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The_Myth · 07-04-2019, 02:50 AM

July 3, 1984

Game 1984-82: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 4, Reds 2 / 36-46

Well this one is a doozy. Kelly Downs throws one pitch, then has to leave the game with a finger blister (he’s day-to-day). So, Paul Owens turns to Tug McGraw to throw more pitches than he has all season - 56 - over four innings. Then Larry Andersen hurls 1.1 innings, and Bill Campbell finishes the fifth. Don Carman - who threw 50 pitches yesterday - fires 10 more before being lifted, then Steve Mura - who threw 66 yesterday - tosses five pitches before being lifted. That leaves it all up to Al Holland, who guts through three innings and 65 pitches to finish the game. Insane.

Offensively, Mike Schmidt hits homer No. 16, while Glenn Wilson and Len Matuszek both pick up two hits. I can’t believe we won this game.

Meanwhile, late at night we receive news that the Cubs have traded pitcher Steve Trout and cash to the Indians for prospects Joe Carter, Joseph Kramer, and Mike Jeffcoat. It surprises me that the Indians - who are 14.5 in back of first-place Toronto - would make this deal, but good for the Cubbies to score some interesting young talent.

July 4, 1984

Happy Independence Day. I’m currently listening to this fantastic new album by Prince, Purple Rain. Can’t get enough of “Baby I’m a Star.”

RP Arturo Gonzalez promoted to MLB Philadelphia
1B/OF Mark Funderburk demoted to AAA Portland

Our only available relievers seem to be Andersen and Campbell, and even the latter is a stretch. Thus, in comes Gonzalez, a 28-year-old who was out of baseball between 1981 and ‘83. He came back this year and put up a 1.69 ERA in AA Reading, then a 1.93 ERA in AAA Portland. He also has plenty of stamina. He might be used tonight.

Game 1984-83: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 4, Reds 3 / 37-46

Before a full house (the box score says 27,181 but I refuse to believe it) watches the traditional Independence Day fireworks above Veterans Stadium, we have our best win of the season. Charles Hudson pitches a tough but effective 7.1 innings, departing with a deficit at 3-2 (John Russell’s two-run homer is our offense to that point). Then, in the eighth, Joe Lefebvre slams a two-out, two-run double to pull us ahead at 4-3. Larry Andersen, who came on in the eighth for Hudson, slams the door, preserving the bullpen and wrapping up a series win. Wonderful.

July 5, 1984

One more series before the all-star break. I should probably vote for all-stars. My picks:

American League

SP - Dave Stieb - TOR - 10-5, 2.61 ERA, 7.4 K/9, 3.8 WAR
SP - John Butcher - MIN - 14-4, 2.18 ERA, 4.3 K/9, 3.1 WAR
SP - Floyd Bannister - CWS - 10-6, 3.29 ERA, 7.0 K/9, 2.2 WAR
RP - Tippy Martinez - BAL - 5-5, 14 SV, 2.49 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 0.2 WAR
RP - George Frazier - CLE - 7-4, 13 SV, 2.66 ERA, 6.1 K/9, 1.5 WAR
C - Dave Engle - MIN - .335/.373/.470, 7 HR, 144 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
1B - Kent Hrbek - MIN - .310/.362/.541, 18 HR, 153 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
2B - Hal McRae - KC - .283/.340/.427, 10 HR, 121 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
3B - Wade Boggs - BOS - .368/.438/.476, 3 HR, 164 wRC+, 4.6 WAR
SS - Tony Fernandez - TOR - .377/.430/.513, 6 HR, 174 wRC+, 5.7 WAR
LF - Kirk Gibson - DET - .306/.401/.526, 14 HR, 163 wRC+, 4.1 WAR
CF - Lloyd Moseby - TOR - .330/.392/.500, 11 HR, 153 wRC+, 4.1 WAR
RF - Don Mattingly - NYY - .318/.369/.513, 14 HR, 157 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
DH - Greg Walker - CWS - .342/.413/.570, 11 HR, 179 wRC+, 2.7 WAR

