[The_Myth]

It's offseason time, so my updates may be just one-day long, while others might be more than a week of action. All depends on what happens day by day.

Oct. 1, 1984

With the season over, time to review performances and give out some grades. I’ll hold off on looking ahead.

Catcher

• Darren Daulton - 201 PA, .200/.303/.354, 5 HR, 14 XBH, 15 RBI, 47 K, 26 BB, +1.8 ZR, 1.091 EFF, 37.5% RTO, 0 PB, 1.0 WAR (Grade: C+)
• John Russell - 226 PA, .244/.305/.444, 8 HR, 23 XBH, 30 RBI, 71 K, 19 BB, +0.1 ZR, .936 EFF, 34.4% RTO, 1 PB, 1.1 WAR (Grade: C+)
• John Wockenfuss - 80 PA, .219/.278/.301, 2 HR, 2 XBH, 7 RBI, 9 K, 6 BB, 0.0 ZR, .848 EFF, 54.2% RTO, 1 PB, 0 WAR (Grade: D-)

The bat hasn’t been there yet for Daulton since being promoted to Philadelphia, but he gets on base (a 100-point difference between AVG and OBP is good), and his defense has been quite good for a 22-year-old. Russell has been a passable backup with decent power. Wockenfuss spent the entire second half in AAA.

First Base

• Len Matuszek - 535 PA, .239/.306/.382, 15 HR, 36 XBH, 65 RBI, 93 K, 46 BB, +1.2 ZR, 1.006 EFF, 0.5 WAR (Grade: C-)

After a great first half, Matuszek laid an egg and put up a rather pedestrian line, though his defense remained solid. His leadership was lauded all season.

Second Base

• Juan Samuel - 691 PA, .303/.350/.498, 17 HR, 71 XBH, 71 RBI, 65 SB, 142 K, 43 BB, -21.6 ZR, .889 EFF, 4.9 WAR (Grade: A-)

What a second half for the rookie, who found his home run swing and put more balls in play, mostly to great results. Tons of doubles and triples - among league leaders in extra-base hits. His defense is and will be bad, but the offensive production speaks for itself. Electric season.

Third Base

• Mike Schmidt - 633 PA, .253/.351/.452, 26 HR, 54 XBH, 79 RBI, 116 K, 83 BB, +1.1 ZR, 1.023 EFF, 4.2 WAR (Grade: B)
• Mike Diaz - 151 PA, .273/.331/.388, 3 HR, 9 XBH, 21 RBI, 27 K, 10 BB, +1.5 ZR, 1.084 EFF, 0.6 WAR (Grade: B-)
• Chris James (AA) - 590 PA, .297/.336/.479, 19 HR, 57 XBH, 91 RBI, 25 SB, 77 K, 31 BB, -2.4 ZR, .987 EFF, 3.7 WAR (Grade: B)

A down year for Schmidt, though he remains a solid middle-of-the-lineup bat. Diaz played more first base than anything and was fine, but he needs to show more power if he’s going to grab an everyday spot somewhere. James had a good season in AA and will head to AAA. His defense at third remains shaky; otherwise, he’s a left fielder.

Shortstop

• Ivan de Jesus - 466 PA, .212/.287/.274, 1 HR, 19 XBH, 34 RBI, 5 SB, 59 K, 45 BB, -17.5 ZR, .892 EFF, -1.8 WAR (Grade: F)
• Kiko Garcia - 137 PA, .189/.230/.244, 0 HR, 6 XBH, 8 RBI, 27 K, 6 BB, +2.5 ZR, 1.053 EFF, -0.3 WAR (Grade: D-)
• Steve Jeltz - 41 PA, .231/.268/.333, 1 HR, 2 XBH, 5 RBI, 1 SB, 12 K, 2 BB, -1.6 ZR, .847 EFF, -0.1 WAR (Grade: D+)

Somehow de Jesus had an even worse second half than his first half. Garcia was pretty darn bad, too, but at least he had a glove. Meanwhile, what little I saw of Jeltz showed me he’s more of a backup middle infielder type, though his defense was poor in a short sample.

