June 18, 1984 - Trammell Provides the Fireworks

Game #838 - New York Yankees, 1 @ Detroit Tigers, 4

Yankees lefty Dennis Rasmussen got himself into a jam in the bottom of the third when Barbaro Garbey singled and then Tom Brookens walked.  Garbey moved to third on a fly-out by Lou Whitaker, but it didn't matter as Alan Trammell plated both with a triple!  Chet Lemon was up next, and he grounded to shortstop Bobby Meacham, but Trammell took off for home.  He beat the throw to make it 3-0, Detroit.

In the bottom of the fourth the Tigers added an insurance run off a solo homer from Larry Herndon.  Dan Petry, meanwhile, was locked in.  He made it through the first seven innings without a Yankee crossing home plate.  But in the top of the eighth, with one out, Lou Whitaker mishandled a Meacham bunt-for-a-hit attempt and then Ken Griffey doubled to move him to third.  Dave Winfield singled next to break up the shutout.  Petry got the hook and in came Willie Hernandez, the best reliever in Statis Pro.  He recorded the next five outs to earn the save.

Winning Pitcher - Dan Petry
Losing Pitcher - Dennis Rasmussen
Save - Willie Hernandez
Player of the Game - Alan Trammell, 2-3, 3B, 2 RBI, R, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Dave Winfield, Alan Trammell

June 18, 1984 - Out Witt

Game #837 - Texas Rangers, 0 @ California Angels, 6

There was no rest for the weary on this day - while most of the league had this Monday off, four AL teams were duty-bound to play ball.

Both Dave Stewart and Mike Witt impressed early.  There was no scoring until the bottom of the fourth.  Doug DeCinces led of with a triple and later scored on a Juan Beniquez double.  Califonia tacked on two more when Rob Picciolo reached on a fielding error and then scored on a yet another Brian Downing homer.  Downing has been torrid of late.

The wheels came completely off for Stewart in the sixth after walking Picciolo with the bases loaded.  Dickie Noles replaced him but gave up a 2-RBI double to Rod Carew.  That's all Mike Witt needed, as he went the distance for a complete game shutout with eight K's.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Witt
Losing Pitcher - Dave Stewart
Player of the Game - Mike Witt, CG SHO, 8 K's, 8 H's, 2 BB's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

June 17, 1984 - Evans Pounds Blue Jays into 2nd Place

Game #836 - Boston Red Sox, 8 @ Toronto Blue Jays, 1

With the Detroit Tigers winning earlier in the day for a virtual tie with Toronto, the Blue Jays needed to handle business against the Red Sox to keep a half game lead in the AL East.

Dwight Evans made that immediately difficult.

Luis Leal surrendered a lead-off single to Wade Boggs and Dewey then blasted a pitch out of the park to give Boston a quick 2-0 lead.  Toronto got half of that back in the bottom of the second when George Bell went yard with the bases empty.

Jackie Gutierrez singled home Rich Gedman in the top of the fourth to put Boston out front by two again.  But it was Dwight Evans' second two-run bomb of the game in the seventh that really broke the Blue Jays back.

Oil Can Boyd, meanwhile cruised through eight innings of work with only the Bell homer counting on the scoreboard.  As a 2-6 starter in Statis Pro, he is surprisingly 9-0 on the year. 

The Toronto loss means the Roar of 84 has been restored - the Tigers are back in first!

Winning Pitcher - Dennis Boyd
Losing Pitcher - Luis Leal
Player of the Game - Dwight Evans, 2-3, 2 HR's, Sac Fly, 5 RBI, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Wade Boggs, Jim Rice

June 17, 1984 - Hey Porter

Game #835 - New York Mets, 3 @ St. Louis Cardinals, 11

This game got ugly, fast.  Despite recording three strikeouts in the bottom of the first, Sid Fernandez allowed Lonnie Smith to score on a Willie McGee single.  He then proceeded to surrender five runs in the bottom of the third, including a three run bomb to George Hendrick.  Ed Lynch replace El Sid in the same inning...and ended up giving up another three-run bomb, this time to Darrell Porter.

About the only excitement New York drummed up was a pinch-hit, two-run home run to Rusty Staub in the eighth.  Starter Danny Cox had only allowed one unearned run prior to that.

