Is Homer Pawn on the Hot Seat?

[Honorable_Pawn]

The Philadelphia Trumpet
Wilbur Flexor, journalist








June 1, 1966



Philadelphia--A shadow looms in the air. A feeling of despair pervades the mind. And then there is always the injury. The common refrain on the radio is that all teams face injuries. That it is part of the game. That depth of the 40-man roster is a fundamental expectation for a GM of the PBA.

So I ask you, the fan, what is your opinion of the LFO now?

We all remember the state of the organization when Homer Pawn took over the team in ’60. It was a squad of aging journeymen finishing last year after year. So how can you help us if we were excited by a 2nd place finish in just 3 short years? We all love that Mr. Pawn brought 3B Cy Becker out of retirement to be the hitting coach. It was all butterflies and daises.

But let’s not forget how that change was orchestrated. Mr. Pawn came in and unloaded the farm system for a hit-squad of All-Stars and Aces. They were all in their prime and it appeared that we had a dynasty in the making. In 1963, the team had won its first Premier Cup. Champagne was the toast of the town.

So I ask you, the fan, what is your opinion of the LFO now?







What are your feelings of the hang-over of ’64? The Legends lost veteran ace All-Star SP Oscar Tellez for the season during spring training. It was a terrible blow for the team, no doubt. Let's face it, the entire season was one big disabled list. Because of this many excused the season and the LFO was not held accountable. Mr. Pawn was given a pass. How could you not?

Ok, there was a set-back. We understand that. But how many set-backs can be allowed as this veteran team ages? Can we afford another set-back after the disaster that was 1964?

Well, 1965 was perhaps the biggest let-down for any team in the history of the PBA when the Legends finished the season with 104 wins yet finished 1 game back. We held the division lead with 10 games remaining. We all know what happened next. We lost 7 out of our last 10 while Baltimore swept into the lead finishing 7-3.

Utter heart break.

Over the offseason, Mr. Pawn traded away SP Oscar Tellez for what many consider to be middling alent. He traded away All-Star LF Sammy Sheffield. He traded away 1B/DH Freddy Fauteux.

What did we get in return?

At 27-23 and sinking fast how do you feel about the depth of our 40-man roster now?

Don’t get me wrong. I am eternally grateful for the Cup in ’63. That was one of the greatest moments of my career covering this town. But we have to be realistic. What would have happened if we hadn’t brought in all of the veterans? How would the home grown kids have turned out? These are important questions the fan must ask. This is an important question Owner Charlie Kerbeck needs to ask. Did Homer Pawn trade away the future for a short window of opportunity? Is it just me, or does the window look like it is about to close?

What is the most-fundamental expectation of a GM? Is it to build a 40-man roster with enough depth to win the division? Or something else?

Final question.

Are you ready to have to go through another long rebuild if this dazzling experiment of Homer Pawn fails?

[Honorable_Pawn]

Sometimes it takes a Legend to get the job done.

[Honorable_Pawn]

[TheMaus2]

Has your league evolved at all in the past few years? The W-L records deserve a playoff spot, IMO

[Honorable_Pawn]

No, I control all of that manually.

[Honorable_Pawn]

Some good match-ups today.

1. Ex-Legend ace Oscar Tellez on the bump for Atlanta tonight in a big game for both teams.

2. Young fire-baller Antwan Grissom on the mound for D.C.

3. Battle of Eastern Baseball League division leaders in Tampa.

4. The Rats got a 12-game losing streak on the line.

[Honorable_Pawn]

[Honorable_Pawn]

Originally Posted by TheMaus2

Has your league evolved at all in the past few years? The W-L records deserve a playoff spot, IMO

Oh...

I misunderstood.

I have the league settings such as hitting, pitching, economy at default 1966 stats. Next year it will be 1967 default stats and so on.

As far as league structure is concerned I have not made any changes since inception of the PBA in 1950.

But there is trouble brewing in Louisiana. Apparently, a qualified buyer has emerged in San Jose. But it is all rumor at the moment as far as I know.

[Honorable_Pawn]

Big game from Munge. Carlos Patino responded well moving up to the top of the order. The whole line-up really came back to life providing glimpses of what could be.

But the big game from Nathaniel Lennon was the true-story.

An ace on almost any other staff.

[Honorable_Pawn]

[Honorable_Pawn]

[Honorable_Pawn]

[Honorable_Pawn]

Decided to flip-flop Patino and Gonzales again. It worked well yesterday.

[Honorable_Pawn]

Offense shut down by some rookie kid.

[Honorable_Pawn]

Transactions after the game.

RF/1B Tom Bagby optioned to AAA.




All-Star 1B Ron Salas, 28 activated from the 14-day disabled list.

[Honorable_Pawn]

[Honorable_Pawn]

[Honorable_Pawn]

Our line-up against lefties. We tend to struggle against lefties. I pretty much have my best defense on the infield (except 1B) and my best defense in the outfield for pitcher, Jaime Jones.

My instructions to the manager indicate that we go to the bullpen early if Jones gets into trouble. Our bullpen is well-rested after the last 3 starts from Williams, Lennon and Mazzone.

Young C Norm Ross will get the start this afternoon. I have designed the team to platoon at C. This is the first real opportunity in the PBA for Ross. He was acquired as part of the trade that sent future Hall-of-Famer
SP Oscar Tellez packing... I just couldn't trust that shoulder anymore at the price.

With Ron Salas back from the DL I'll start Munge at 1st. I want to make sure Ron's 1st day back is against a righty.

Aside from substitutions, manager Oscar Rivera, calls the game.

[Honorable_Pawn]

Nice day, clear skies. 80*

[Honorable_Pawn]

Good win.

C Norm Ross didn't get a hit but he caught 2 base stealers.