Left Field

• Von Hayes - 658 PA, .294/.373/.434, 15 HR, 49 XBH, 57 RBI, 30 SB, 95 K, 74 BB, +2.1 ZR, 1.018 EFF, 3.8 WAR (Grade: A-)
• Glenn Wilson - 395 PA, .257/.284/.339, 5 HR, 20 XBH, 47 RBI, 4 SB, 51 K, 16 BB, -2.2 ZR, .976 EFF, -0.3 WAR (Grade: D-)
• Jeff Stone - 81 PA, .342/.383/.553, 0 HR, 10 XBH, 9 RBI, 5 SB, 15 K, 4 BB, +0.1 ZR, 1.000 EFF, 0.8 WAR (Grade: B+)
• Bruce Fields (AAA) - 229 PA, .337/.397/.453, 3 HR, 18 XBH, 20 RBI, 21 K, 19 BB, +2.0 ZR, 1.105 EFF, 1.9 WAR (Grade: B+)

After moving Hayes to left field, he thrived defensively while still keeping up his great offensive game. Wilson, at best, was forgetful. Stone came on late to excite everyone, pushing Hayes to RF often so he could get more time. Fields was acquired in the Sixto Lezcano trade, and I can probably give him one more season in AAA, though I’d rather not.

Center Field

• Dave Stegman - 212 PA, .188/.283/.355, 5 HR, 15 XBH, 15 RBI, 49 K, 25 BB, +0.8 ZR, 1.026 EFF, 1.2 WAR (Grade: C-)
• Garry Maddox - 123 PA, .186/.203/.229, 0 HR, 5 XBH, 10 RBI, 3 SB, 20 K, 3 BB, 0.0 ZR, .984 EFF, -0.6 WAR (Grade: F)

Stegman’s numbers with the Phils weren’t as hot as his totals with Chicago, but his defense was fine. Maddox is probably done, and it shows.

Right Field

• Joe Lefebvre - 371 PA, .234/.294/.349, 5 HR, 27 XBH, 52 RBI, 3 SB, 71 K, 29 BB, +4.4 ZR, 1.099 EFF, 0.7 WAR (Grade: C)

Lefebvre had a bad second half, though his defense was stellar.

Starting Pitcher

• Steve Carlton - 197.1 IP, 8-9, 3.38 ERA, 2.86 FIP, 142 K, 63 BB, 5.6 WAR (Grade: A-)
• John Denny - 190 IP, 9-9, 3.27 ERA, 3.24 FIP, 105 K, 41 BB, 4.4 WAR (Grade: B+)
• Kelly Downs - 29.1 IP, 0-3, 7.36 ERA, 6.48 FIP, 12 K, 8 BB, -0.5 WAR (Grade: F+)
• Kevin Gross - 202.1 IP, 14-10, 3.78 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 141 K, 57 BB, 3.7 WAR (Grade: B)
• Charles Hudson - 227.1 IP, 13-13, 3.13 ERA, 2.95 FIP, 143 K, 65 BB, 6.2 WAR (Grade: A)
• Rick Reuschel - 75.2 IP, 2-7, 3.09 ERA, 4.31 FIP, 31 K, 26 BB, 0.7 WAR (Grade: C-)
• Curt Young - 18.2 IP, 1-1, 4.34 ERA, 5.45 FIP, 11 K, 7 BB, -0.1 WAR (Grade: D+)
• Mike Maddux (AAA) - 41.2 IP, 2-6, 9.07 ERA, 4.92 FIP, 32 K, 26 BB, 0.0 WAR (Grade: F+)

Boy, what a surge from Hudson, who is becoming one of the top young pitchers in the game. Gross isn’t far behind, either, though he gives up a few too many flies. Carlton had a good season but was victim to our bad defense, while Denny was pretty consistent - a good but not elite starter. Reuschel did yeoman’s work after being acquired. Young showed a flash or two, while Maddux had a hard time adjusting to AAA. Downs? He was bad, though not so much in AAA.