Winning Pitcher - Danny Cox
Losing Pitcher - Sid Fernandez
Player of the Game - Darrell Porter, 3-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R's

June 17, 1984 - Texas Sweeps Seattle

Game #834 - Texas Rangers, 2 @ Seattle Mariners, 1

This game started as a pitcher's duel between southpaws Mark Langston and Mike Mason.  Both pitchers marched through the first four innings with relative ease, though it was Langston who was more dominant.

That changed in the top of the fifth.  George Wright led off with a single and then moved to second on a Curtis Wilkerson sacrifice bunt.  That put him into scoring position, and catcher Donnie Scott stroked a double to make it so.  Two batters later, Scott scored on a Billy Sample single.  Langston settled down after that and pitched a complete game...

...but it was all for not, because the Seattle offense couldn't get anything going.  Mason took a shutout into the bottom of the ninth, but surrendered back to back singles to  Jim Presley and Phil Bradley before getting yanked in favor of Texas closer Dave Schmidt.  Alvin Davis managed to plate Presley with a sacrifice fly, but Ken Phelps grounded out with a runner on second to end the game and give Texas the Seattle sweep.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Mason
Losing Pitcher - Mark Langston
Save - Dave Schmidt
Player of the Game - Donnie Scott, 3-3, 2B, RBI, R, BB

June 17, 1984 - Padres take three of four from Giants

Game #833 - San Francisco Giants, 1 @ San Diego Padres, 5

This game was basically over just as it started.  In the bottom of the first Giants starter Mike Krukow allowed two runners on base before Kevin McReynolds mashed a pitch into the bleachers for a quick 3-0 lead.  The Padres picked up another run in the second when Alan Wiggins plated Terry Kennedy after Kennedy led off with a double.

Dave Dravecky, unlike Krukow, was lights-out.  In fact, he was pitching a perfect game into the top of the fifth before a Kennedy error allowed Bob Brenly to reach.  Dravecky induced a double play grounder from Steve Nicosia, though, to keep the no-hitter intact.  But back to back walks to Al Oliver and Manny Trillo brought up Johnny LeMaster, French for "the master," and Johnny broke up the no-no and shutout with an RBI single.  Dravecky settled down after that and lasted eight innings with only three more hits.

Winning Pitcher - Dave Dravecky
Losing Pitcher - Mike Krukow
Player of the Game - Dravecky, 8IP, 4H's, 1ER, 6K's, 2BB's, 1-3
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Gwynn, Goose Gossage

Happy Trails...Chris Brown

The litany of injuries to the Giants this season caused Chris Brown to make his September call-up much earlier than expected.  He's already cashed in his 23 games on the year, his first MLB season in the real 1984.  Let's see how the late All-Star Giant did:

The Real 1984:  .286 AVG, .358 OBP, .405 SLG, 1HR, 11 RBI, 2 SB
Statis Pro 1984:  .296 AVG, .345 OBP., 395 SLG, 1HR, 7 RBI, 2 SB

Wow - that's pretty darn close to a mirror image.  Playing rookies in Statis Pro is pretty fun, I'm sad to see Brown go...

June 17, 1984 - Fisk Redeems in Extras

Game #832 - Chicago White Sox, 8 @ Oakland A's, 7 (12 innings!)

This game looked like it would be all-Chicago at the start.  In the top of the second the White Sox hit back to back homers thanks to Vance and Rudy Law (no relation).  Both came off Oakland starter Larry Sorensen.  Sorensen was still in the game in the top of the third when he allowed another five runs, giving up two more home runs this time (Ron Kittle and Vance Law again).

With a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third, Tom Seaver was cruising for the White Sox.  He retired the first eight hitters before Bill Almon successfully singled.  That brought up Rickey Henderson, who singled and moved Almon to third.  Rickey decided second base looked better than first, so he was off and running on Seaver's next pitch.  I guess Carlton Fisk was worried about a quick throw to keep Almon at first, because he air-mailed it into center field, allowing both runners to score.  Bruce Bochte tagged Seaver for a three-run bomb in the fourth to bring the A's back within in two, 7-5.

The Oakland bullpen (Chuck Rainey, Keith Atherton, Bill Caudill) kept the Chicago bats quiet through the ninth.  In the bottom half of the inning the White Sox had Ron Reed on the mound to close it out.  But a Dave Kingman double and an infield hit by Bochte put two runners on with just one out.  Tony Phillips dug in and...ripped a triple to tie the game!!!  Reed got the next two outs but this one headed to extra innings.  Free baseball!!!

