[The_Myth]

Oct. 17, 1985

We fly back to Philadelphia, and Tugger has already filed his retirement papers. Big hugs all around. “You got a place in this organization,” I tell him.

“Nah,” Tug responds. “I wanna get into TV.”

Final statistics, with grades. First, the hitters:

Catcher

C - Darren Daulton - 511 PA, .222/.354/.390, 13 2B, 6 3B, 15 HR, 54 RBI, 68 R, 98 K, 86 BB, 17 SB, 11 CS, 0.8 ZR, 1.057 EFF, 30% RTO, 3.0 WAR

Grade: C+ / I can’t in good conscience give Daulton anything above this. Got on base a ton, and he really picked it up in the second half, but the production didn’t come all the way around. Defensively and as a game caller, he did well.

C - Tommy Thompson - 151 PA, .231/.294/.354, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 9 R, 23 K, 12 BB, 1.7 ZR, .985 EFF, 42.9% RTO, 0.1 WAR

Grade: D+ / Garden-variety backup catcher who did throw out his share of baserunners; persona non grata late in the season.

[COLOR="darkred"]C - Mike LaValliere - 26 PA, .125/.192/.375, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, 3 K, 2 BB, 0.0 WAR

Grade: INC / Too few appearances.

Outlook: Daulton remains my guy and will be the starter in 1986. I could give LaValliere the backup spot (next year is Thompson’s final option year), though he still has two option years remaining. I could also deal LaValliere. Not sure yet.

First Base

1B - Mike Schmidt - 673 PA, .322/.400/.559, 30 2B, 5 3B, 33 HR 136 RBI, 100 R, 81 K, 74 BB, 3 SB, 1 CS, 6.5 ZR, 1.052 EFF, 6.8 WAR

Grade: A+ / What a career arc Schmidt is having, starting as an all-or-nothing slugger, transitioning to an all-around hitting machine, and now coming into his veteran years as a patient, skilled marksman. A career low for strikeouts (in a full MLB season), plus nearly a career high in doubles. That, plus everything else he gives, makes him possibly the NL MVP.

Outlook: What else can you say? Schmidt returns in 1986 as the first baseman.

Second Base

2B - Juan Samuel - 668 PA, .248/.283/.410, 29 2B, 14 3B, 15 HR, 86 RBI, 90 R, 107 K, 26 BB, 64 SB, 17 CS, -10.7 ZR, .948 EFF, 1.4 WAR

Grade: C- / A real sophomore slump for Samuel, who actually cut down on strikeouts - something just seemed off with the swing. That said, he stole his usual booty of bases, and the defense was better! Seriously!

Outlook: Hoping for a rebound in 1986. Keith Miller is getting closer to knocking on the door, though, but I’d imagine Samuel’s trade value is a touch low right now. I’m in no hurry to make any moves.

Third Base

3B - Paul Molitor - 680 PA, .298/.363/.410, 31 2B, 5 3B, 9 HR, 76 RBI, 91 R, 98 K, 62 BB, 47 SB, 20 CS, 3.4 ZR, 1.015 EFF, 4.7 WAR

Grade: A- / I’m docking him for the slow start, but he picked it up in the second half to have a really good season.

Outlook: Well, I got Molitor through 1989 for a reason. We do also have Rick Schu at AAA Portland, but he seems a likely trade candidate or a possible bench bat.

Shortstop

SS - UL Washington - 534 PA, .265/.320/.367, 17 2B, 6 3B, 7 HR, 57 RBI, 61 R, 89 K, 40 BB, 27 SB, 8 CS, 3.7 ZR, 1.027 EFF, 2.7 WAR

Grade: B- / It would’ve been a stone-cold B if not for the lapses defensively (even though the metrics are for him, the 36 errors are a bit much). A decent bottom-order bat who kept the line moving.

SS - Dave Concepcion - 121 PA, .252/.300/.351, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 9 R, 14 K, 8 BB, 3 SB, 2 CS, -3.2 ZR, .889 EFF, -0.1 WAR

Grade: C- / I didn’t expect much from Davey, but he at least stayed on board through the postseason and turned in a decent offensive performance.

Outlook: I might just glance at the shortstop market, but I’m content staying with Washington until fast-moving Gregg Jefferies is ready for the majors (opening day 1987 is the likely target). If I need him, I could turn to Steve Jeltz, but if he reaches the majors, it’s his final option year.

Left Field

LF - Von Hayes - 726 PA, .318/.388/.494, 43 2B, 5 3B, 20 HR, 75 RBI, 115 R, 71 K, 78 BB, 45 SB, 31 CS, 4.6 ZR, 1.029 EFF, 6.3 WAR

Grade: A / A career season for Hayes, who even settled in defensively in left field.