Relief Pitcher

• Bill Campbell - 64.1 IP, 5-10, 2 SV, 14 HLD, 4.34 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 30 K, 17 BB, 1.0 WAR (Grade: C+)
• Tug McGraw - 45 IP, 5-3, 4 SV, 6 HLD, 3.20 ERA, 2.65 FIP, 25 K, 11 BB, 1.1 WAR (Grade: B)
• Larry Andersen - 64 IP, 7-4, 4 SV, 5 HLD, 2.95 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 53 K, 23 BB, 0.8 WAR (Grade: B+)
• Steve Mura - 58.1 IP, 0-1, 1 SV, 6.02 ERA, 5.05 FIP, 53 K, 36 BB, -0.6 WAR (Grade: D-)
• Dave Wehrmeister - 48 IP, 1-1, 5.06 ERA, 4.94 FIP, 32 K, 21 BB, -0.4 WAR (Grade: D)
• Don Carman - 33.1 IP, 3-1, 2.16 ERA, 3.84 FIP, 32 K, 15 BB, 0.2 WAR (Grade: B)
• Kenneth Walker - 9.2 IP, 0-0, 3.72 ERA, 3.56 FIP, 11 K, 5 BB, 0.1 WAR (Grade: C)
• Rich Gaynor (AAA) - 56.1 IP, 0-2, 3.51 ERA, 4.43 FIP, 34 K, 29 BB, -0.1 WAR (Grade: C-)
• Todd Worrell (AAA) - 21.1 IP, 1-4, 9 SV, 4.64 ERA, 4.33 FIP, 22 K, 14 BB, -0.1 WAR (Grade: C-)
• Karl Best (AAA) - 10.1 IP, 0-0, 1.74 ERA, 2.88 FIP, 12 K, 9 BB, 0.2 WAR (Grade: B)
• Chuck Cary (AAA) - 13.1 IP, 0-2, 1.35 ERA, 3.41 FIP, 6 K, 2 BB, 0.1 WAR (Grade: B)
• John McLarnan (AA) - 41.1 IP, 2-3, 23 SV, 2.61 ERA, 3.82 FIP, 33 K, 9 BB, 0.6 WAR (Grade: B)

Campbell blew a few too many games in the second half. McGraw did his job. Andersen was much improved as the season went on, rounding into a top setup arm. Mura couldn’t be trusted and was sent down, while Wehrmeister was nothing more than the last man in the ‘pen. Carman proved effective in his rookie campaign, while of the young guys, Walker showed the most potential.

Oct. 2, 1984

I said I was doing it, and now it’s time:

• Manager Paul Owens fired
• Bench Coach J.P. Dissmore fired
• Hitting Coach Bobby Hagan fired

I also cleaned house in my farm system, gutting the top levels almost completely. Time to reinvigorate the organization in my likeness.

Meanwhile, let’s go over the league leaders.

Hitting

Batting Average

AL - Wade Boggs - BOS - .370
NL - Jose Cruz - HOU - .335

Home Runs

AL - Dave Winfield - NYY - 41
NL - Darryl Strawberry - NYM - 43

Runs Batted In

AL - Jesse Barfield - TOR - 129
NL - Darryl Strawberry - NYM - 127

On-Base Percentage

AL - Wade Boggs - BOS - .450
NL - Keith Hernandez - NYM - .419

Slugging Percentage

AL - Greg Walker - CWS - .584
NL - Darryl Strawberry - NYM - .557

Stolen Bases

AL - Rickey Henderson - OAK - 69
NL - Gary Redus - CIN - 67

WAR

AL - Wade Boggs - BOS - 9.2
NL - Pedro Guerrero - LAD - 6.6

Pitching

Wins

AL - Jack Morris - DET - 22
NL - Alejandro Pena - LAD - 20

Earned Run Average

AL - Jack Morris - DET - 2.51
NL - Dwight Gooden - NYM - 2.13

Strikeouts

AL - Dave Stieb - TOR - 211
NL - Dwight Gooden - NYM - 300

Saves

AL - Dan Quisenberry - KC - 35
NL - Jeff Reardon - MTL - 48

WAR

AL - Bert Blyleven - CLE - 6.5
NL - Dwight Gooden - NYM - 10.5

Juan Samuel was the only player of mine who registered more than once or twice on these lists. He finished third in the NL in slugging, fourth in OPS, seventh in hits, second in SB, third in triples, second in doubles, second in runs, and second in strikeouts.

By the way, Reardon set a new single-season record for saves, which was previously set just last year by Quisenberry (45).

And I imagine it’s Boggs for MVP and Morris for a hard-charging Cy Young in the AL, along with Strawberry for MVP and Gooden for Cy Young in the NL.

Finally today, the draft pool was released. We’re about a month from draft day (it’s Nov. 1), so let’s look at who’s out there:

1. Barry Bonds - CF - age 20
2. BJ Surhoff - C - age 20
3. Gregg Jefferies - SS - age 17
4. Brady Anderson - RF - age 20
5. Rafael Palmiero - LF - age 20
6. David Justice - LF - age 18
7. Will Clark - 1B - age 20
8. Randy Velarde - SS - age 21
9. Robert Alomar - SS - age 16
10. Randy Johnson - LHP - age 21

Surhoff and Clark were among U.S. national players, and they should easily translate into decent players in the majors. Bonds is the son of Bobby Bonds - who retired in 1981 - and has plenty of athleticism. The high schoolers are all projectable bats. Johnson is a 6’10” monster with good stuff, and a lefty. Easy to see a hell of a pitcher here. And as I pick 10th, I can bet on getting one of these guys, though my actual draft board will materialize just before the draft.