[jmm8356]

Flyers Weekly, Volume XXIV, Issue 14 - June 21, 1971

Holding the division lead outright after Wednesday's play, the Flyers drop three of the next four and again trail the Jacksonville Ospreys by a game. After hosting Norfolk for three starting today, the club takes its last off day before the All-Star break, then heads to Atlanta for a trio of weekend contests.


Last Week's Results

June 14 - OFF

June 15 - at NOR - W 6-3

Homers by Mike Weber (1 for 3, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Jeff Harvey account for the three-run margin of victory in front of a sellout crowd for Retro Game Day at Harbor Stadium. Harvey's 441-foot pinch-hit blast to center is the longest of his six career taters. Bill Morgan (5 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 6 BB, 8 K) struggles a bit on three days rest, but Kevin Hodgkins (1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 4 K) whiffs four of the five batters he faces for his league-leading 19th save.

W - Morgan (7-2)
SV - Hodgkins (19)
HR - Weber (7), Harvey (1)

June 16 - at NOR - W 8-6

Another promotion day, another sellout crowd, and another Flyers win, this time coming back from a 6-2 deficit with six runs in the final two frames. After two walks and a hit by pitch, Steven Robinson (2 for 4, 2 R, SB) clears the bases with a triple and scores to tie the game in the 8th. In the 9th, Weber's sacrifice fly scores Chris Wayman (2 for 4, 2 R), then Dave Powell (2 for 4, 2 RBI) drives in Russ Roderick (2 for 5, HR, 2 R) with a base hit. Roger Coomes (6 IP, 4 R, 8 H, 1 BB, 4 K) struggles again, making his ERA 5.50, while George Thorn (2 IP, 1 H, 3 K) earns the win, striking out the side in the 8th and getting the tying run to ground out in the 9th.

W - Thorn (3-0)
HR - Roderick (3)

June 17 - at NOR - L 8-10

It's the Clippers' turn to make a comeback with four runs on four doubles in the 8th off Justin Randolph (0 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 2 BB), Hodgkins (2/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H) and Thorn (1/3 IP, 1 H). The Flyers collect fourteen hits (compared to sixteen for Norfolk), led by Weber (2 for 5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Mike Sutton (3 for 5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Roderick (3 for 5, R), in a losing effort. Valentine Stephens doubles as well, extending a career high six-game hitting streak, but also commits two errors at third.

L - Hodgkins (1-4)
HR - Weber (8), Sutton (2)

Elsewhere, Jacksonville split a four game set with Miami, so the Ospreys and Flyers are tied for the Eastern Division lead entering their series.

June 18 - vs JAX - W 6-1

Steven Robinson (3 for 4, 2B, R, 3 RBI), Powell (1 for 4, 2 RBI) and Wayman (3 for 5, R) lead the Flyers to a wet win at State Fair Park. A 66-minute rain delay keeps Keith Becker (4 1/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 3 K) from his sixth win, but Robin Houston (2 2/3 IP, 1 BB, 2 K) is very effective in long relief.

W - Houston (3-1)
HR - Kirk (6)

June 19 - vs JAX - L 3-5

Bud Fox (5 IP, 4 R, 1 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 4 K) looks less sharp in his second outing, though an error by Powell (2 for 4, HR, 2 R) at short, his 11th, leads to three unearned runs in the 4th. Terry Bingham (2 IP, 5 K) keeps the game close, but Sutton (2 for 4, SB), on second with one out in the 9th after a single and a stolen base, is doubled off to end the game when Ospreys LF Don Addington makes a diving catch.

L - Fox (0-1)
HR - Powell (2)

June 20 - vs JAX - L 2-6

The Flyers leave ten men on base, disappointing a sellout crowd of 41,784 on Retro Game Day. Morgan (6 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 5 K) does not scatter his hits as usual, while Thorn (0 IP, 2 R, 2 H) and Hodgkins (1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H) are tagged out of the bullpen. Stephens goes 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI, extending his hitting streak to nine games; Valentine hit 8 of 20 (.400) with three doubles on the week.

L - Morgan (7-3)

Last week: 3 - 3
This month: 11 - 7
Overall: 40 - 29, 2nd, -1 of Jacksonville


Who's Hot

Russ Roderick
Last 6 games: 10-27 (.370), 1 HR, 2 RBI

Steven Robinson
Last 5 games: 7-16 (.438), 0 HR, 8 RBI

Mike Sutton
Last 5 games: 6-18 (.333), 1 HR, 3 RBI

Who's Not

Roger Coomes
Last 5 games: 1-3, 9.74 ERA, 20 1/3 IP


A Closer Look - AA Hickory

Hickory's record, 37-32, is second-best in AA and is much improved since our last look. SS Henry McKie (.327, 12 HR, 58 RBI, 52 BB, 19 2Bs) is pounding the ball; he can also play at second and in right. SS/2B John Gillett (.308 in 159 AB, 6 HR, 26 RBI) and 1B Everett Putman (.286 in 175 AB, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 14 2Bs) are also playing well after early promotions from Columbus. The pitching has been strengthened by some recent demotions, such as Jerry Thompson (3-0 in 3 GS, 0.35, OAVG .106) and Howard Terry (1-0 in 2 GS, 1.06, WHIP 0.76).


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

Well, it was good to be back on top, at least for a couple days... Now we have to figure out how to stay there!

Since hitting 0 for 5 in his first game with the team, Valentine Stephens has hit 11 of 33 with four doubles and a homer, plus five walks! So far, it looks like all he needed was playing time, after being stuck behind Scott Hass in Nashville (now in San Antonio) for a few years... though it's hard to fault the Hounds, when Hass hit 25 homers and walked 130 times in his last three seasons!

Overall, I think the roster is set... except I don't know how much longer I watch 1B Steve Brown slug .636 at Winston-Salem and not call him up. He would also be a better backup for Wayman than Armitage (via moving Weber to first). Trouble is, I'd probably drop one of the six outfielders to make room, and none of them have any options left.

None of the pitchers are in danger of losing their job, either... though Roger Coomes needs a couple of good starts in a row, else I think he'll be the #5 man in the rotation next week.

All in all, when 3-3 feels like a "bad week", it seems like we're in good shape. See you at the ballpark!