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Flyers Weekly, Volume XXIV, Issue 6 - April 26, 1971

The Flyers lead the East by the same margin as last week, but a new rival has emerged as the Jacksonville Ospreys have won their last ten games to move within half a game of our club. Three teams from the West come to Charlotte this week, Memphis for two, New Orleans for two (including Mini Bat Day on Thursday) and Nashville for three.

Last Week's Results

Apr 19 - at MIA - L 5-7

RF Mark Elkin's two-run shot off Justin Randolph in the 8th makes the difference. Dave Powell scores twice on a 4 for 5 night, extending his hitting streak to twenty-one games.

L - Becker (2-1)

Apr 20 - at MIA - W 18-2

Russ Roderick goes 4 for 6 with two doubles, three runs and five RBIs as everybody in the Flyers lineup gets at least one of the twenty-one hits. Matt Kirk (3 for 6, 2B) and Steven Robinson (3 for 4) both score three times; Walt Finney (2 for 5) and Kirk drive in three runs apiece. Gene Arndt (7 IP, 1 R, 8 H, 1 K) earns the win.

W - Arndt (1-1)
HR - Finney (1)

Apr 21 - at MIA - L 2-4

Miami's Rick Parker (W, 2-0, 6 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K) outduels Matt Halstead (6 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 K). Steven Robinson (2 for 3) drove in Mark Johnson (2 for 4, 2B) for both Flyers runs.

L - Halstead (0-1)

Apr 22 - vs NOR - W 3-2

A Mike Sutton walk, a Darrel Robinson bunt, and a Lloyd Mitchell single put runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the 9th, then pinch-hitter Mark Johnson hit a grounder to second that the Clippers could not turn, scoring the game winner in a thrilling Batting Glove Day at State Fair Park.

W - Randolph (3-1)

Apr 23 - vs NOR - W 9-2

Walt Finney drove in three, including a two-run homer in the 6th, and Steven Robinson (2 for 3, 2B) scored three times while Roger Coomes (6 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 K) threw well.

W - Coomes (2-1)
HR - Finney (2)

Apr 24 - vs NOR - W 6-3

Steven Robinson hits 2 of 3, scoring once and driving in three, but Dave Powell goes 0 for 4, breaking his team-record hitting streak at twenty-four games. Keith Becker (6 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K) gets the win despite two longballs.

W - Becker (3-1)
SV - Hodgkins (5)

Apr 25 - vs NOR - L 0-2

Norfolk's Loren Thomas (W, 1-1, 8 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K) and Dick Sawyer (SV, 4, 1 IP, 2 H, 1 K) shut out the Flyers, hanging Arndt (5 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 K) with a tough loss.

L - Arndt (1-2)

Last Week: 4 - 3
This month: 13 - 7
Overall: 13 - 7, 1st, +1/2 on Jacksonville


Who's Hot

Roger Coomes
Last 3 games: 2-1, 2.00 ERA, 18 IP

Walt Finney
Last 5 games: 6-18 (.333), 2 HR, 7 RBI

Steven Robinson
Last 5 games: 9-16 (.563), 0 HR, 6 RBI

Who's Not

Lloyd Mitchell
Last 9 games: 2-12 (.167), 0 HR, 0 RBI

Darrel Robinson
Last 5 games: 1-13 (.077), 0 HR, 3 RBI

Chris Wayman
Last 6 games: 2-23 (.087), 0 HR, 2 RBI


The View From The Top (The Manager's Column)

Well, we got our revenge on Norfolk, taking three of four and knocking the Clippers down to third place. Next we see how we fare against the bottom three teams of the West; only the Blues are at .500 on the year.

I was sorry to see Powell's hitting streak snapped, especially the game after he asked for a day off, but you have to trust your players with things like that. Otherwise, our hitting has been excellent so far. A team average of .291 (plus 80 walks for an OBP of .362) is hard to improve upon.

On the other side of the ledger, our 3.31 staff ERA is the best in the CBA. The top four starters all have ERAs between 3.20 and 3.75, and #5 Arndt has a 4.03 mark. For a while there, I was thinking we might need a seventh reliever on the roster, but ten days into a seventeen-game stretch, our bullpen is fairly rested and throwing well. All in all, a good start to the season!