[jmm8356]

Flyers Weekly, Volume XXIV, Issue 8 - May 10, 1971

Our Flyers fall from the top spot in the East, now trailing the Jacksonville Ospreys by 1 1/2 games. The team has two off days this week to regroup; they finish the road trip West with a pair at Nashville Tuesday and Wednesday, then host Dallas for a three-game weekend set, starting with Retro Game Day on Friday.


Last Week's Results

May 3 - OFF

May 4 - at NWO - L 4-5

Evan Becnel loses a three-all tie with two runs in the 7th, allowing a single, a double and a single. Matt Kirk goes 2 for 5 with a double, scoring twice.

L - Becnel (1-1)
HR - Johnson (2)

May 5 - at NWO - W 7-6 (10)

Steven Robinson drives in three with two homers, but it's Mark Johnson's fly to left with the bases loaded that scores pinch-runner Lloyd Mitchell in the 10th with the game winner. Russ Roderick hits 3 of 5 with a double and two runs, while Kevin Hodgkins whiffs one in two perfect innings for the win.

W - Hodgkins (1-0)
HR - S. Robinson 2 (4,5)

May 6 - at NWO - L 2-3 (13)

John Jahnke allows two walks, then two singles in the 13th, the last by C Ron Ayers scores SS Mike Fontenot to end the 5 hour, 23 minute marathon. Walt Finney hit 3 of 6, while Roderick and skipper Jeremy McGrath are both ejected for the second time in under a week, again for arguing balls and strikes.

L - Jahnke (1-1)

After the game, Ed Rooker left for Norfolk via waivers. Free agent SP Oscar Lazar [6/5/7] , released by Houston on Monday, was signed to a minor league contract, which was immediately purchased by the Flyers so he could start tomorrow. Lazar was then put on irrevocable waivers, so apparently it will be his only start.

[I wanted to call up Bud Fox, who is in his last option year, but apparently, taking someone out of the Minor League Rotation is not a big enough hint for the AI that you DO NOT WANT HIM START!!! So the 'puter put him on the hill the day before the roster spot opened up. Live and learn.]

May 7 - at SAN - L 2-12

Lazar (4 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 4 BB, 2 K) keeps the game close, despite the ominous 466-foot blast to left by the first hitter, CF Paul Goode. It's the fatigued bullpen that does the team in, plus an errant throw by Darrel Robinson that extends the 6th and scores the first of six runs. Robin Houston (1 2/3 IP, 6 R, 0 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 K) then brings another home with a wild pitch, followed by a pair of two-run homers.

L - Lazar (0-1)

May 8 - at SAN - W 5-3

You knew this would be a wild one when Missions skipper Harry Easterday was ejected after the first batter, and it did not disappoint. The Flyers are down to their final out before three singles, the last a pinch hit by Chris Wayman, ties the game. Then Roderick triples, scoring two for the come-from-behind win. Mitchell goes 2 for 3 with a run and two RBIs, while Justin Randolph allows a hit and a walk while whiffing two in three innings.

W - Randolph (4-1)
SV - Hodgkins (10)

May 9 - at SAN - L 2-7

Two doubles and a homer off Keith Becker (5 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 2 K) score four Missions runs in the 2nd. Mike Weber hits 3 of 5 with two doubles, scoring one Carolina run and driving in the other. In the 5th, Kirk (2 for 3) doubles to center but hops into second, leaving the game with a bruised foot. Mitchell comes in to pinch-run (and presumably play center), but he pulls up lame while tagging and advancing to third on a fly ball. Walking off gingerly, he is listed as day-to-day with a strained back.

L - Becker (4-2)

Last Week: 2 - 4
This month: 3 - 5
Overall: 20 - 13, 2nd, -1 1/2 of Jacksonville


Who's Hot

Chris Wayman
Last 5 games: 5-13 (.385), 0 HR, 2 RBI

Bill Morgan
Last 3 games: 2-0, 1.40 ERA, 19 1/3 IP

Who's Not

Darrel Robinson
Last 5 games: 1-18 (.056), 0 HR, 0 RBI

Mark Johnson
Last 5 games: 2-11 (.182), 0 HR, 1 RBI

Roger Coomes
Last 3 games: 0-1, 5.40 ERA, 15 IP


A Closer Look - AAA Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem has the best record in AAA (23-10), mainly due to strong pitching from Bill McCue (age 27, 5-0, 1.29, WHIP 1.04) and Bud Fox (age 25, 4-1, 2.94, WHIP 1.04) in the rotation, along with Mike Doyle (age 35, 1.08 in 16 2/3 IP, WHIP 1.02) from the pen. The outfielders are the best offensive producers on the team, led by prospect CF Rudy Olson (age 21, .313, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 22 R, 10 2Bs, 5 SB). LF Danny Bowen (age 31, .225, 10 HR, 21 RBI) and RF Mike Slack (age 33, .312, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 5 2Bs) are also off to a good start.


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

If you're wondering why Oscar Lazar was brought in to start Friday's game at Alamo Park, I think the legendary Dave James, the manager down at Winston-Salem, pulled a fast one on a rookie, yours truly. When I told him to keep Bud Fox rested so I could call him up, he said, "Well, you're gonna have to find me another starter, right? I'll only have three. So if you have to sign a free agent, why not find one for yourself, rather than messing up both our rotations? It's just for one start, after all." It seemed to make a lot more sense when he said it than when I just wrote it down, but I guess that's why he's a legend!

Obviously, I'm concerned when we score just two runs three times in a week, but the hits are coming, just not in the same bunches as before. Darrel Robinson is batting under .200, so I'm going to give Alan Bruns a few starts at third, at least for the remainder of this road trip. With both centerfielders getting dinged up in the same half-inning Sunday, we're also gonna get to see what young Rudy Olson can do in the bigs after putting Lloyd Mitchell on the 15-day DL. Matt Kirk's foot bruise isn't too bad, though, and he should be at 100% when we return home.

Bill Morgan's back is taking a while longer to clear up than we initially thought, but with three days off out of the next eight, there won't be a problem with skipping him in the rotation one more time.