April 15, 1985
Game 1985-6: Wrigley Field - POSTPONED
A one-gate doubleheader has been set for Tuesday, starting at 11:30 a.m. We’ll sit Mike Schmidt in game one for Mike Diaz, then we’ll see what happens for game two.
April 16, 1985
Game 1985-6: Wrigley Field - Phillies 5, Cubs 1 / 5-1
Another solid pitching performance from Lefty, as he strikes out seven in 7.2 innings of one-run ball. He also hits a home run, as do Glenn Wilson and Von Hayes. With a left-hander on the hill for Chicago, UL Washington moves to the two-hole, and he adds two hits.
The game ends at just before 2:15, so first pitch for game two will be around 2:55. And we have about four hours to get it in.
For this late-afternoon game, Howser wants Bill Lyons to get a start, so he comes in for UL Washington. Meanwhile, Tommy Thompson subs Darren Daulton, who has yet to collect a hit this season.
Game 1985-7: Wrigley Field - Phillies 8, Cubs 6 / 6-1
Whew! First, a bone to pick with Dick Howser: John Denny goes just four, giving up five runs off eight hits. Then comes Tug McGraw, but Howser sticks with him for three innings, instead of turning to Don Carman or Kenneth Walker, who have yet to pitch this season. We’ll have to have a brief, functional chat.
That said, wow. Down to our last strike and down 6-5, Mike Schmidt strokes a two-run double to hand us the lead. This is all because of speed: Von Hayes singles, Paul Molitor guts out an infield single, and Juan Samuel hits a tailor-made double-play ball, but beats the throw to put two on for Schmidt. And because Sammy can fly, he scores from first on Schmidty’s double.
Then Glenn Wilson, who previously hit his fourth homer of the season, doubles Schmidt home. Wilson is hitting .333/.394/.867 with 4 HR and 10 RBI in the early going.
An awesome doubleheader sweep ending at 6:30 p.m., just before the sun creeps down at Wrigley.
April 17, 1985
We go up against 19-year-old pitcher Greg Maddux, making his second career start.
Game 1985-8: Wrigley Field - Phillies 14, Cubs 5 / 7-1
Yeah. Hell yeah. Mike Schmidt hits his third homer, a three-run blast, in the third. Juan Samuel has a four-hit day (and four-run day) that includes a triple and three stolen bases. Charles Hudson pitches a sterling seven, striking out five, while Kenneth Walker - who hadn’t pitched in two weeks - gives up three runs. I don’t blame him at all.
Heading into an off day with the Mets on tap, we’re 7-1, the best record in baseball. Wow.
April 18, 1985
On the off day, let’s take stock of what the hell is happening here. Eight games, yes, but an awesome run of eight games, at least offensively. As a team we’re hitting .279/.348/.497. Unsustainable, of course, but still, .279/.348/.497!
We lead the majors in stolen bases with 16, and 10 of them are by Juan Samuel, who has been caught just once. Sammy also has scored nine runs, but that’s second on the team to Von Hayes, who has crossed the plate 10 times in eight games. Hayes has a .385/.400/.744 line and is tied for the National League in home runs with four.
Mike Schmidt, of course, has been outstanding. He’s hitting an insane .520/.588/1.040 with 3 HR, 4 2B, and 15 RBI already, accumulating 1.1 WAR. Maybe the move to first base freed him up at the plate?
Getting consistent playing time, Glenn Wilson is tearing it up, hitting .303/.395/.788. He’s tied with Hayes for the NL lead at four homers, driving in 10 while also doubling four times. Newbie Paul Molitor has stepped right in: .306/.359/.361 with two doubles and six runs scored. UL Washington? Also not slowing: .367/.424/.633 with five extra-base hits and six runs scored.
The only poor performance at the plate is from Darren Daulton, who has started 0-for-20. Not great, and I may give him some additional time off just to collect himself. But he does have eight walks already (a .276 OBP with no hits is pretty damn astonishing).
