April 4, 1984 - It's a team sport.

It occurred to me after this latest batch of contests that my whole idea of picking a "player of the game" might be flawed. I was watching the Super Bowl while playing two of these games and found it odd that Eli Manning was named "MVP" when it was very much a "team" win. Similarly, I had a hard time picking the POG's for these last three games because they were truly team efforts. But if I don't throw a few baseball cards up on these posts, what little visual pizazz I have reporting a baseball season played out on a board game will be lost...so the POG lives!

Game #16 - Toronto Blue Jays, 6 @ Seattle Mariners, 5
This was the first game of the season for these two teams, meaning every team has now played at least once. In the top of the second Buck Martinez hit a sacrifice fly and Alfredo Griffin smacked a triple to give Toronto the 2-0 lead. The Blue Jays extended their lead to 5-1 in the top of the fifth when Martinez hit a solo homer and Damaso Garcia and George Bell also crossed home plate. The Mariners started marching back in the bottom of the sixth as Ken Phelps (!) and Dave Henderson each hit their own solo shots. Jack Perconte scored twice more for the M's in the 7th and 9th, but the come back attempt ended a run short.

Winning Pitcher - Dave Stieb
Losing Pitcher - Mark Langston
Save - Ron Musselman
Player of the Game - Buck Martinez, 2-3, 1HR, 2RBI's, 1 sac fly

Game #17 - Philadelphia Phillies, 6 @ Atlanta Braves, 4

This game was tied 3-3 in the top of the 5th when the Phillies pulled ahead for good. Mike Schmidt, Ozzie Virgil, and Greg Gross all scored and Ivan DeJesus added an RBI double. In the top of the 7th Dale Murphy made an outstanding diving catch on a DeJesus fly ball and was able pick Virgil off of second base. That play helped offset Murhp's three strikeouts on the game. Koosman struck out seven for the Phillies.

Winning Pitcher - Jerry Koosman

Losing Pitcher - Craig McMurty

Save - Larry Andersen

Player of the Game - Ivan DeJesus, 3-5, 2b, 2RBI's, 1R

Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt

Game #18 - New York Mets, 2 @ Cincinnati Reds, 8
Walt Terrell had a rough third inning when the Reds, led by a Dan Driessen double, tagged him for three runs. George Foster hit a solo shot against his former team but the Reds responded with five more runs. Jose Oquendo made two brutal errors at shortstop for the Mets while Reds reliever Owchinko picked off Wally Backman, who was too eager to steal second. Darryl Strawberry hit his league leading second home run of the year in the top of the 9th, but it wasn't enough. Jeff Russell pitched five innings with five K's for the win.

Winning Pitcher - Jeff Russell
Losing Pitcher - Walt Terrell
Player of the Game - Jeff Russell, 5IP, 5K's, 2H's, 3BB's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Perez (who hit a homer)