Neither team did much over the next two innings, and Ray Burris was working his second inning in the top of the twelfth when Fisk stepped in.  He took Burris deeeeep to give Chicago the lead!  But in the bottom of the twelfth Oakland loaded the bases on Jerry Don Gleaton with just one out and slugger Dwayne Murphy at the plate.  It looked bad for the South Side, but Murphy tapped the ball to Gleaton for a 1-2-3 double play to end the game!

Winning Pitcher - Jerry Don Gleaton
Losing Pitcher - Ray Burris
Player of the Game - Fisk, go-ahead homer in the top of the 12th
Hall of Famers in the Game - Harold Baines, Carlton Fisk, Tom Seaver, Rickey Henderson, Joe Morgan

Happy Trails...Jerry Don Gleaton

As a kid I always thought his last name was "Don Gleaton" and his first name was Jerry.  Looking back now I can see that was fairly silly, but I never knew a "Jerry Don" before.  Let's see how the two J.D.'s compare!

The Real 1984:  3.44 ERA, 1-2, 2 SV, 4 K's, 4.90 FIP, 1.42 WHIP
Statis Pro 1984:  4.32 ERA, 3-0, 0 SV, 9 K's, 5.49 FIP, 1.32 WHIP

Gleaton pitched in eleven games (one start) and 18 innings in the real 1984, but my Statis Pro version logged 25 innings.  I must have used him more as a long reliever than a LOOGY.  He was a bit luckier in the real 1984 than in Statis Pro.  Still, he recorded three wins this season, including pulling one out of his hat in the bottom of the 12th in this game.  Thanks Jerry Don!  Al Jones will fill his spot in the bullpen.

June 17, 1984 - Ripken Yanks a Homer

Game #831 - Baltimore Orioles, 8 @ New York Yankees, 3

This game featured another lefty on lefty battle as Scott McGregor of the O's took on Bob Shirley of the Yankees.  It was a scoreless game until the top of the second.  That's when Floyd Rayford doubled and then Rick Dempsey homered to give Baltimore a 2-0 lead.

New York got on the scoreboard when Don Mattingly doubled with one out in the fourth and then Don Baylor singled him home. 

Fast forward to the top of the seventh and the score was still 2-1.  Joe Cowley relieved Shirley but gave up a single to Mike Young who, for some inexplicable reason is getting all the luck in the world this season on the fast action cards.  Cal Ripken was up next and ripped a ball into the left field stands to push the Orioles further ahead, 4-1. 

Don Mattingly managed a two-run homer in the eighth, but the Orioles tacked on four more runs in the last two innings of the game, including three off of Dave Righetti, to seal the deal.

Winning Pitcher - Scott McGregor
Losing Pitcher - Bob Shirley
Player of the Game - Cal Ripken, 3-4, HR, 2Rs, 2RBI, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, Dave Winfield

June 17, 1984 - Rhoden Tosses 2-Hit Gem

Game #830 - Pittsburgh Pirates, 8 @ Montreal Expos, 1

If you are a loyal and long time reader of this blog, you'll know the closest I've come to a no-hitter was an Orioles vs. White Sox game where Mike Flanagan lost it sometime in the seventh (I think) but completed the game for a one-hit shutout.

I thought this would be my second one-hit game of the year.

It snuck up on me because Rick Rhoden surrendered his first hit of the game in the bottom of the second inning.  Andre Dawson parked it to tie the game at one run apiece.  After that, Rhoden kept missing bats.  In fact, it was still a one-hitter with one out in the bottom of the ninth.  That's when Tim Wallach poked a single to crush my dreams.  Rhoden, though, got the next two batters out and that sealed the deal on an awesome game of pitching.

Winning Pitcher - Rick Rhoden
Losing Pitcher - Steve Rogers
Player of the Game - Rick Rhoden, CG, 2H's, 2K's, 3BB's, HB, 1-5, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Gary Carter, Andre Dawson

June 17, 1984 - Tiger Hall of Famers Do Damage

Game #829 - Detroit Tigers, 11 @ Milwaukee Brewers, 2

With just a half game to go to get a share of first place in the AL East, the Tigers wanted to finish their three-game sweep of the Brewers.  They had Jack Morris on the mound to face Mike Caldwell...or more like CaldNOTwell!

In the top of the first Rusty Kuntz made his Statis Pro season debut at the top of the lineup and immediately doubled.  Alan Trammell dug in after that an promptly launched one into the stands for a 2-0 lead.  In the top of the second Kuntz singled home Howard Johnson with two outs, and Trammell went deep AGAIN!

