Aug. 27, 1984
Game 1984-131: Veterans Stadium - Padres 3, Phillies 2 / 54-77
We rally to take a 2-1 lead in the sixth, then Kevin Gross promptly surrenders it in the seventh. Glenn Wilson with two hits including a double.
Aug. 28, 1984
Game 1984-132: Veterans Stadium - POSTPONED
Rainout. Doubleheader tomorrow.
Aug. 29, 1984
Game 1984-132: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 9, Padres 3 / 55-77
We blast the Padres early. Mike Schmidt, John Russell, and Von Hayes each homer, with Russell going 2-for-4 with 4 RBI. Steve Carlton goes eight and strikes out eight.
Game 1984-133: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 3, Padres 2 / 56-77
Charles Hudson secures the doubleheader sweep with eight strong. Mike Diaz drives in two. Glenn Wilson’s fifth-inning RBI single puts us ahead for good.
Aug. 30, 1984
It’s a day off. Rosters are about to expand. Considering my minor league teams are still playing, I won’t promote too many players right away. Probably two or three, at most. Here are the candidates:
- SP John Machin - 22, 31/31 - 78.1 IP, 2.64 ERA, 53 K, 24 BB (AAA)
- SP Kelly Downs - 23, 40/41 - 29.1 IP, 7.36 ERA, 12 K, 8 BB (MLB)
- SP Curt Young - 24, 34/34 - 155 IP, 4.94 ERA, 72 K, 54 BB (AAA)
- RP Todd Worrell - 24, 40/45 - 9.2 IP, 7.45 ERA, 13 K, 8 BB (AAA)
- RP Karl Best - 25, 37/37 - 10.1 IP, 1.74 ERA, 12 K, 9 BB (AAA)
- RP Chuck Cary - 24, 37/38 - 9 IP, 2.00 ERA, 5 K, 0 BB (AAA)
- RP Rich Gaynor - 22, 34/34 - 51 IP, 3.18 ERA, 29 K, 26 BB (AAA)
- SS Steve Jeltz - 25, 35/42 - 464 PA, .238/.329/.319, 19 XBH (AAA)
- OF Bruce Fields - 23, 37/41 - 543 PA, .316/.374/.409, 31 XBH (AAA)
- OF Jeff Stone - 23, 37/37 - 492 PA, .288/.321/.387, 32 XBH (AAA)
- OF Larry Ray - 26, 38/40 - 335 PA, .230/.301/.357, 26 XBH (AAA)
I’ll probably promote one reliever and one outfielder at first - likely Best and Stone - but everyone has a case. Meanwhile, the GCL Phillies are in the league championship series against the GCL Rangers - it’s tied 1-1!
Aug. 31, 1984
This morning, I wake up to find out RP Kenneth Walker is suffering from complications from asthma. He saw a doctor late last night, who wants him resting for a couple days. No IL for him, but we’ll sit him until he feels better.
Game 1984-134: Veterans Stadium - Giants 4, Phillies 2 / 56-78
It’s a war between the last-place teams, and we lose the first battle. Atlee Hammaker remains unsolvable for us, as he spins seven strong innings. Rick Reuschel goes 6.2 and allows three runs on eight hits and two walks. Juan Samuel doubles, Ivan de Jesus makes an error, and the clocks keep moving.
Sept. 1, 1984
But in good news, we find out that Juan Samuel has been named National League Rookie of the Month! He hit .303 with 2 HR and 18 RBI. Solid job by the kid.
Speaking of Samuel, let’s handicap the regular season awards, at this point:
American League MVP: It’s Wade Boggs vs Tony Fernandez. The former is hitting .365 with a .437 OBP, but the latter is just behind him (.351, .405). Similar-ish players, so I’d give a slight edge to Boggs.
American League Cy Young: Probably Dave Stieb of Toronto, who has a 2.63 ERA (third, AL) and 18 wins, which is tied for the league lead. He also leads the league in strikeouts (177).
American League Rookie of the Year: Fernandez. But shoutout to two in Seattle: Danny Tartabull (.305/.363/.494, 22 HR, 94 RBI), who’s having a great first season; and Mark Langston (17-5, 2.56 ERA, 119 K), who should get a couple Cy Young votes.
American League Manager of the Year: It’s a two-man race between Toronto’s Bobby Cox and Detroit’s Sparky Anderson. The Jays have a 2.5-game lead over the Tigers. For the Jays, it would be their first playoff berth, and for Detroit, it would be the first since 1972. Outside shot of Seattle’s Del Crandall taking it, just because they’ve stuck through.
American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year: Probably Kansas City’s Dan Quisenberry, whose 31 saves leads the league. Also, he’s walked just six batters all season.
National League MVP: Might be New York’s Darryl Strawberry, who came alive in the last few months (.307/.384/.578, 40 HR, 117 RBI). Yup, 40 HR. Behind him is teammate Keith Hernandez, Chicago’s Leon Durham, and St. Louis’ Ozzie Smith.
National League Cy Young: I have to think Mets rookie Dwight Gooden gets it (15-6, 2.17 ERA, 241 K). Good years from the Dodgers’ Alejandro Pena (17-8, 2.60 ERA, 152 K) and the Pirates’ John Candelaria (16-4, 2.42 ERA, 158 K), as well.
National League Rookie of the Year: Samuel is up against Gooden. It’s Gooden.
National League Manager of the Year: The Dodgers were supposed to be great, so it might just be whoever wins the East. Maybe it’s the Mets’ Davey Johnson, who would take New York to its first LCS since 1973. Or maybe the Cardinals’ Whitey Herzog, just for bouncing his team back. Or maybe Pittsburgh’s Chuck Tanner, who always finds a way to keep his team competitive.
National League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year: Nice year for Montreal’s Jeff Reardon, who has 42.0 saves and a 0.69 ERA.
Roster moves on expansion day:
- OF Jeff Stone promoted to MLB Philadelphia
- RP Karl Best promoted to MLB Philadelphia
Game 1984-135: Veterans Stadium - Giants 3, Phillies 1 / 56-79
Gah. A 1-0 lead in the eighth goes away. Joe Lefebvre homers. John Denny pitches well. Why can’t we score?
And Dwight Gooden just struck out 17 Padres tonight. Okay then.
Sept. 2, 1984
Game 1984-136: Veterans Stadium - Giants 7, Phillies 5 / 56-80
I’m at the point where I’m worried we’ll lose 100. We have a 5-4 lead heading into the ninth, then Bill Campbell (pitching because Larry Andersen was bad in the eighth) blows it. So tired of the bullpen. Mike Schmidt hits his 23rd homer, but oh well.
And new power rankings have us at 22nd. The top-five:
1. Detroit Tigers - 88-49
2. Toronto Blue Jays - 89-47
3. Pittsburgh Pirates - 80-56
4. St. Louis Cardinals - 79-57
5. Seattle Mariners - 77-60
The Tigers are within 1.5 games! The Mariners are still four behind the Royals.