June 7, 1984 - The Crazy 88's

Game #607 - Cincinnati Reds, 5 @ San Diego Padres, 8

The Reds carried a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth with all runs unearned thanks to errors by Dave Dravecky and Graig Nettles.  But the Padres put up three runs thanks to an RBI double by Terry Kennedy, a sacrifice fly by Gary Templeton, and an RBI single by Alan Wiggins. 

They further extended the league with two runs apiece in the sixth and seventh.  Wayne Krenchicki added a solo homer in the seventh and a RBI double in the eighth for the Reds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the San Diego lead.

Winning Pitcher - Dave Dravecky
Losing Pitcher - Jeff Russell
Save - Goose Gossage
Player of the Game - Alan Wiggins, 2-4, 2R's, RBI, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Perez, Tony Gwynn, Goose Gossage

Game #608 - Houston Astros, 7 @ San Francisco Giants, 8

Jack Clark got the party started in the bottom of the first with a solo homer off Mike Scott.  The Astros came raging back in the second, though.  Craig Reynolds knocked in Denny Walling and then Bill Doran plated Phil Garner and Reynolds to give Houston a 3-1 lead.

It didn't last long.

Mike Scott surrendered four unearned runs after a two-out error by Garner.  It stayed 5-3 in favor of the Giants until the fifth inning.  Mike Krukow fell apart and allowed four runs to score.  Reliever Greg Minton gave up two hits that tagged Krukow's ERA.  But the Giants tied the game in the bottom half of the inning with two bases loaded walks.

It was still tied at 7-7 when Bill Dawley toed the rubber for Houston in the bottom of the eighth.  Dawley has been one of the very best relievers in the league this season, but Bob Brenly didn't get the memo.  He took Dawley DEEP for a solo blast to break the tie!  Gary Lavelle retired the side in the top of the ninth to save the game.

Winning Pitcher - Frank Williams
Losing Pitcher - Bill Dawley
Save - Gary Lavelle
Player of the Game - Bob Brenly, 3-4, HR, 2RBI, BB

Month in Review - May

Holy cow, May is in the books.  That's two months down.  I can't believe it.  It's taken over five years.  When I started this blog I had two kids and now I have three...with that third kid being five!  My blog is older than my last born!

I'd say the biggest story of the season so far is that none of the four playoff teams from the real 1984 are currently in first place.  The Tigers are closest, just a couple of games back of the Blue Jays.  Toronto has played extremely well but their bullpen will get exposed soon enough.  I predict Detroit will be in first by the end of June.

The Royals have been decimated by injuries, including 20 games to George Brett, but they get most of their starters back within the next week or so.  They've quietly risen up the standings to third place, though they're still five games below .500.  The Padres are showing a little more signs of life but still lag behind four teams in the NL West.  The Astros are still playing stellar ball and haven't come back down to earth yet.  I'm nervous about the Padres chances to duplicate their improbable World Series appearance.

The team that causes me the most stress is the Cubs.  They're dead last and ten games under .500.  The Cardinals might be the best team in either league, which isn't helping.  But, they're on a five game win streak right now and very soon will get both Rick Sutcliffe and Dennis Eckersley in their rotation.  They absolutely need them.

Other Guys Besides Joe Morgan Who Are Playing Way Over Their Heads:

Dion James, Brewers, OF
Gary Pettis, Angels, OF
Oil Can Boyd, Red Sox, P
Brad Gulden, Reds, C
Claudell Washington, Braves, OF
Pasquel Perez, Braves, P

Favorite Game In May?

There were a lot of fun games in May, but I'd have to go with the insane second game of a doubleheader on May 27 between Cleveland and the Blue Jays.  Cleveland scored five runs in the top of the eleventh...but Toronto tied it up and walked it off in the 12th!