LF - Billy Sample - 70 PA, .285/.357/.397, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 7 R, 3 K, 6 BB, 2 SB, 3 CS, -1.5 ZR, .930 EFF, 0.1 WAR

Grade: B / Kinda wish we used him more off the bench.

LF - Bruce Fields - 49 PA, .273/.304/.341, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 6 R, 10 K, 2 BB, 5 SB, 2 CS, 0.0 WAR

Grade: B- / Same here.

Outlook: Unless I decide Hayes has to move somewhere else to accommodate another player (a longshot I think), it’s all Von here. Sample is a goner, while Fields has two option years still. He could be a bench bat.

Center Field

CF - Dave Stegman - 450 PA, .202/.295/.318, 12 2B, 6 3B, 7 HR, 55 RBI, 39 R, 98 K, 53 BB, 3 SB, 1 CS, 1.7 ZR, 1.003 EFF, 0.2 WAR

Grade: D+ / The very definition of filler. Good enough defense in center, while his bat was maybe a shade over a hindrance in the first half, at least.

CF - Bill Lyons - 116 PA, .204/.322/.306, 7 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 17 R, 23 K, 16 BB, 7 SB, 0 CS, -0.9 ZR, .996 EFF, 0.3 WAR

Grade: D+ / He played a bunch of positions and stole some bags, but he wasn’t necessarily good at anything. A poor-ish utility player.

CF - Tony Armas - 115 PA, .245/.296/.462, 5 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 13 R, 22 K, 7 BB, -15.4 ZR, .915 EFF, -0.1 WAR

Grade: C- / Smacked a couple big hits, but ultimately he was a one-dimensional player. He did usurp Stegman, though, so that gets him the C-.

Outlook: Another spot where I can stay with filler (Stegman) until my high-rated prospect (Luis Polonia) reaches the majors (likely mid-to-late 1986). I’ll keep an eye out, however, for one-year slight upgrades, in case they’re out there; also, there’s a really, really good center fielder primed to hit the market this offseason. We’ll get there. Anyway, Stegman is not a starter on a championship team (evidenced by our benching him in September and October).

Right Field

RF - Glenn Wilson - 408 PA, .277/.321/.436, 19 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 48 R, 43 K, 25 BB, 5 SB, 0 CS, -0.5 ZR, 1.003 ZR, 1.7 WAR

Grade: C+ / On one hand, a fine first half that gave us reason to believe he would easily be an everyday force. On the other hand, a disappointing second half that pushed him to the bench by September. Still not sure where we land on him.

RF - Terry Puhl - 209 PA, .309/.330/.426, 12 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 27 R, 11 K, 7 BB, 7 SB, 3 CS, 0.2 ZR, .990 EFF, 1.0 WAR

Grade: B / A very necessary piece for the stretch run who tied together the offense. Not great defensively, but Wilson wasn’t really doing it, either.

RF - Jeff Stone - 94 PA, .250/.351/.362, 3 2B, 3 3B, 7 RBI, 10 R, 15 K, 4 BB, 8 SB, 2 CS, 0.4 WAR

Grade: B- / When he was on, he was on, and 0.4 WAR in 94 PA is good. Wish we gave him more chances, though.

Outlook: The tough position. The most likely scenario is a Wilson and Stone platoon to start 1986, but we could try to deal one of these guys. Or we could shift Stone to left field and Hayes to center, but that feels like moving backwards just to force a guy who we sort of probably believe in. Get back to me on this.

Now, the pitchers:

Staring Pitcher

SP - John Denny - 234.2 IP, 15-9, 2.68 ERA, 2.94 FIP, 145 K, 68 BB, 6.8 WAR

Grade: A / Honestly, Denny was a rock, especially late in the season. A few too many walks, but enormous down the stretch.

SP - Charles Hudson - 226.2 IP, 18-5, 2.30 ERA, 2.77 FIP, 140 K, 51 BB, 7.2 WAR

Grade: A / An awesome season for Charlie, who may just head into 1986 as the staff ace.

SP - Scott Sanderson - 220.2 IP, 16-10, 3.18 ERA, 3.40 FIP, 142 K, 47 BB, 5.0 WAR

Grade: B+ / A great pickup, thank you very much. Reliable, held it down, and even turned it on late.

SP - Steve Carlton - 197.1 IP, 11-8, 2.92 ERA, 3.37 FIP, 122 K, 68 BB, 4.5 WAR

Grade: B / At this point I’m really happy Lefty continues to battle and give quality starts.

