against Chicago starter
Ken Brett (7-4, 2.90 ERA).
Milwaukee (29-23, 16-12 away) at Texas (32-16, 17-9 home)
Toby Harrah (.265, 33 RBI) hits a pair of doubles, a single while driving in two and
John Ellis (.311, 14 RBI) hits a solo home run as the Rangers beat Milwaukee 6-3 to give the Brewers their sixth loss in seven games.
Gaylord Perry (8-3, 2.12 ERA) strikes out six and gives up seven hits and three runs (two earned) in eight innings of work.
Dan Thomas (.243, 14 RBI) hits his fourth home run of the year in the loss.
American League Scores
National League News
Houston (27-23, 12-11 away) at Cincinnati (29-20, 15-10 home)
Pat Zachry (9-3, 3.83 ERA) wins his league high ninth game of the season 5-1, breaking the Astros nine game winning streak and keeping Houston from sweeping the Reds in their three game series. Zachry allows eight hits and strikes out five in the complete game win - helping out his cause by driving in two runs on 2-for-2 hitting, raising his average to .320 on the year.
Jose Cruz (.249, 31 SB) has four singles in the loss, scoring the Astros only run.
San Francisco (27-24, 14-12 away) at Atlanta (24-28, 16-10 home)
The Giants hit three home runs, which account for all of their offense as they lose 5-3 to Atlanta in front of 18,488 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
Gary Alexander (.244, 3 HR, 12 RBI),
Jack Clark (.312, 6 HR, 29 RBI) and
Willie McCovey (.300, 7 HR, 37 RBI) all hit solo shots, but the rest of the offense manages just three other singles. Atlanta only manages five hits, but turns them into runs thanks to four key walks By
John Montefusco (4-7). Braves starter
Buzz Capra (4-3, 5.37 ERA) gives up two of the homers, but strikes out six en route to the win.
St. Louis (24-25, 9-11 away) at Montreal (19-30, 9-13 home)
In a game that comes down to a battle of closers,
Sam Mejias (.600, 1 RBI) singles off of Cardinals closer
Clay Carroll (3-2) in the bottom of the tenth inning to bring home
Warren Cromartie (.301) and give
Joe Kerrigan (1-0) and Montreal a 4-3 victory. Cromartie has two doubles on the day, including one to start off the tenth. St. Louis leadoff man
Lou Brock (.240, 16 RBI, 19 SB) hits a double, two singles and steals two bases in the loss.
Chicago (24-25, 12-11 away) at Pittsburgh (34-14, 16-8 home)
Jim Rooker (7-2, 2.44 ERA) kept the Pirates ship for the pennant headed straight ahead as he holds Chicago to three hits and two earned runs while striking out five through eight innings in Pittsburgh's 6-2 win over the Cubs. The win is the eighth in their last 10 games and has kept their lead in the NL East at a comfortable six games. Eight of the nine Pittsburgh starters have at least one hit (sorry
Ken Macha).
Ivan DeJesus (.235, 22 RBI) has two of the Cubs three hits.
Philadelphia (28-20, 14-12 away) at New York (20-32, 10-15 home)
Thanks to a three-run home run by
Davey Johnson (.290, 4 HR, 20 RBI) and a double and two singles from
Greg Luzinski (309, 28 RBI), Philadelphia breaks a four game losing streak with a 5-3 triumph over the Mets at Shea Stadium.
John Milner (.325, 3 HR, 18 RBI) hits a two-run home run for New York for their first loss in five games.
San Diego (20-36, 10-18 away) at Los Angeles (26-25, 13-10 home)
Don Sutton (6-5, 3.12 ERA) throws his fifth complete game, striking out nine as the Dodgers defeat San Diego, 7-3.
Vic Davalillo (.239, 5 SB) delivers four singles and
Davey Lopes (.263, 28 SB) scores three runs for Los Angeles to take the first two games in the three-game series.
Doug Rader (.230, 5 HR, 14 RBI) hits a double and a home run for the Padres in the loss.
