Note: Hey! Decided to post the next installment nearly nine months later. More to come!
July 21, 1986
A call today from Red Sox GM Dick Billings: He accepts my offer. I have some time to complete the trade, so I decide to go back to San Francisco. They’re not moving off giving me Jeffrey Leonard, Mark Portugal, and Rob Deer for John Denny and Luis Polonia. Adding Matt Nokes would mean adding something else on my end. It’s not enough.
I tell my team to double-check some things before I put this deal through.
As for my baseball team, we head to Atlanta for three against the Braves.
Game 1986-91: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium - Phillies 3, Braves 2 (11) / 51-40
Five straight. We’re up 1-0 heading into the ninth, when Larry Andersen blows it. Then in the 10th, Rickey Henderson homers to put us up 2-1. Then Andersen, via Todd Worrell, blows it again. In the 11th, we win it on a Mike Schmidt double and a clean Worrell inning. Boy, do I hope someone wants Andersen.
July 22, 1986
We make some calls and find out there’s definitely interest in Larry Andersen. That makes me feel better. Once the Denny deal goes down, we’ll turn our attention to that.
Game 1986-92: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium - Phillies 4, Braves 1 / 52-40
Our sixth-straight win comes thanks to another great Charles Hudson performance (7.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 7 K). Mike Schmidt with three hits including his 12th home run, while Darren Daulton adds his sixth.
We’re 11 back of the Mets.
July 23, 1986
We decide, if we’re doing this Denny trade, we should shore up the rest of the 1987 rotation. That means considering Steve Carlton.
Owner Bill Giles wants us to extend Carlton, and his agent told us he’s looking for just another year at about $550K. That’s fair considering he’s making $1 million this year. His numbers: 97 IP, 3.99 ERA, 75 K, 40 BB, 1.8 WAR. So he’s a No. 4 or 5 starter at this point. All makes sense.
So, at the end of the day, we’re fine with this move. We negotiate at $400K with a $50K bonus for achieving 150 innings in 1987, but he still wants more, so we hike it up to $500K, and his agent says that’s fair.
For today’s game, Juan Samuel gets a seat for Steve Jeltz. Gregg Jefferies moves to the two-hole.
Game 1986-93: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium - Phillies 12, Braves 2 / 53-40
Another sweep, and we’re rolling right now. Mike Schmidt is hitting his stride after a 3-for-4 day with a two-run double and two-run homer. Glenn Wilson has a four-hit day, doubling twice and driving in three, and Paul Molitor has a three-hit day, bringing in two. Rickey Henderson also has three hits and swipes three bags. Twenty hits in all. Kevin Gross goes just 5.2 innings (a rain delay cuts his start short) but does just fine, giving up only a Gerald Perry homer.
With the game over and the team flying back home, I call Dick Howser and tell him what’s happening. Then I ask to speak with John Denny.
“John, big sweep, huh?”
“Sure. You’ve traded me, haven’t you?”
“I have. Boston wanted you and we worked something out.”
“You don’t think we can catch the Mets?”
“No, I think we can, but I also think your chances at making another postseason memory are much higher now.”
It’s a tough trade to execute. John gave us a great run, better than anyone could’ve imagined. He debuted with St. Louis in 1974 and made his presence felt in 1976, winning the league ERA title. He was up and down after that between the Cardinals and then the Indians, starting in 1980. His fortunes remained wobbly in Cleveland, and on Sept. 12, 1982, Bill Giles traded for him, sending Cleveland Wil Culmer, Jerry Reed, and Roy Smith. (Culmer is toiling around in the Indians system, and Reed is in AAA for Cleveland, hoping to make it to the majors soon. Smith, meanwhile, is 6-8 with a 4.67 ERA this season as a 24-year-old starter in Cleveland.)
As for Denny, he broke out once again as a Phillie, going 19-6 with a 2.37 ERA while winning the Cy Young in 1983. In 1984, he had a tougher go of it with a 9-9 record, but his 3.27 ERA was perfectly acceptable. Last season was a return to form, as he went 15-9 with a 2.68 ERA, and this year he’s started 5-6 with a 4.51 ERA, his worst season thus far as a Phillie.
His final numbers as a Phillie: 118 G, 799.1 IP, 48-32, 3.02 ERA, 487 K, 210 BB, 21.8 WAR
TRADE
To Boston Red Sox
SP John Denny (+ 20% contract)
3B/2B/SS/CF/1B Bill Lyons
To Philadelphia Phillies
SP Randy Johnson
LF/RF/1B Todd Benzinger
1B Pat Dodson
C Jeff Kaye
Corresponding moves:
- SP Blaise Ilsley promoted to MLB Philadelphia
- SP Jeff Ballard promoted to AAA Portland
- 1B Pat Adams placed on irrevocable waivers
- 3B Gib Siebert released
- 2B Ramon Sambo released
- 1B Jeff King promoted to AA Reading
We’ll see how Ilsley interacts with the clubhouse this time. As for King, I couldn’t keep him in Spartanburg any longer (359 PA, .325/.405/.633, 27 HR, 77 RBI, 69 K, 43 BB, 4.3 WAR). But he’ll play third base in Reading, to see if we can work on his defense while keeping Ricky Jordan at first base.
Also, SP Bruce Berenyi is ready to pitch again, so we activate him on the 40-man and send him to AAA Portland on an option. Marvin Freeman, who has struggled a bit, moves to the bullpen for a bit. Berenyi is not expected to be in Portland for too long - either he heads to Philly or he heads out.
July 24, 1986
Back home to take on Houston. I assemble the team to look into Larry Andersen trade targets. Scott Sanderson gets pushed up for this start.