The one piece of bad news is both Von Hayes and Paul Molitor are showing to be poor defenders so far. Hayes has committed two errors in left field, putting up a bad -0.8 ZR and .941 EFF, while Molitor has an error, plus a -0.3 ZR and .918 EFF. To his credit, Mike Schmidt has been terrific at first base (+1.0 ZR, 1.189 EFF), and Daulton has done everything else well (+1.1 ZR, a ridiculous 61.5 RTO%).
In short: The offense is firing on all cylinders, and regression will come, but I’m pretty happy with the defensive showing, and pitching has been pretty good.
April 19, 1985
A blow for the Mets, who lose Sid Fernandez with a ruptured finger tendon. Out for about three to four months. Meanwhile, we play New York. Dwight Gooden first. Goodie.
Game 1985-9: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 4, Mets 1 / 8-1
We solve Gooden by getting to him early. In the first, Paul Molitor doubles, then Juan Samuel triples, then Mike Schmidt homers. Glenn Wilson adds an insurance RBI later. Kevin Gross dances around trouble for six innings, giving up just one run despite 10 baserunners. Donnie Moore and Larry Andersen finish the deed cleanly.
April 20, 1985
Dick Howser gives Mike Diaz the start at catcher today, with Darren Daulton on an 0-fer. He might go with Tommy Thompson tomorrow.
Game 1985-10: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 5, Mets 0 / 9-1
This might just be the best 10-game stretch to start a season in Phillies history. What a complete effort today. A pitcher’s duel for six innings, with Ron Darling and Scott Sanderson trading barbs. Then in the seventh, Mike Schmidt reaches on an error, Mike Diaz singles him to third, and a Glenn Wilson groundout opens the scoring. Then UL Washington doubles to plate another. An inning later, it’s speed: Bruce Fields walks and steals second, then gets to third on a grounder and scores on an error. Schmidt and Wilson further make the Mets pay. This team is something so far.
Meanwhile at Milwaukee’s County Stadium, Texas’ Buddy Bell raps his 2,000th career hit. At just age 33, he might be able to close in on 3,000.
April 21, 1985
Bill Lyons gets the start in center field, while Tommy Thompson catches.
Game 1985-11: Veterans Stadium - Phillies 13, Mets 1 / 10-1
This is pretty incredible. We sweep the Mets by outscoring them 22-2 in three games. Mike Schmidt continues his torrid ways with his fifth home run of the season, going 3-for-4. Juan samuel (2-for-3) adds a homer, his first. UL Washington drives in four in a 2-for-5 day, and Paul Molitor picks up two hits. Steve Carlton throws a breezy eight innings. I’m stumped. We’re playing out of our minds.
Meanwhile around the league, this may be the year of the shutout. Tom Seaver, for the White Sox, blanks the Red Sox, while Orel Hershiser goes all nine and keeps the Padres off the board. It seems daily there are at least two shutouts.
As the night comes, we learn that - once again - Mike Schmidt has won National League Player of the Week honors. Hitting .526 over the week with 3 HR and 14 RBI, he’s now at a ridiculous .486/.553/1.000 for the season. That’s a 1.000 slugging percentage, by the way. Other season totals: 5 HR, 4 2B, 20 RBI and 13 R in 10 games. 1.5 WAR. 10 games. Schmidt leads the National League in AVG, HR, RBI, OBP, SLG, OPS, WAR, TB, ISO, OPS+, and wOBA. This is stunning. (Juan Samuel leads the league in 3B and SB, Glenn Wilson leads the league in 2B and XBH, and Von Hayes leads the league in R.
In the AL, Kevin Buckley of Texas wins Player of the Week honors by hitting .538 with 3 HR, 7 RBI, and 5 R.
Here are the power rankings:
1. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES - 10-1
2. Los Angeles Dodgers - 9-4
3. Milwaukee Brewers - 7-3
4. Detroit Tigers - 7-3
5. St. Louis Cardinals - 7-3
How we rank in the National League:
1st - R, OPS, batWAR, wOBA, HR, SB, staERA
2nd - AVG, OBP, BR, RA
3rd - FIP, pitWAR, ZR
4th - bulERA
5th - EFF
Across the majors, our +59 run differential outpaces second place (Minnesota) by more than half (+27).