Meanwhile, Jack Morris mowed down the Milwaukee lineup.  Through eight innings he was all goose-eggs on the scoreboard with only four Brewers reaching base.  But in the bottom of the ninth he lost his shutout on a two-RBI single from Jim Gantner.  He struck out Roy Howell, though, for the complete game victory.

Winning Pitcher - Jack Morris
Losing Pitcher - Mike Caldwell
Player of the Game - Alan Trammell, 3-6, 2HRs, 4RBI, 3Rs
Hall of Famers in the Game - Alan Trammell, Jack Morris, Robin Yount, Ted Simmons (congrats to Simmons - pretty sure this is my first Brewers game since he was announced!)

June 17, 1984 - Leon: The Professional

Game #828 - Minnesota Twins, 5 @ Kansas City Royals, 6 (10 innings)

The Royals struck first in the bottom of the first when Frank White doubled home George Brett for a quick 1-0 lead.  But Dan Meier of the Twins tripled home Dave Engle in the top of the second to tie things up.

Minnesota tagged Bud Black for two runs in both the third and fourth inning.  Black didn't have his best stuff but he did hang in through seven innings. 

The score was 5-3 going into the bottom of the ninth after eight sturdy innings from Twins starter Mike Smithson.  But Ron Davis got into a heap of trouble after a Houston Jimenez error, a walk to U.L. Washington.  Willie Wilson grounded to Tim Teufel, but a throwing error allowed Washington to score with runners on second and third and no outs.  Brett came to the plate next, but grounded out weakly to Davis.  With one out and both runners still in scoring position, Daryl Motley singled to right field!  Washington scored to tie the game and Wilson got waved to home...where Tom Brunansky threw out his second runner of the game!!!  Jorge Orta struck out next and we were on to extra innings.

Mike Jones got out of a pickle in the top of the tenth to keep the game tied at five apiece.  In the bottom half of the inning Davis was still on the mound and struck out Frank White.  But Pat Sheridan tripled to establish the winning run 90 feet from home plate.  Pinch-hitter Leon Roberts replaced John Wathan, and Roberts...blasted the ball into the gap in center field!  Walk-off win for Kansas City!!!

Winning Pitcher - Mike Jones
Losing Pitcher - Ron Davis
Player of the Game - Leon Roberts, game-winning pinch-hit
Hall of Famers in the Game - George Brett

June 17, 1984 - Reynolds Raps

Game #827 - Los Angeles Dodgers, 11 @ Houston Astros, 5

Houston starter Mike LaCoss did himself no favors when he loaded the bases in the top of the first and then walked Mike Scioscia for the first run of the game.  R.J. Reynolds slapped a single to score the second.  Terry Puhl homered in the bottom of the first to cut it to 2-1.

The Dodgers struck again in the top of the third.  With two runners on Reynolds struck again, this time lacing a triple to plate two more runs.  Ken Landreaux then singled home Reynolds and it was 5-1.

Though the Astros managed a pair of runs in both the fourth and fifth inning, they didn't really matter as L.A. kept their foot on the gas and scored six more.  That included a two-run homer by Pedro Guerrero, who appears to be awakening from a season-long slump.  Reynolds ended the game a home run shy of the cycle.

The Houston bullpen got taxed after three different relievers had to toss multiple innings following LaCoss.  They'll be short-staffed in their next game. 

Winning Pitcher - Bob Welch
Losing Pitcher - Mike LaCoss
Player of the Game - R.J. Reynolds, 3-4, BB, 2B, 3B, 3R's, 3RBI

June 17, 1984 - Cubbies Win in Extras!

Game #826 Philadelphia Phillies, 5 @ Chicago Cubs, 6 (10 innings)

On paper this looked unfair, as ace Dennis Eckersley was going up against subpar pitcher Marty Bystrom.  But as I've typed on this blog...THAT'S WHY YOU PLAY THE GAME!

It was actually scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when backup catcher Steve Lake doubled home Keith Moreland.  Keith Moreland went to high school with my aunt.  That has nothing to do with this game, I just like to slip that into conversations from time to time.  Chicago added a second run in the fifth when Bob Dernier and Ryne Sandberg hit back to back doubles.

Eckersley cruised through the first five innings but the wheels fell off in the top of the sixth.  The bases were loaded with Mike Schmidt at the plate, and the FAC indicated a "clutch batting."  Schmidt knocked a bases-clearing double to give the Phillies the 3-2 lead!  Len Matuszek and Joe Lefebvre added RBI doubles to make the score 5-2 and send Eck to the showers.