Your MVP Race So Far:

American League
1.  Joe Morgan, A's, 2B
2.  Mike Young, Orioles, OF
3.  Dave Winfield, Yankees, OF

National League
1.  Darryl Strawberry, Mets, OF
2.  Claudell Washington, Braves, OF
3.  Tim Raines, Expos, OF

Your CY YOUNG Race So Far:

American League
1.  Doyle Alexander, Blue Jays
2.  Bud Black, Royals
3.  Dan Quisenberry, Royals

National League
1.  Alejandro Pena, Dodgers
2.  Rick Rhoden, Pirates
3.  Dwight Gooden, Mets

ALL STATIS PRO TEAM THROUGH MAY:

P - Alejandro Pena, Dodgers
C - Lance Parrish, Tigers
1B - Alvin Davis, Mariners
2B - Joe Morgan, A's
3B - Wade Boggs, Red Sox
SS - Cal Ripken, Orioles
OF - Darryl Strawberry, Mets
OF - Mike Young, Orioles
OF - Claudell Washington, Braves

I'm An Awesome Manager Of...

The St. Louis Cardinals.  They have the best record in Statis Pro right now and they are running away in the NL East.  They have a lot of versatility on the bench and the bullpen and all cylinders are firing right now.

I'm A Terrible Manager Of...

The Chicago Cubs.  Despite ending the month on a five game win streak, during May they lost THIRTEEN in a row.  I buried their playoff hopes deep in the woods where nobody will find them.  I'm sorry Punky Brewster.

Looking Forward

At the end of April I predicted it would take three to four years to finish May...and I was just about dead right!  It took nearly three and a half on the nose.  That seems to be the going pace, so I'll predict February of 2021 to be done with June...which is so far away yet will get here so quickly...

Month In Review - April

It took about two years and three months, but the first month of Statis Pro 1984 is in the books!  It feels awesome to pass that milestone.  I keep the scorecards from the games in a one inch binder, and it's just about full, so I'm starting a new one for the new month.

I would say the top storyline continues to be Joe Morgan's insane start to the year.  He has a slash line of .483/.603/.862.  His continued luck with the Fast Action Cards is unprecedented.  Joe only played about two-thirds of the games in 1984, so I've rested him against every left handed starter.  That might explain a small bump in his stats, but not all of it.  The month of May will help determine if Joe is for real, or a benefactor of smaller sample sizes.

Other Guys Besides Joe Morgan Who Are Playing Way Over Their Heads:

Mike Young, OF, Orioles
Wayne Krenchicki, 3B, Reds
Steve Kemp, OF, Yankees
Greg Minton, P, Giants
Terry Puhl, OF, Astros
Tony Fernandez, SS, Blue Jays

Favorite Game in April?

The Mike Flanagan one-hitter!

Your MVP Race So Far:

AL
1.  Joe Morgan
2.  Eddie Murray
3.  Mike Young

NL
1.  Dale Murphy
2.  Darryl Strawberry
3.  Dwight Gooden

Your CY YOUNG Race So Far:

AL
1. Doyle Alexander
2. Mike Boddicker
3. Dave Stieb

NL
1. Dwight Gooden
2. Bob Knepper
3. Bruce Sutter

ALL STATIS PRO TEAM THROUGH APRIL:

P - Dwight Gooden
C - Jody Davis
1B - Eddie Murray
2B - Joe Morgan
3B - Wade Boggs
SS - Tony Fernandez
OF - Dale Murphy
OF - Mike Young
OF - Darryl Strawberry

I'm An Awesome Manager Of...

The Houston Astros.  I've got them well in the lead in the NL West with a great combination of platoons and relief pitching.

I'm A Terrible Manager Of...

The Texas Rangers.  They're a better team than their record reflects.  Not sure why they're struggling so much, though they have had a fair share of injuries.

Looking Forward

I'm guessing it will be three to four years before I finish May.  Life is much busier than when I first started this endeavor.  Thanks to all of you who stop by from time to time!  The games are still fun and I'll keep plugging along.