Game 1986-94: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 1, Astros 0 / 54-40
Sanderson does his job, shutting out the Astros in five. The bullpen is phenomenal in keeping Houston off the board further, and in the eighth, Jeff Stone hits a sacrifice fly to score Darren Daulton.
As the game closes out, I get some reports from late-working staffers on what might be available for Larry Andersen. On the prospect side, it’s not a lot, with the exception maybe being Cardinals tweener Vince Coleman, who has 80-grade speed but can’t seem to earn a regular job thanks to his mediocre hitting. He’s a 24-year-old corner outfielder, so he doesn’t quite fit my needs.
If I need anything more, it’s depth back in my farm system (talking guys who can slot into A-ball). For that, there’s someone like Toronto prospect Santiago Garcia (29/39), a 20-year-old in AA with 70-grade speed and loads of gap power, right in the Juan Samuel mold. I like him, in fact, and might pounce, but I’d need more than just him.
Also, there’s 20-year-old Royals prospect Chito Martinez, a corner outfielder and first baseman with a good eye and burgeoning raw power. He has room to grow. I also like him. We’ll focus our energies on Toronto and Kansas City.
July 25, 1986
Still looking into Toronto and Kansas City as we continue the Astros series.
Game 1986-95: Veterans Stadium - Astros 10, Phillies 8 / 54-41
Starting Steve Carlton on three-days’ rest is apparently a bad idea, as the ‘Stros score six off lefty in 4.2 innings. Bill Doran hits two freaking homers in the game, while on our side, Rickey Henderson goes 3-for-3 with a double and homer, his 15th.
July 26, 1986
The Reds call me up and ask about Darren Daulton. I’m not moving him.
Tonight is Blaise Ilsley’s first major league start. We’ve waited a while for this one; I’m juiced up!
Game 1986-96: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 8, Astros 5 / 55-41
Boy, do I wish Dick Howser stopped Ilsley at six frames. The seventh was a minor disaster, as a very good two-run performance became a five-run (four earned) job, nearly losing us the game. His line: 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 6 K, 2 BB. If not for the seventh: 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 6 K, 2 BB. Anyway, Gregg Jefferies with four hits (now at .354/.390/.566), and “Pauly Big Play” Molitor with two big two-RBI singles.
In Seattle, Milwaukee’s Robin Yount collects his 2,000th career hit. He’s just 30 (his career began at age 18).
And here’s something fun that happened today in Clearwater: Steve Gasser struck out 10. And walked nine. He beat Miami.
Finally, we’re now 9.5 behind the Mets. It’s the first time since June 16 that we’ve been within single digits in the GB column of New York.
Meanwhile, Tommy Thompson has kidney stones. Sheesh. He’s also hitting .214/.260/.306 this season. Double sheesh.
- C Tommy Thompson sent to 15-day injured list
- C Mike LaValliere promoted to MLB Philadelphia
LaValliere was hitting .270/.339/.330 in Portland. No, no power at all, but he’s getting on base? I guess?
July 27, 1986
The best deal we can coax out of either team seems to be one of the players we listed previously (for Toronto it’s Santiago Garcia, and for Kansas City it’s Chito Martinez) plus a middling non-ranked reliever or light hitter. I like the idea of getting a lottery ticket in return for Andersen, but I’m not in love with either option yet. Plus, since we’re now 9.5 back, I want to see if we can make up any more ground over the next day or two. That might swing things a little more.
Bigger news: Steve Carlton has accepted the one-year extension. He’s on board for 1987, and the fans are happy about it. Look, if it means he retires a Phillie (I hope that’s what it means), then good.
Mike LaValliere starts today, as does Steve Jeltz at second base.
Game 1986-97: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 8, Astros 7 / 56-41
We get three of four against Houston in a back-and-forth contest. We go up 1-0, go down 3-1, go up 4-3, then 5-3, go down 6-5, then up 8-6, then 8-7. Mike Schmidt hits his 14th homer and drives in four, Mike LaValliere drives in three with two hits, and the bullpen turns in 3.1 innings of one-run ball.
We’re still 9.5 games behind the Mets.
Meantime, I’m getting no prospect bites on Enos Cabell, sans Baltimore offering SP Francisco Oliveras (33/33, 5.84 ERA, 82 K, 40 BB, 1.7 WAR), a 23-year-old in AAA. I really don’t have more room in Portland for pitching.
The only major leaguer that sounds interesting for Cabell is Dave Parker. Now with the Cubs, the right fielder is hitting .287/.325/.454 with 13 HR. He wouldn’t start, but he’d be a big power bat off the bench. I’m inclined to make this trade, and I call my team to justify, and one question: Who would back up Mike Schmidt at first base? Cabell, while bad at it, at least could play first.
My answer is that we send Jeff Stone to AAA and call up Todd Benzinger, who can play 1B, LF, CF, and RF all competently (45, 60, 35, 50). It would send Glenn Wilson to a full starting job while giving Benzinger a chance; plus, Stone - who hasn’t really been that great this year - can come back up in about a month, at worst.
They agree and approve the trade. So does Dan Kacala in Chicago. This is a quick one.
TRADE
To Chicago Cubs
1B/RF Enos Cabell
To Philadelphia Phillies
RF Dave Parker (40 percent of contract)
The new power rankings:
1. New York Mets - 66-32
2. Boston Red Sox - 65-34
3. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES - 56-41
4. Toronto Blue Jays - 60-40
5. Detroit Tigers - 58-42
Look who’s crashed the party? First time here since June 15.