May 1, 1984 - May Day

Game #285 - Cleveland Indians, 7 @ Baltimore Orioles, 6

April is behind us, and Cleveland was excited for that.  They responded to the calendar change with seven big runs.  Despite Bert Blyleven getting roughed up for four runs in under six innings, the Tribe managed to stay ahead of Baltimore.  That included a major jam in the bottom of the ninth, when a sub-optimal Ernie Camacho had runners on first and third with no outs.  But Rich Dauer flied out weakly, Gary Roenicke struck out, and Al Bumbry launched one to the warning track, but into Otis Nixon's glove. 

Winning Pitcher - Bert Blyleven
Losing Pitcher - Scott McGregor
Save - Ernie Camacho
Player of the Game - Andre Thornton, 3-5, HR, 4RBI's, 2R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Bert Blyleven, Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray

Game #286 - Oakland A's, 3 @ California Angels, 12

Oakland is missing the injured Rickey Henderson in their lineup.  Though they had a 2-1 lead after four, the Angels combined for 10 runs between the fifth and seventh innings.  Many of the Halo's contributed to the win, including a solo homer from Reggie Jackson, but the unusually hot Gary Pettis secured his fourth "player of the game" honors, falling a home run short of the cycle.

Winning Pitcher - Ron Romanick
Losing Pitcher - Lary Sorensen
Player of the Game - Gary Pettis, 4-5, 2B, 3B, 2R's, 4RBI's, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Joe Morgan, Reggie Jackson

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. 

April 30th, 1984 - The Doorstep of May

Game #281 - New  York Yankees, 11 @ Chicago White Sox, 4

Butch Wynegar erased an early two run deficit with a three run homer in the fourth.  After that, it was all New York.

Winning Pitcher - Phil Niekro
Losing Pitcher - Tom Seaver
Player of the Game - Steve Kemp, 4-5, 2RBI's, R
Hall of Famers in the Game - Dave Winfield, Phil Niekro, Carlton Fisk, Tom Seaver

Game #282 - Montreal Expos, 6 @ Philadelphia Phillies, 2

Gary Carter continued the theme of three run blasts by catchers, launching his in the top of the first.  Charlie Lea shut down the city of brotherly love after that.

Winning Pitcher - Charlie Lea
Losing Pitcher - Shane Rawley
Player of the Game - Gary Carter, 3-5, HR, 3RBI's, 2R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Gary Carter, Mike Schmidt

Game #283 - St. Louis Cardinals, 7 @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 4

Joaquin Andujar had himself a game.  He went eight innings with only surrendering 2 earned runs while smacking a solo homer as well.  David Green went yard too, as the Cards continue to dominate the NL East.

Winning Pitcher - Joaquin Andujar
Losing Pitcher - John Tudor
Save - Bruce Sutter
Player of the Game - Andujar, 8IP, 4K"s, HR

Game #284 - Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 @ San Francisco Giants, 3

San Fran scored two off reliever Burt Hooton in the bottom of the ninth, but couldn't tie the game before Scott Thompson grounded out to Greg Brock to end the game.  Brock had, surprise surprise, a three run homer too.

Winning Pitcher - Orel Hershiser
Losing Pitcher - Jeff Robinson
Save - Burt Hooton
Player of the Game - Hershiser, 8IP, 0ER's, 7K's

April 30, 1984 - In-tens

Game #279 - Cleveland Indians, 3 @ Baltimore Orioles, 10

The Orioles were up 1-0 in the bottom of the third when they busted things open.  Eddie Murray hit a 2-RBI double and three batters later John Lowenstein paid homage to Earl Weaver by blasting a three run homer.

Storm Davis pitched a heck of a game.  He went the distance and only gave up three hits, though that included five walks as well.  Brook Jacoby recorded two of them, including a solo homer with two outs in the ninth.

Winning Pitcher - Storm Davis
Losing Pitcher - Steve Farr
Player of the Game - John Lowenstein, 3-3, HR, 3RBI's, BB
Hall of Famers in the Game - Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray

Game #280 - Seattle Mariners, 10 @ California Angels, 2

Seattle finally figured the Angels out!  They had lost the first three games of the four game series, but got to Bruce Kison early and often.  Alvin Davis and Dave Henderson each hit homers, but it was Steve Henderson who might have had the best game.  I still haven't seen a cycle completed by a Statis Pro player this season, but Steve was only the round-tripper shy of accomplishing the feat.  Jim Beattie pitched a dominating eight innings to secure the victory for the M's.