SP - Kevin Gross - 142.1 IP, 11-3, 1.83 ERA, 3.16 FIP, 92 K, 29 BB, 3.7 WAR

Grade: A / What a crummy injury for Gross, because he was having a near-Cy Young season.

SP - Joe Johnson - 57.1 IP, 1-5, 4.08 ERA, 5.03 FIP, 19 K, 20 BB, 0.1 WAR

Grade: C- / Charitable, maybe, but he gave us some gutsy innings down the stretch. Definition of a spot starter.

SP - Kelly Downs - 19 IP, 0-3, 7.11 ERA, 6.47 FIP, 13 K, 12 BB, -0.2 WAR

Grade: F / When is he going to put it together in the majors?

SP - Mike Maddux - 11.2 IP, 0-0, 1.54 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 8 K, 7 BB, 0.1 WAR

Grade: C+ / Not a lot of time out there, but some good, some bad.

Outlook: For now the rotation in 1986 is Denny, Hudson, Sanderson, Carlton, Gross. But Blaise Ilsley is going to threaten that order, while Johnson and Maddux should both get some spring looks. Downs is out probably through spring training. I’m not sure if I’ll be tempted to grab a starter in free agency - maybe late on a minor league deal, though.

Relievers

RP - Bill Campbell - 67.1 IP, 4-4, 23 SV, 4 HLD, 2.94 ERA, 2.96 FIP, 42 K, 11 BB, 1.8 WAR

Grade: B / Weird that he finished with an ERA under 3.00. Was removed from the closer and top setup roles this year, but I guess he was effective!

RP - Larry Andersen - 66 IP, 6-6, 11 SV, 10 HLD, 3.55 ERA, 2.26 FIP, 51 K, 20 BB, 2.4 WAR

Grade: A- / Got hurt by defense. Andersen was good, but he isn’t a closer. Still need that one.

RP - Donnie Moore - 50.1 IP, 6-2, 1 SV, 8 HLD, 4.65 ERA, 3.01 FIP, 44 K, 19 BB, 0.9 WAR

Grade: C / At times he was lights out, but at times he also stunk up the joint. Was a non-entity late in our run.

RP - Tug McGraw - 36.1 IP, 3-0, 3 HLD, 6.44 ERA, 4.24 FIP, 14 K, 25 BB, 0.1 WAR

Grade: D / The 4.24 FIP amazes me. But more power to Tug, I guess. Congrats on the career.

RP - Kent Tekulve - 33 IP, 4-3, 9 SV, 2 HLD, 3.55 ERA, 3.20 FIP, 11 K, 12 BB, 0.6 WAR

Grade: C+ / Mostly did his job after we acquired him, but man, he wasn’t at all a stud (in my favor, neither were any of the other arms we were looking at before the deadline).

RP - Paul Assenmacher - 31 IP, 0-2, 1 HLD, 3.48 ERA, 4.19 FIP, 31 K, 13 BB, 0.1 WAR

Grade: C+ / I liked Assenmacher’s performance this year, but he stacked up a few too many terrible outings.

RP - Don Carman - 29 IP, 1-2, 1 SV, 5 HLD, 4.97 ERA, 4.49 FIP, 23 K, 12 BB, 0.0 WAR

Grade: D+ / Couldn’t hold onto his spot and spent more time in Portland.

RP - Kenneth Walker - 22.2 IP, 2 SV, 6.75 ERA, 5.62 FIP, 19 K, 13 BB, -0.3 WAR

Grade: D- / So, so raw.

RP - Todd Worrell - 12 IP, 2-2, 9.00 ERA, 5.17 FIP, 8 K, 6 BB, -0.1 WAR

Grade: C- / Mostly pitched in mop-up situations, so it’s a bit unfair to tag him with anything below a C-.

RP - Chuck Cary - 4.2 IP, 3.86 ERA, 4.12 FIP 5 K, 1 BB, 0.0 WAR

Grade: INC / Not enough innings.

Outlook: Somehow Dick Howser made it work enough to get to game six of the NLCS. And now Campbell becomes a free agent, McGraw is retired, and Tekulve is also hitting the market. That means it’s a miscast Andersen, a mediocre Moore, and a bunch of young guys. I might grab a veteran, but honestly, I’m more inclined to run with Assenmacher, Carman, another young guy, and maybe a long man. We’ll see how I feel in November.

And as for coaching, Howser gets an A+ for turning this team into a first-division club with a snap of the fingers, pitching coach Juan Casado gets an B+ for getting the best out of his young starters (the ‘pen is another story), and hitting coach Dan Stone gets an A- for helming the league’s top offense, though the league in general had a down year at the plate. (Also, I am a little concerned that my youngest hitters struggled mightily this season, but it’s not enough to make any generalizations.)