It remained that way until the bottom of the eighth.  Bill Campbell got into trouble and loaded the bases before giving way to Larry Andersen.  Andersen gave up consecutive singles to Thad Bosley and Richie Hebner to bring Chicago within one!  Andersen got lifted in the top of the ninth for a pinch hitter, so the less reliable Don Carman had to try and close it out.  Dernier led of with a single, but Von Hayes bobbled it in center to allow Dernier to advance to second on the error.  Jody Davis came in as a pinch-hitter on his off day...and plated Dernier to tie the game!  Extra innings!!!

Warren Brusstar worked his second inning of relief and escaped a jam when he allowed two runners to reach base.  In the bottom of the tenth Carman was still on the hill since he was due up first in the top of the eleventh.  Steve Lake singled and the Larry Bowa walked.  Brusstar was due up but nobody was left on the Chicago bench.  George Frazier, the last available reliever in the pen, was a .286 hitter in the real 1984 so he got the call!  And he singled to load the bases!!!  That brought up Dernier, who punched a dribbler into an open spot within the drawn-in infield to plate Lake!  Cubs win!!!

Winning Pitcher - Warren Brusstar
Losing Pitcher - Don Carman
Player of the Game - Bob Dernier, 3-6, 3R's, 2B, GWRBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt, Ryne Sandberg, Dennis Eckersley

Happy Trails...Don Carman

Carman was a rookie back in 1984, making eleven relief appearances.  I've already used him up in the Statis Pro season.  Let's compare the two Carmans!

The Real 1984:  0-1, 5.40 ERA, 16 K's, 3.67 FIP, 1.50 WHIP
Statis Pro 1984:  1-1, 4.97 ERA, 16 K's, 5.45 FIP, 1.97 WHIP

Don't be fooled by the ERA, Carman surrendered quite a few unearned runs.  Based on FIP and WHIP the real Carman did a bit better.  He threw smoke in both seasons, though, as he pitched 13 innings in the real 1984 and 12.2 in Statis Pro.  With Carman done, Philadelphia called up...Jim Kern!  Did you remember Kern spent part of 1984 with the Phillies?  I sure didn't...

Rest in Peace - Biff Pocoroba

I was sad to hear the news of Biff Pocoroba's passing.  My thoughts and prayers to his fans, friends, and family. 

June 17, 1984 - Downing Goes Deep Three Times!

Game #825 - Cleveland Indians, 5 @ California Angels, 6

Pitching legends Rick Sutcliffe and Tommy John opposed each other in this one, and both were on rocky footing early.  A Bob Boone error eventually allowed Brett Butler to score in the top of the first.  The Angels took the lead in the bottom half of the inning, though, when Brian Downing jacked a two-run bomb to give the Halos the lead, 2-1.

It was 3-2 in favor of California in the bottom of the third when Downing led off the inning.  He blasted his second homer of the game to make it 4-2.  That was still the score in the bottom of the seventh when Sutcliffe, running on fumes, surrendered ANOTHER home run to Downing!!!  Cleveland plated three runs in the top of the ninth to make things exciting, but reliever John Curtis finally retired Pat Tabler to preserve the win.

Winning Pitcher - Tommy John
Losing Pitcher - Rick Sutcliffe
Player of the Game - Brian Downing, 3-3, 3HR's, 5RBI, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

June 17, 1984 - Cactus Tom

Game #824 - Cincinnati Reds, 9 @ Atlanta Braves, 4

This was the fourth game in a row between these two teams, and Atlanta was hoping to escape with a split series.  After already being down a run in the bottom of the first, it was looking dicey, but the Braves' bats exploded.  Claudell Washington, Dale Murphy, and Randy Johnson all had RBI singles to give Atlanta a 3-1 lead after one.

Gerald Perry padded the score with a solo homer in the bottom of the second, but the Reds refused to give in.  Wayne Krenchicki hit a bases clearing double in the top of the third to bring Cincy back within a run.

It was still 4-3 in favor of Atlanta in the top of the sixth.  With starter Craig McMurtry still on the hill, Tom Foley laced a triple to center field.  Unfortunately, Perry misplayed it and Foley was able to scamper home to knot the game!

