May 28, 1984
Time to make some minor league moves:
CF Todd Soares promoted to AA Reading
RF Jose Leiva demoted to A Peninsula
Obvious. Soares, 22, a 1984 fourth-round draft pick out of college, has been incredible (207 PA, .315/.396/.569, 23 XBH, 3.1 WAR), both offensively and defensively. Leiva, 20, could use more playing time and seasoning at an appropriate level for his current ability.
1B Randy Day promoted to AAA Portland
1B Ronnie Gideon promoted to A Peninsula
1B Tim M Corcoran released
Corcoran, 31, has maxed out his ability and has nowhere to go, as now Len Matuszek, John Russell, John Wockenfuss, Mike Diaz and Mark Funderburk are all above him on the 1B depth chart. Day, 23, has been spectacular (215 PA, .266/.340/.531, 24 XBH, 2.2 WAR) and jumps from A to AAA, as 20-year-old Francisco Melendez gets a little more time at first at AA Reading.
SP David Bulls promoted to AA Reading
SP Scott Madden promoted to A Peninsula
SP Jay Davisson released
Bulls, 23, has been the top pitcher in the farm system thus far (86.1 IP, 2.29 ERA, 58 K, 19 BB). Madden is 21 and gets a shot from extended spring training, while Davisson falls hard from AAA and meets the end of the line.
Game 1984-47 - Veterans Stadium: Phillies 2, Giants 0 / 22-25
A superb outing from John Denny (9 IP, 9 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 1 BB), and two late runs via the heart of the order get us a win.
May 29, 1984
Tough news from Milwaukee: Reliever Rollie Fingers is out for the year with a torn labrum. Something to keep in mind.
Game 1984-48 - Veterans Stadium: Giants 1, Phillies 0 (13) / 22-26
A repeat of the night before, but with a different ending, as Dusty Baker’s homer wins it for San Francisco in a tough-luck loss.
May 30, 1984
Garry Maddox, who is hitting .167/.211/.222 in limited time, is upset with his lack of playing time. I feel for the veteran, but Von Hayes needs to play nearly every day. That said, maybe I’ll look for a couple ways to get Maddox in some games coming up. I’m not in a place to let him go or anything (I have no other playable center fielders, and the AAA depth isn’t ready); plus, he’s a bit of a small icon here, now spending his 10th year in Philly.
Game 1984-49 - Veterans Stadium: Giants 9, Phillies 1 / 22-27
Jerry Koosman gives up four in six innings, as his ERA now stands at 5.20. Not great.
May 31, 1984
Before the new series against the Cubs, let’s see how our players rank on the National League leaderboards:
Hitting
Home Runs
T2. Mike Schmidt - 12
Runs Batted In
5. Mike Schmidt - 31
Slugging Percentage
2. Mike Schmidt - .511
On Base + Slugging
5. Mike Schmidt - .859
Wins Above Replacement
T6. Mike Schmidt - 1.8
Doubles
T3. Juan Samuel - 13
Triples
3. Juan Samuel - 4
Total Bases
T3. Mike Schmidt - 93
Stolen Bases
1. Juan Samuel - 21
T6. Von Hayes - 14
Strikeouts
2. Juan Samuel - 54
Sacrifice Hits
T3. Charles Hudson - 7
Extra-Base Hits
T2. Mike Schmidt - 21
Isolated Power
1. Mike Schmidt - .253
6. Len Matuszek - .180
OPS+
7. Mike Schmidt - 138
Pitching
Wins
T5. Kevin Gross - 6
Losses
T3. Steve Carlton - 7
T5. Charles Hudson - 6
Saves
3. Al Holland - 10
Walks / 9 IP
4. Jerry Koosman - 1.6
Save Percentage
T5. Al Holland - .833
Holds
T1. Bill Campbell - 5
Schmidt is among MVP candidates, as per usual, while Samuel continues to be an exciting, young, reckless talent. I love it.
If I’m handicapping the MVP races, in the NL it’s likely Leon Durham of the Cubs in front (.338/.412/.576, 12 HR, 43 RBI), with Schmidt and maybe Keith Hernandez of the Mets next in line (.357/.455/.497, 5 HR, 27 RBI). I’d also consider Mets rookie pitcher Dwight Gooden, who looks to be the easy Cy Young favorite (6-3, 2.46 ERA, 112 K, 36 BB, 3 SHO, 5 CG).
In the AL, it’s a tough call, but I’d probably lean toward Wade Boggs in Boston (.372/.442/.485, 2.9 WAR). Also in contention are Tony Fernandez in Toronto (.361/.417/.515, 3.4 WAR) and Rickey Henderson in Oakland (.312/.411/.500, 9 HR, 22 RBI, 26 SB). For Cy Young, maybe it’s Dave Stieb in Toronto (7-3, 2.31 ERA, 79 K, 21 BB) or Ron Guidry in New York (7-1, 2.59 ERA, 47 K, 18 BB).
Game 1984-50 - Veterans Stadium: Cubs 8, Phillies 4 / 22-28
Five Cubs homer in this game, including Tom Lombarski (1st this season), Thad Bosley (who has five this year), and the pitcher Tim Grachen, who was in AA to start the season.
June 1, 1984
Made a move:
2B Steve Kiefer promoted to AAA Portland
2B Rusty Hamric demoted to AA Reading
Kiefer, acquired in the Ozzie Virgil trade, was hitting .309/.337/.576 with 22 XBH in 176 AA plate appearances this season. He was also contributing above-average defense at second base. Last year he spent the whole campaign in AA, struggling a bit but still providing power while playing out of position at shortstop. With no real prospect at second base in AAA Portland, it made the decision easy. Hamric is basically tapped out, and once another infielder moves up from A-ball, he might be gone for good.
Game 1984-51 - Veterans Stadium: Cubs 9, Phillies 5 / 22-29
A boneheaded performance by the defense, committing three errors. Meanwhile the Cubs are suddenly an offensive juggernaut, as former Phillie Gary Matthews homers against us.
June 2, 1984
Game 1984-52 - Veterans Stadium: Cubs 7, Phillies 5 / 22-30
Up 5-4 in the ninth, and then another disaster. Al Holland’s third blown save of the season as quad-A type Dan Rohn strikes the winning hit. Glenn Wilson goes 2-for-5 with 3 RBI.
And after the game I get a message from Holland: He wants out, since the team isn’t contending. Ha. Good time to send that, Mr. T. That said, I’ll have to entertain the request at some point. Also, checking in with the clubhouse, it seems everything is “happy,” though Holland is said to be “selfish.” Well, yup.
June 3, 1984
Game 1984-53 - Veterans Stadium: Phillies 4, Cubs 3 / 23-30
Finally, a win over the Cubs. Charles Hudson goes into the ninth (8 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 3 K, 1 BB), while Von Hayes adds a big two-run single.
Power rankings are in, and we’re 17th. The top-five:
1. Toronto Blue Jays - 36-18
2. Detroit Tigers - 33-18
3. Kansas City Royals - 31-21
4. Milwaukee Brewers - 31-22
5. Los Angeles Dodgers - 31-24