June 10, 1985
We find out that Dave Stegman is slow to recover; it’ll be another week, at least. I figured this anyway. No need to rush him.
As for the team, it’s a four-game set against the Mets. No Dwight Gooden, however. Tonight, Mike Diaz and Dave Concepcion get starts over Darren Daulton and UL Washington.
Game 1985-54: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 7, Mets 4 / 36-18
Kevin Gross stops the bleeding a bit with a 6.2-inning, two-run performance. The offense finally gets going too, with Glenn Wilson going 3-for-4 with a home run and 2 RBI. Mike Schmidt adds homer No. 14 and drives in two. Juan Samuel has three hits and three stolen bases, upping his total to 28.
June 11, 1985
Game 1985-55: Veterans Stadium - Mets 8, Phillies 5 / 36-19
This is not our best stretch of baseball. More poor starting pitching - this time Scott Sanderson gives up six in 3.2 innings - and Wally Backman torches us with five hits. Paul Molitor hits his first home run as a Phillie, and Mike Schmidt triples, but otherwise we’re scuffling.
June 12, 1985
Jeff Stone isn’t hitting too well, so Dick is sitting him for a game. Maybe two. Kid is young.
Game 1985-56: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 10, Mets 6 / 37-19
Von Hayes homers and notches four hits in this win. Paul Molitor adds two hits, as does Bruce Fields, including a second-inning double. Dave Concepcion brings home two with a late double. Steve Carlton pitches well (6 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 4 K, 2 BB), but Tug McGraw makes it too close too late (4 ER in 1.2 IP).
At this point McGraw (17.2 IP, 7.64 ERA) and Kenneth Walker (16 IP, 7.31) are the obvious underperformers in our bullpen. The latter has an option (OK, so does McGraw, but he won’t accept a demotion), and we have a few candidates for a callup: the recently sent-down Don Carman (1 IP, 0 ER in AAA), Todd Worrell (7.1 IP, 0.00 ERA in AAA) and lefty Chuck Cary (17 IP, 1.59 ERA). John McLarnan (9.2 IP, 2.79 ERA) has also been effective. Carman is the most developed to this point. We’re debating what to do, possibly making a move before heading out to Pittsburgh after tomorrow’s game.
June 13, 1985
Would love to get three of four against the Mets here. Jeff Stone is back in the lineup, while Mike Diaz starts for Glenn-bo.
Game 1985-57: Veterans Stadium - Mets 7, Phillies 3 / 37-20
Ugh. We tie it 2-2, then tie it 3-3, then Larry Andersen of all people gives up four in the eighth. Just not getting much from our pitching these days. Paul Molitor continues something of a hot swing, going 2-for-4.
And with the Expos finishing off a four-game sweep of the lowly Cubs, we’re now in second place for the first time all season.
(By the way, the Expos are currently on a 21-3 run. Yes, that’s right: 21-3.)
So, anyway, time to change things up in the bullpen:
- RP Todd Worrell promoted to MLB Philadelphia
- RP Kenneth Walker demoted to AAA Portland
We decide it’s time to give Worrell a chance. Why not?
June 14, 1985
Your third Blaise Ilsley start in Clearwater: 9 IP (CG), 1 ER, 4 H, 8 K, 2 BB.
This is absurd, right? His current season in the Florida State League: 27 IP (3 GS), 2 ER, 12 H, 32 K, 3 BB. I’m not quite ready to just push him to Reading, but I notice Ilsley has one, possibly two starts left before the Florida State League midseason break. I decide to head down to Clearwater to catch the next start (planned for June 18 against the Tampa Tarpons). Heck. I want to check in on this 43-13 team anyway, but if Ilsley dazzles me, he might be heading to Reading after the midseason break.
Back with the MLB squad, and we could use a complete game from Charles Hudson tonight in Pittsburgh.
Game 1985-58: Three Rivers Stadium - Phillies 7, Pirates 6 (10) / 38-20
A roller coaster. We get up 3-0, then fall behind 5-3, as Charles Hudson has his worst start of the season (3.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 1 K, 1 BB). We tie it after a UL Washington home run and Glenn Wilson single, then in the 10th, load the bases for Jeff Stone, who deposits a go-ahead double. Big smack. Good win.
Meantime, the Expos lose 2-0 to the Mets, putting us back up a half-game.
June 15, 1985
Game 1985-59: Three Rivers Stadium - Phillies 6, Pirates 2 / 39-20
One we needed. Both teams no-hit for the first few innings until we break through in the fifth (single, walk, error, sacrifice fly). Then Mike Schmidt hits a home run, a Von Hayes RBI single, a Paul Molitor RBI single, and a Glenn Wilson two-run home run. Kevin Gross (8.1 IP, 2.ER, 5 H, 5 K, 1 BB) improves to 10-0.
June 16, 1985
New all-star update: Mike Schmidt continues to lap the field in the voting (602,167 votes; second place overall in the NL is Willie Mcgee at 509,398). Juan Samuel stays in second among second basemen, while Von Hayes keeps his lead among left fielders. Charles Hudson hangs onto fifth among starting pitchers.
Also this morning, Billy Sample’s agent calls to say his client would love an extension for 1986. Sample has 28 plate appearances this season, and while he’s been good (.333/.429/.458), it doesn’t necessarily warrant an extension.
Game 1985-60: Three Rivers Stadium - Phillies 7, Pirates 2 / 40-20
A refreshing sweep of the defending champions getting us to 40 wins and to the elite .667 winning percentage. It’s a Schmidty day, with our MVP slamming his 16th home run. Juan Samuel adds his eighth. Glennbo contributes two hits and 3 RBI to stay in the conversation. So far, good returns from Todd Worrell, who pitches in a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
And with Montreal losing another to the Mets, we’re up 1.5 games.
The power rankings:
1. Detroit Tigers - 41-18
2. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES - 40-20
3. Montreal Expos - 39-22
4. St. Louis Cardinals - 36-23
5. Cincinnati Reds - 37-24
In the AL East, it’s the Tigers who hold the big lead, up 5.5 on Toronto, 6.5 on Boston, 8.5 on Milwaukee, and 9.5 on the Yankees. Meanwhile in the AL West, California (who would be in sixth place in the AL East) is up four on Kansas City and Minnesota, with Texas at 4.5 behind. Defending American League champion Seattle is struggling at 6.5 back, victimized by a slew of pitching injuries.
In the NL West, Cincinnati holds a five-game lead on Los Angeles. And back at home, we’re up 1.5 on Montreal, while St. Louis sits 3.5 back, and the Mets are six back.