Fast forward to the top of the eighth.  It was still 4-4 when Rick camp made his first relief appearance of the year.  It did not go well.  Dave Concepcion led off with a single and daringly stole second base.  He moved to third on a Foley single.  Two batters later rookie Eric Davis walked to load the bases.  Eddie Milner sent two runners home on a single, and a few batters later Dave Parker singled home Davis but Milner got thrown out at the plate by Brad Komminsk.  It still gave the Reds a two-run lead.

Camp surrendered two more runs in the ninth, though they were unearned after a Paul Runge bobble ruined a surefire double play.  Runge was in the game because Glenn Hubbard got injured in the first and will be on the DL for twenty games.  Ted Power pitched the last two innings for Cincinnati to earn his eighth save on the year.

Winning Pitcher - Tom Hume
Losing Pitcher - Rick Camp
Save - Ted Power
Player of the Game - Tom Foley, 3-4, BB, 3B, 3R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Perez

Week in Review: June 10 - June 16

I mentioned a few months back I forgot to do the "Week in Review" for the first full week of June, but we're back again!

The prominent story right now is multiple batters chasing a .400 average.  In the National League, Tony Gwynn (of course) is actually above it, swinging a sweet .405.  Willie McGee (.388) and Tim Raines (.386) are within shouting distance as well.

In the American League, Dave Winfield just got off the disabled list and is tantalizingly close with a .395 clip.  Dave Collins of Toronto is having a monster season and within a stone's throw too, registering a .392 average.  Damaso Garcia is on the shelf right now, but that just means his .389 can't get any lower at the moment.  We'll see what these totals look like at the end of June.  Gwynn will get his chances as I have him hitting second in the Padres' lineup. 

The Phenomenal Five

#1.  St. Louis Cardinals, 44-22, .667.  The Cardinals keep cruising in the NL East.  Bruce Sutter continues to be the best reliever in the senior circuit and is automatic at the end of games.  Ken Oberkfell's astronomic numbers are done now that he maxed his game total (you'll see him in Atlanta shortly) but Terry Pendleton has plugged in and picked up where Obi-Wan left off.

#2.  Houston Astros, 41-23, .641.  The Houston offense has cooled a bit over the past few weeks but their superior pitching talent has kept them well in front in the NL West.  Enos Cabell comes off the injured reserve soon, which will be a welcome return.

#3.  Toronto Blue Jays, 40-23, .635.  Despite their continued success this season, they've slowly lost their lead in the AL East and are in danger of slipping into second place.  Injuries to their middle infielders (Damaso Garcia, Tony Fernandez) hasn't helped.  Their bullpen is also shaky.

#4.  Detroit Tigers, 39-23, .629.  Don't look now, but the Roar of '84 is back!  The Tigers sit just a half game back in the AL East, and that's been accomplished with Kirk Gibson missing some time.  Their offense is so deep they haven't missed a beat. 

#5.  New York Yankees, 37-25, .597.  Despite being a bit banged up, the Bronx Bombers keep slugging their way into leads.  Couple their offense with a crazy 1-2 punch of Jay Howell and Dave Righetti at the end of the game and it's hard for the opposition to record a victory.

Useless Stats

• Randy Johnson (not that Randy Johnson) of the Braves has the most at-bats (142) without double-digit strikeout totals (7).  He got a lot of games in when Bob Horner was injured for the season, but soon he'll split time with Ken Oberkfell.
• Who has played the most games in the NL without an error?  That would be Steve Garvey of the Padres (60).  
• Wally Backman and Hubie Brooks of the Mets have the worst ISO (.042) of any qualified hitters in the NL.
• Mike Boddicker (Orioles) and Frank Viola (Twins) are tied for the league-lead in innings pitched with 106.2.
• Willie Hernandez (Tigers) and Dan Quisenberry (Royals) have the most wins in the AL (5) without a game started.
• LaMarr Hoyt of the White Sox has served up the most gopher balls on the season in the AL, with 18.  Ouch.
• In honor of the late Jerry Stiller...Ken Phelps has a 1.279(!!!) OPS for the Mariners right now.
• Fellow Mariner Jack Perconte leads the AL in singles (73).
• Julio Cruz of the White Sox has been picked off first base a miserable four times on the season.
• Larry McWilliams of the Pirates leads the NL in walks with 44.  Somehow, he still has a 2.70 ERA.
• Larry Andersen leads the NL with 27 appearances without a home run surrendered.  Jeff Reardon is second with 26 games.
• Mike Scott of the Astros has the worst HR/9 ratio in the NL for qualified pitchers with a 1.55.  This must have been pre-spit ball...