National League

SP - John Candelaria - PIT - 10-2, 1.96 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 4.9 WAR
SP - Dwight Gooden - NYM - 9-4, 2.62 ERA, 10.1 K/9, 5.2 WAR
SP - Fernando Valenzuela - LAD - 5-7, 2.57 ERA, 7.0 K/9, 4.9 WAR
RP - Rich Gossage - SD - 0-2, 22 SV, 1.55 ERA, 10.0 K/9, 1.7 WAR
RP - Jeff Reardon - MTL - 2-0, 27 SV, 1.04 ERA, 8.2 K/9, 1.4 WAR
C - Jody Davis - CHC - .322/.347/.510, 9 HR, 141 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
1B - Keith Hernandez - NYM - .358/.455/.485, 6 HR, 166 wRC+, 3.4 WAR
2B - Bill Doran - HOU - .287/.342/.412, 3 HR, 118 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
3B - Mike Schmidt - PHI - .241/.328/.449, 16 HR, 117 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
SS - Ozzie Smith - STL - .272/.326/.356, 2 HR, 92 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
LF - Dale Murphy - ATL - .281/.329/.452, 10 HR, 117 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
CF - Eddie Milner - CIN - .305/.363/.424, 4 HR, 125 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
RF - Jack Clark - SF - .300/.393/.495, 15 HR, 155 wRC+, 2.8 WAR

Schmidt has led NL third base ballots since the beginning, so he should make it. Otherwise, I could see either Bill Campbell or Al Holland sneaking in. Maybe Von Hayes as a dark horse? That’s probably it.

Game 1984-84: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 10, Braves 2 / 38-46

Heck yeah. Sixto Lezcano hits two home runs and drives in six, while Juan Samuel collects three hits, steals a base, and scores three runs. Jerry Koosman goes eight, giving up two runs, to continue his hot stretch.

Also tonight, Tommy John of the California Angels records his 250th win against the Red Sox. A highlight in an otherwise bad season for the 41-year-old (5.04 ERA).

July 6, 1984

Still 12 games behind first place, since the Pirates are now 50-34. Still in sell mode. And speaking of trades, Houston proposes one: They would send shortstop Dickie Thon and pitcher Vern Ruhle to us for pitcher John Denny.

Thon is a decent shortstop, hitting .292/.315/.416 with 16 extra-base hits in 260 plate appearances, plus swiping 12 bags. His 1.5 WAR is eighth among qualified shortstops. He’s 26 and in line for arbitration next season, then becomes a free agent after 1985.

Ruhle, 33, is a control-first reliever whose 4.55 ERA doesn’t tell the whole story, as he’s been hurt by a high BABIP (.315). He’s a free agent after this season.

Denny, meanwhile, is under contract through 1986 and having a nice sequel to his Cy Young 1983 season.

If I traded Denny I’m looking at a rotation of Carlton, Gross, Hudson, Koosman, and Downs for 1985. That isn’t enough to contend, especially as Lefty and Koos get another year older. Trading Denny isn’t good for short-term business, and Thon isn’t enough of a return. I’d need to get another starter back, and Houston doesn’t seem to want to do that. Hard pass.

Game 1984-85: Veterans Stadium - Braves 3, Phillies 1 / 38-47

Twenty-five-year-old Ken Dayley pitches a strong seven against us, while John Denny’s first start back from the injury list is a solid if unspectacular 7.1 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 5 K performance. The offense doesn’t put up enough of a fight.

Later in the night, there was a brawl in the Oakland vs Milwaukee game at the Oakland Coliseum. Milwaukee pitcher Mark Ciardi plunked our old friend Ozzie Virgil, who stormed the mound and toppled the 22-year-old. Virgil is suspended four games, while Ciardi gets two. By the way, here are Virgil’s numbers this season: 203 PA, .314/.369/.524, 22 XBH, 2.6 WAR.

Yes, Virgil is having a better offensive season than anyone else on our club. That’s a thing that’s happening right now; what really irks me is he’s rated a 40 defensively, and yet he’s carrying a +1.1 ZR and 1.018 EFF. Just incredible.

Speaking of former Phils, Gary Matthews is in waivers. His numbers aren’t that bad (.250/.328/.433), but there’s apparently nowhere to play the 34-year-old in Chicago with Joe Carter now on board.