National League Scores
Trades | Kansas City trades 32-year-old SS Freddie Patek ($67,000 over 1 year) and 20-year old Single A RF Greg Nelson (Minor League Contract) to Atlanta, getting 34-year-old RP Mike Marshall ($1,140,300 over 2 years) in return. |
To Atlanta: Freddie Patek
1976 Stats
1977 Stats | AVG
.241
.252 | AB
432
115 | H
104
29 | R
58
21 | 2B
19
6 | 3B
3
3 | HR
1
2 | RBI
43
11 | BB
50
11 | K
63
16 | OBP
.318
.323 | SB
51
22 |
Greg Nelson
1977 Stats (A) | AVG
.249 | AB
201 | H
50 | R
23 | 2B
8 | 3B
5 | HR
1 | RBI
18 | BB
29 | K
37 | OBP
.345 | SLG
.366 |
To Kansas City:
Mike Marshall
1976 Stats
1977 Stats | W
4
2 | L
3
2 | SV
8
1 | ERA
4.45
3.78 | IP
62.2
16.2 | H
64
14 | R
33
8 | ER
31
7 | BB
25
8 | K
39
5 | WHIP
1.42
1.32 | AVG
.304
.237 |
|
Montreal trades 32-year-old catcher Jose Morales ($59,885 over 1 year) and 21-year old Single A catcher Clint Mathis (Minor League Contract) to Texas, getting 35-year-old SS Bert Campaneris ($1,140,300 over 2 years) in return. |
To Texas: Jose Morales
1976 Stats
1977 Stats | AVG
.316
.132 | AB
158
38 | H
50
5 | R
12
1 | 2B
11
1 | 3B
0
0 | HR
4
0 | RBI
37
0 | BB
3
1 | K
20
3 | OBP
.333
.154 | SLG
.462
.158 |
Clint Mathis
1977 Stats (A) | AVG
.256 | AB
176 | H
45 | R
23 | 2B
13 | 3B
2 | HR
5 | RBI
20 | BB
18 | K
20 | OBP
.328 | SLG
.438 |
To Montreal:
Bert Campaneris
1976 Stats
1977 Stats | AVG
.256
.181 | AB
536
160 | H
137
29 | R
67
6 | 2B
14
2 | 3B
1
1 | HR
1
0 | RBI
52
9 | BB
63
13 | K
80
33 | OBP
.331
.243 | SB
54
12 |
Major Transactions
| MR Mike Marshall is placed on the active roster (from trade).
MR Randy McGilberry (0-0, 0.93 ERA, 19.1 IP) optioned to Triple A Omaha.
RF Al Cowens (.342, 6 HR, 38 RBI - AAA) recalled from Triple A Omaha.
U.L. Washington takes over at SS. Cowens will start at RF and Hal McRae will move to DH. Marshall will be the #1 MR in the bullpen. |
| SS Freddie Patek is placed on the active roster (from trade).
SS Jerry Royster (.225, 9 RBI) optioned to Triple A Richmond.
CL Duane Thiess (3-0, 0.93 ERA, 9 SV - AAA) contract purchased from Triple A Richmond.
Patek will take over at SS at bat leadoff. Theiss will look to make a name for himself in the bullpen. |
| SS Bert Campaneris is placed on the active roster (from trade).
SS Pepe Frias (.400, 1 RBI, 15 AB) optioned to Triple A Denver.
C Barry Foote (.242, 10 HR, 44 RBI - AAA) recalled from Triple A Denver.
SS Stan Papi (assigned to Triple A Denver (from waivers).
Campaneris takes over at SS and bat leadoff (sound familar?) with Kurt Bevacqua serving as backup. Foote will struggle to find at-bats behind MVP-candidate Gary Carter. |
| C Jose Morales is placed on the active roster (from trade).
C Bill Fahey (.197, 2 HR, 7 RBI) optioned to Triple A Tuscon.
2B Sandy Alomar (.274, 4 HR, 25 RBI - AAA) recalled from Triple A Tuscon.
Morales is the new starting catcher with John Ellis as backup. Jimmy Sexton and Alomar will platoon at SS with Alomar backing up all of the infield when needed. |
Short Season Single A Update
Geneva Cubs (16-37) at Jamestown Expos (34-19)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | | | R | H | E | | Geneva | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | | | 5 | 12 | 1 | | Jamestown | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | | | 8 | 13 | 1 | WP: Bruce Oliver (2-1, 6.17 ERA)
LP: Jose Gonzalez (2-4, 4 BS, 3.93 ERA)
SV: None
POG: Mark Hutchinson (JAM) 3-5, R, 4 RBI, HR
Attendance: 2,944
Home Runs:
GEN: None
JAM: Mark Hutchinson (1) |
Gevenva SS Jing-bo Au-Young commits his 26th error - I love that guy.
| Before the game, I received a phone call that not only was Dicky Hujibregts called up to Single A, but his backup Robinson Diaz was as well - effectively leaving us with no catchers. Nice. In return I get two shortstops - something I really don't need for this final game. We did everything we needed to do, winning nine of our last 10 and 12 of our last 14 to make it an actual division race - even coming from behind today to sweep Geneva. Madrigal hits a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth to give us the lead and the win in a game it seemed Geneva was trying to gift wrap for us. Geneva shortstop Jing-bo Au-Yong made three errors in the game, resulting in two unearned runs - I found out afterward that those were his 26th, 27th & 28th errors of the year. His middle infield partner in crime, Antonio Farias committed his 24th error in the game as well. Still, we had four players get multiple hits - Richard Adams (.305, 26 RBI), Madrigal, Weldon Williams (.286, 19 RBI) and newcomer Ray Anderson (.500, 1 RBI) - and Tommy Campbell (1.85 ERA) got his seventh win in relief and is the anchor I need in the bullpen next year. If I'm around next year. You see, even though we did what we could, Rockledge won that final game - keeping us one game out as the season ends. |