Rest in Peace - Bob Watson

I was sad to hear Bob Watson passed away.  He was a star hitter for the Astros throughout the 1970's and retired with a .295 average and over 1,800 hits.  That's a heck of a career.  He also found success as a GM and later worked in the MLB offices.  He finished his career in 1984 with Atlanta, mostly as a pinch-hitter.  Prayers and condolences for his friends, fans, and family. 

June 16, 1984 - Rice is Nice

Game #823 - Boston Red Sox, 8 @ Toronto Blue Jays, 5

This match-up was over once it started.  The Red Sox hit for the cylce in the first inning with back to back singles from Dwight Evans and Mike Easler, a double from Jim Rice, a triple from Tony Armas, and then a homer by Rich Gedman.  That made it 5-0 off Jim Gott with only one out in the game.  Gott got got!

Rice added an RBI double in the fourth and Wade Boggs an RBI single in the fifth to make it 7-0.  Toronto managed to add five runs between the sixth and seventh innings but the normally shaky Bob Stanley held things down for 2.1 innings of relief work to earn the save.  

Winning Pitcher - Roger Clemens

Losing Pitcher - Jim Gott

Save - Bob Stanley

Player of the Game - Jim Rice, 4-5, 2 2b's, 2R's, 2RBI

Hall of Famers in the Game - Wade Boggs, Jim Rice

Rest in Peace - Damaso Garcia

Sad news recently - Damaso Garcia, star second baseman of the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1984 season, passed away  It's especially tragic coming so closely behind the death of his old double play teammate, Tony Fernandez, just a couple of months before.  Prayers to his family, friends, and fans.

June 16, 1984 - Sticker Stars

Game #821 - Texas Rangers, 8 @ Seattle Mariners, 3

The Mariners opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning.  Charlie Hough walked Phil Bradley, who scored on a rocket-shot double off the bat of Alvin Davis.  The Rangers, though, pulled even in the top of the third thanks to a Davis error that allowed Wayne Tolleson to reach base and then score on a Buddy Bell single.

Texas took a two-run lead in the top of the fifth when Gary Ward singled home both Bell and Pete O'Brien.  Bell and Mickey Rivers added RBI doubles in the sixth to extend the Rangers lead to four runs.

In the top of the seventh Rivers and Bell next hit back to back homers and that was pretty much the ball game.

Winning Pitcher - Charlie Hough
Losing Pitcher - Jim Beattie
Player of the Game - Buddy Bell, 3-4, 2B, HR, BB, 3RBI, 2R's

Game #822 - New York Mets, 2 @ St. Louis Cardinals, 4

Walt Terrell clearly hadn't warmed up enough before the start of the game.  In the bottom of the first the Red Birds plated four runs, including a three-run bomb from George Hendrick that plated Lonnie Smith and Terry Pendleton.  Ozzie Smith added a sacrifice fly that scored Andy Van Slyke. 

Terrell settled down after that and pitched five scoreless innings to keep New York in the game.  Mike Fitzgerald hit a bases loaded, two-out single in the top of the fourth that scored George Foster, but Mookie Wilson got gunned down at home by Hendrick.  A Rusty Staub pinch hit double in the seventh plated Ron Gardenhire, but that was all the offense the Metropolitans could muster on the day.

Winning Pitcher - Dave LaPoint
Losing Pitcher - Walt Terrell
Save - Bruce Sutter
Player of the Game - George Hendrick, 1-3, HR, BB, 3RBI, asst.
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ozzie Smith, Bruce Sutter

June 16, 1984 - Golden State Warriors

Game #819 - Chicago White Sox, 9 @  Oakland A's, 10

As evidenced by the score, this game was wacky.

The score was knotted at zero apiece when the A's sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the third, scoring four times.  Rickey Henderson, Davey Lopes, Carney Lansford, and Dwayne Murphy all came in to score.  Oakland tagged on their fifth run of the game in the fourth, this time on a double from Lopes that plated Rickey Henderson, who was standing on second with his third steal of the game.

Tim Conroy, the Oakland starter, was cruising through the Chicago lineup until the top of the fifth.  That's when he allowed four runs before getting yanked, including a two-run bomb to Greg Luzinski.  Chris Codiroli, the relief pitcher, didn't fair much better as he allowed another three in the inning thanks to a three-run homer from Marc Hill. 

That meant Chicago was now on top, 7-5, going into the bottom of the fifth.  Oakland put up another four-spot to retake the lead.  The Pale Hose drew within a run after a Greg Walker solo shot in the seventh, but the A's held on to the win.