07-04-2019, 02:50 AM	#24
The_Myth Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: World Posts: 172	July 3, 1984 Game 1984-82: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 4, Reds 2 / 36-46 Well this one is a doozy. Kelly Downs throws one pitch, then has to leave the game with a finger blister (he’s day-to-day). So, Paul Owens turns to Tug McGraw to throw more pitches than he has all season - 56 - over four innings. Then Larry Andersen hurls 1.1 innings, and Bill Campbell finishes the fifth. Don Carman - who threw 50 pitches yesterday - fires 10 more before being lifted, then Steve Mura - who threw 66 yesterday - tosses five pitches before being lifted. That leaves it all up to Al Holland, who guts through three innings and 65 pitches to finish the game. Insane. Offensively, Mike Schmidt hits homer No. 16, while Glenn Wilson and Len Matuszek both pick up two hits. I can’t believe we won this game. Meanwhile, late at night we receive news that the Cubs have traded pitcher Steve Trout and cash to the Indians for prospects Joe Carter, Joseph Kramer, and Mike Jeffcoat. It surprises me that the Indians - who are 14.5 in back of first-place Toronto - would make this deal, but good for the Cubbies to score some interesting young talent. July 4, 1984 Happy Independence Day. I’m currently listening to this fantastic new album by Prince, Purple Rain. Can’t get enough of “Baby I’m a Star.” RP Arturo Gonzalez promoted to MLB Philadelphia 1B/OF Mark Funderburk demoted to AAA Portland Our only available relievers seem to be Andersen and Campbell, and even the latter is a stretch. Thus, in comes Gonzalez, a 28-year-old who was out of baseball between 1981 and ‘83. He came back this year and put up a 1.69 ERA in AA Reading, then a 1.93 ERA in AAA Portland. He also has plenty of stamina. He might be used tonight. Game 1984-83: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 4, Reds 3 / 37-46 Before a full house (the box score says 27,181 but I refuse to believe it) watches the traditional Independence Day fireworks above Veterans Stadium, we have our best win of the season. Charles Hudson pitches a tough but effective 7.1 innings, departing with a deficit at 3-2 (John Russell’s two-run homer is our offense to that point). Then, in the eighth, Joe Lefebvre slams a two-out, two-run double to pull us ahead at 4-3. Larry Andersen, who came on in the eighth for Hudson, slams the door, preserving the bullpen and wrapping up a series win. Wonderful. July 5, 1984 One more series before the all-star break. I should probably vote for all-stars. My picks: American League SP - Dave Stieb - TOR - 10-5, 2.61 ERA, 7.4 K/9, 3.8 WAR SP - John Butcher - MIN - 14-4, 2.18 ERA, 4.3 K/9, 3.1 WAR SP - Floyd Bannister - CWS - 10-6, 3.29 ERA, 7.0 K/9, 2.2 WAR RP - Tippy Martinez - BAL - 5-5, 14 SV, 2.49 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 0.2 WAR RP - George Frazier - CLE - 7-4, 13 SV, 2.66 ERA, 6.1 K/9, 1.5 WAR C - Dave Engle - MIN - .335/.373/.470, 7 HR, 144 wRC+, 2.8 WAR 1B - Kent Hrbek - MIN - .310/.362/.541, 18 HR, 153 wRC+, 2.9 WAR 2B - Hal McRae - KC - .283/.340/.427, 10 HR, 121 wRC+, 1.8 WAR 3B - Wade Boggs - BOS - .368/.438/.476, 3 HR, 164 wRC+, 4.6 WAR SS - Tony Fernandez - TOR - .377/.430/.513, 6 HR, 174 wRC+, 5.7 WAR LF - Kirk Gibson - DET - .306/.401/.526, 14 HR, 163 wRC+, 4.1 WAR CF - Lloyd Moseby - TOR - .330/.392/.500, 11 HR, 153 wRC+, 4.1 WAR RF - Don Mattingly - NYY - .318/.369/.513, 14 HR, 157 wRC+, 2.2 WAR DH - Greg Walker - CWS - .342/.413/.570, 11 HR, 179 wRC+, 2.7 WAR National League SP - John Candelaria - PIT - 10-2, 1.96 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 4.9 WAR SP - Dwight Gooden - NYM - 9-4, 2.62 ERA, 10.1 K/9, 5.2 WAR SP - Fernando Valenzuela - LAD - 5-7, 2.57 ERA, 7.0 K/9, 4.9 WAR RP - Rich Gossage - SD - 0-2, 22 SV, 1.55 ERA, 10.0 K/9, 1.7 WAR RP - Jeff Reardon - MTL - 2-0, 27 SV, 1.04 ERA, 8.2 K/9, 1.4 WAR C - Jody Davis - CHC - .322/.347/.510, 9 HR, 141 wRC+, 1.7 WAR 1B - Keith Hernandez - NYM - .358/.455/.485, 6 HR, 166 wRC+, 3.4 WAR 2B - Bill Doran - HOU - .287/.342/.412, 3 HR, 118 wRC+, 2.5 WAR 3B - Mike Schmidt - PHI - .241/.328/.449, 16 HR, 117 wRC+, 2.2 WAR SS - Ozzie Smith - STL - .272/.326/.356, 2 HR, 92 wRC+, 2.9 WAR LF - Dale Murphy - ATL - .281/.329/.452, 10 HR, 117 wRC+, 2.5 WAR CF - Eddie Milner - CIN - .305/.363/.424, 4 HR, 125 wRC+, 2.8 WAR RF - Jack Clark - SF - .300/.393/.495, 15 HR, 155 wRC+, 2.8 WAR Schmidt has led NL third base ballots since the beginning, so he should make it. Otherwise, I could see either Bill Campbell or Al Holland sneaking in. Maybe Von Hayes as a dark horse? That’s probably it. Game 1984-84: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 10, Braves 2 / 38-46 Heck yeah. Sixto Lezcano hits two home runs and drives in six, while Juan Samuel collects three hits, steals a base, and scores three runs. Jerry Koosman goes eight, giving up two runs, to continue his hot stretch. Also tonight, Tommy John of the California Angels records his 250th win against the Red Sox. A highlight in an otherwise bad season for the 41-year-old (5.04 ERA). July 6, 1984 Still 12 games behind first place, since the Pirates are now 50-34. Still in sell mode. And speaking of trades, Houston proposes one: They would send shortstop Dickie Thon and pitcher Vern Ruhle to us for pitcher John Denny. Thon is a decent shortstop, hitting .292/.315/.416 with 16 extra-base hits in 260 plate appearances, plus swiping 12 bags. His 1.5 WAR is eighth among qualified shortstops. He’s 26 and in line for arbitration next season, then becomes a free agent after 1985. Ruhle, 33, is a control-first reliever whose 4.55 ERA doesn’t tell the whole story, as he’s been hurt by a high BABIP (.315). He’s a free agent after this season. Denny, meanwhile, is under contract through 1986 and having a nice sequel to his Cy Young 1983 season. If I traded Denny I’m looking at a rotation of Carlton, Gross, Hudson, Koosman, and Downs for 1985. That isn’t enough to contend, especially as Lefty and Koos get another year older. Trading Denny isn’t good for short-term business, and Thon isn’t enough of a return. I’d need to get another starter back, and Houston doesn’t seem to want to do that. Hard pass. Game 1984-85: Veterans Stadium - Braves 3, Phillies 1 / 38-47 Twenty-five-year-old Ken Dayley pitches a strong seven against us, while John Denny’s first start back from the injury list is a solid if unspectacular 7.1 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 5 K performance. The offense doesn’t put up enough of a fight. Later in the night, there was a brawl in the Oakland vs Milwaukee game at the Oakland Coliseum. Milwaukee pitcher Mark Ciardi plunked our old friend Ozzie Virgil, who stormed the mound and toppled the 22-year-old. Virgil is suspended four games, while Ciardi gets two. By the way, here are Virgil’s numbers this season: 203 PA, .314/.369/.524, 22 XBH, 2.6 WAR. Yes, Virgil is having a better offensive season than anyone else on our club. That’s a thing that’s happening right now; what really irks me is he’s rated a 40 defensively, and yet he’s carrying a +1.1 ZR and 1.018 EFF. Just incredible. Speaking of former Phils, Gary Matthews is in waivers. His numbers aren’t that bad (.250/.328/.433), but there’s apparently nowhere to play the 34-year-old in Chicago with Joe Carter now on board.