Winning Pitcher - Jim Beattie
Losing Pitcher - Bruce Kison
Player of the Game - Steve Henderson, 3-5, 2B, 3B, 2R's, 4RBI's, outfield assist
Hall of Famers in the Game - Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson

April 29, 1984 - River Trout

Egads that's a terrible scan!  Am I too lazy to scan it again?  Yes.  Yes I am.

Game #277 - Chicago Cubs, 3 @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 1

Rick Rhoden was the hard-luck loser in this one.  Despite pitching a complete game and surrendering zero earned runs, costly errors by Johnny Ray and Tony Pena sealed a victory for the Cubbies. 

Winning Pitcher - Steve Trout
Losing Pitcher - Rick Rhoden
Save - Warren Brusstar
Player of the Game - Trout, 7IP, 0ER, 10K's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ryne Sandberg

Game #278 - Los Angeles Dodgers, 6 @ San Diego Padres, 4

San Diego broke a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the fourth by, ironically, scoring all four of their runs in the game.  The big damage came from a three run homer by future coach Bruce Bochy, who was giving Terry Kennedy a breather.  LA would not be denied.  Trailing 4-2 in the top of the sixth, Tim Lollar faced runners on second and third with one out and slugger Mike Marshall standing in.  I opted to intentionally walk Marshall for the far less intimidating German Rivera, setting up the double play at the same time.  You know what happened next.  River went grand salami and the Dodgers won the day. 

Winning Pitcher - Ken Howell
Losing Pitcher - Tim Lollar
Save - Tom Niedenfuer
Player of the Game - Rivera, 2-3, grand slam
Hall of Famers in the Game - Tony Gwynn


These were the last two games for Sunday, April 29th!  I've updated the stats and standings.  There's a new poll up too if you haven't noticed.  Finally - happy 58th birthday to my hero, Eddie Murray. 

April 29, 1984 - One Is Not Enough

Game #275 - St. Louis Cardinals, 12 @ Montreal Expos, 1

If I'm not mistaken, this is the first time this season I've used six different pitchers in a game for one team.  Congrats to the Expos!  This was necessitated in part because starter Bill Gullickson, along with Gary Carter and Terry Francona, got ejected from the game arguing with the ump on a close play at first.  It was a barrage of hits for the Cardinals after that.  But Danny Cox was the true stand out player of the game.  He went eight innings only giving up one run. 

Winning Pitcher - Danny Cox
Losing Pitcher - Dan Schatzeder
Player of the Game - Cox, 8IP, R, 4K's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Ozzie Smith, Gary Carter, Andre Dawson

Game #276 - Philadelphia Phillies, 2 @ New York Mets, 1 (game called in the bottom of the eighth due to rain)

Mike Schmidt has started off slow this Statis Pro season, but his bat might finally be waking up.  He accounted for both runs in this game.  He smacked a double in the second inning and eventually scored on a Juan Samuel sacrifice fly.  In the fourth he hit a solo homer off Walt Terrell.  Terrell actually pitched a good six innings, but he still got tagged for the loss because, with Darryl Strawberry at bat in the bottom of the eighth, the rains came pouring down and Philadelphia sneaked out of New York with the abbreviated win.

Winning Pitcher - Jerry Koosman
Losing Pitcher - Walt Terrell
Player of the Game - Mike Schmidt, 2-3, 2B, HR, RBI, 2R's
Hall of Famers in the Game - Mike Schmidt

April 29, 1984 - Houston Sweeps Atlanta

Game #274 - Atlanta Braves, 1 @ Houston Astros, 3

Starters Craig McMurty and Nolan Ryan both made strong starts but didn't factor in the decision as they both only surrendered one run.  In the bottom of the eighth reliever Gene Garber was pitching his second inning of relief.  But Bill Doran led off with a bunt single and advanced two second on a bloop hit from Terry Puhl.  Jose Cruz grounded out to second but advanced the runners while making the out.  Enos Cabell came up next and hit a grounder to Chris Chambliss.  Doran took off for home and Chambliss fired the ball to Alex Trevino, but Doran was just ahead of the throw to pull Houston ahead by a run.  Phil Garner tacked on an insurance run with another single and that was all she wrote for Atlanta.  The loss marked their fourth straight loss as Houston continues to pull away with the NL West lead.

Winning Pitcher - Julio Solano
Losing Pitcher - Gene Garber
Player of the Game - Solano, 2IP, K, BB, retired #2-6 hitters for the win.
Hall of Famers in the Game - Nolan Ryan