Winning Pitcher - Chris Codiroli
Losing Pitcher - Salome Barojas
Save - Tom Burgmeier
Player of the Game - Rickey Henderson, 3-5, BB, 3SBs, 3Rs
Hall of Famers in the Game - Harold Baines, Rickey Henderson

Game #820 - San Francisco Giants, 4 @ San Diego Padres, 1

The cellar dwellers of the NL West teed off for the third straight game, and started well for the Giants.  Jeff Leonard led the game off with solo homer and one flap down as he rounded the bases.  Eric Show surrendered another run in the second when Johnny LeMaster doubled home Joel Youngblood. 

San Fran was up 3-0 when Mark Davis balked home the first Padre run, allowing Luis Salazar to score.  Davis would last seven innings total, truly spreading nine hits and a walk around and avoiding any serious damage along with his seven K's.  Show pitched eight frames before Craig Lefferts took over in the ninth and let Jack Clark go deep for the fourth and final run of the game.

Winning Pitcher - Mark Davis
Losing Pitcher - Eric Show
Save - Greg Minton
Player of the Game - Jeff Leonard, 2-5, HR, 2RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Gwynn

June 16, 1984 - Take It to the House

Game #817 -  Pittsburgh Pirates, 1 @ Montreal Expos, 5

The Pirates got on the board first in the top of the first inning when David Palmer loaded the bases and then Tony Pena walked, scoring Lee Lacy.

The Expos clawed back in the bottom of the third.  RBI singles by Tim Wallach and Andre Dawson put them up, 2-1.  Montreal plated another run in the fourth when pitcher Larry McWilliams made a fielding gaff allowing Wallace Johnson to score (more on him below...).

Montreal's narrow lead was still in place in the bottom of the eighth.  That's when Mike Stenhouse stepped in for Palmer and cranked a two-run blast off Kent Tekulve to seal the deal for the 'spos!

Winning Pitcher - David Palmer
Losing Pitcher - Larry McWilliams
Player of the Game - Mike Stenhouse, 1-1, HR, 2RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tim Raines, Gary Carter, Andre Dawson

Happy Trails...Wallace Johnson

With the rash of injuries for Montreal this season, Wallace Johnson got a lot of early playing time instead of a September call-up.  Let's see how Statis Pro Wallace compared to the real 1984:

Statis Pro Wallace:  .333AVG  .407OBP  .333SLG  .741OPS  2Rs  3RBI
The Real Wallace:  .208AVG  .345OBP  .208SLG  ..553OPS  3Rs  5RBI

Clearly the Statis Pro season for Johnson was more prosperous, but in both cases, it was with fewer than thirty plate appearances. 


Game #818 - Baltimore Orioles, 4 @ New York Yankees, 3

This game featured a battle of dueling lefty pitchers - Mike Flanagan and Ron Guidry.  Flanagan got tagged first in the bottom of the second.  Eight Yankees came to the plate and New York scored three runs off RBI hits from Ken Griffey, Tim Foli, and Andre Robertson. 

It was still 3-0 in the top of the fifth when Gary Roenicke plated the first run for the O's with a solo blast.  Baltimore tagged on another after an Eddie Murray triple and a Floyd Rayford single. 

Guidry was still on the mound in the top of the seventh when, after striking out two hitters, he surrendered back to back homers to Roenicke and Mike Young!  Sammy Stewart pitched three scoreless innings in relief and the Orioles finished the come from behind win.

Winning Pitcher - Mike Flanagan
Losing Pitcher - Ron Guidry
Save - Sammy Stewart
Player of the Game - Gary Roenicke, 2-4, 2HRs, 2RBI
Hall of Famers in the Game - Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, Dave Winfield

Checking In and Rest In Peace...

I apologize for going months without a post.  You might recall I started a doctoral degree program this past summer and that has absolutely killed my free time.  I've got a couple of games to add to the recaps, I've just been too lazy to get to it.  It was the passing of Tony Fernandez, though, that shook me out of my hibernation.  I wanted to honor him as he was always a favorite over the years.  The AL East was loaded with quality shortstops in the mid-80's, and Fernandez held his own among the Ripkens/Younts/Trammells.  So my Statis Pro page wishes the family and fans of Fernandez and the others listed below sincere prayers and thoughts.  Thanks to each who helped make 1984 such a special season...

2/15/20

12/25/19

9/14/19

5/27/19

4/11/19

3/30/19