[jmm8356]

Flyers Weekly, Volume XXIV, Issue 15 - June 28, 1971

Another .500 week yet the Flyers are still only one game off the pace set by the Tomahawks and the Ospreys. After visiting Tampa for three, the team returns to State Fair Park for an eleven-game homestand, beginning with four games against Memphis.


Last Week's Results

June 21 - vs NOR - L 5-9

Despite homers by Dave Powell (3 RBI) and Gary Armitage (2 RBI, 1st career HR in 53 AB), today's game is injury added to insult. Roger Coomes (2 2/3 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 1 K) is knocked around once again before leaving in the third with arm pain; a strained bicep will put Coomes on the shelf until late July at the earliest. The Flyers had closed within one run before handing the ball to Kevin Hodgkins (2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 BB) in the 9th.

L - Coomes (4-7)
HR - Powell (3), Armitage (1)

After the game, Coomes was placed on the Disabled List, and Bill Frazier [4/7/6] (11-2, 3.41, WHIP 1.30 in AAA), 8th overall pick by the club in 1968, was recalled from Winston-Salem.

June 22 - vs NOR - L 0-3

The Flyers drop their fourth straight despite collecting eleven hits, all singles, wasting a quality effort by Keith Becker (7 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 4 K). Mike Weber hits 3 for 3 but is caught stealing for the second time in five attempts this year.

L - Becker (5-4)

June 23 - vs NOR - W 5-4 (11)

After Hodgkins (2 IP, 1 R, 2 H) gives up a run in the top of the 11th, Jeff Harvey and Alan Bruns (2 for 5, RBI) get back-to-back hits with one down in the bottom half. A pinch-hit sacrifice bunt by Bud Fox moves the pair into scoring position, then Matt Kirk (3 RBI) makes the first hit in his last ten at-bats count, scoring both runners with a single to right. Walt Finney's RBI-single with two out in the 9th tied the game.

W - Hodgkins (2-4)

June 24 - OFF

Frank Thomas, hitless in eighteen at-bats in June, is sent down to Winston-Salem, while 1B Steve "The Sheriff" Brown [4/7/7] (.255, 15 HR, 46 RBI in AAA) is called up after the team purchases his contract. Drafted 3rd overall in 1964 by San Antonio, he was traded to Carolina just two weeks later. After a few years in the minors, he was traded (for Dave Powell) to Dallas in April 1968. He started 20 games for Miami after being claimed via waivers this February, but was waived again after hitting .231 in April and claimed by the Flyers on May 2.

June 25 - at ATL - L 3-5

Russ Roderick's (2 for 4) three-run double in the top of the 8th gives the Flyers a 3-2 lead, but John Jahnke (2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 BB) and George Thorn (1/3 IP, 1 H) give three back in the bottom half for Carolina's fifth loss in their last six games. Bill Morgan (6 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 12 K) is dominating but gives up a two-run homer to Flames CF Dennis Stoker. Pinch-hitter Finney and manager Jeremy McGrath are both ejected in the 7th after arguing balls and strikes in separate at-bats.

L - Jahnke (2-2)

June 26 - at ATL - W 3-2 (11)

Valentine Stephens (2 for 5) leads off the 11th with a 428-foot shot to straightaway center, spoiling Batting Glove Day at Lexus Park. Roderick goes 3 for 5 and scores once, while the bullpen of Randolph, Hodgkins, Bingham and Jahnke hold the Flames scoreless for the final five frames.

W - Bingham (2-1)
SV - Jahnke (1)
HR - Kirk (7), Stephens (2)

June 27 - at ATL - W 4-0

Becker throws a three-hitter, striking out eight Flames to disappoint 36,481 Atlanta faithful on Bobblehead Doll Day. Powell hits 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI, extending a seventeen-game hitting streak.

W - Becker (6-4)

Last week: 3 - 3
This month: 14 - 10
Overall: 43 - 32, 3rd, -1 of Tampa and Jacksonville


Who's Hot

Russ Roderick
Last 5 games: 8-22 (.364), 0 HR, 3 RBI

Matt Kirk
Last 5 games: 7-24 (.292), 1 HR, 4 RBI

Alan Bruns
Last 8 games: 7-18 (.389), 0 HR, 3 RBI

Who's Not

Steven Robinson
Last 5 games: 3-19 (.158), 0 HR, 1 RBI


A Closer Look - Single-A Columbus

Columbus stands at 38-37, third among Eastern Division A-ball affiliates. A trio of young pitchers are having some success: Herbert Baxley (5-4, 3.79, WHIP 1.25), Lowell Tincher (4-8, 3.54, WHIP 1.30) and closer Wilbert Cagle (4-2, 21 SV, 2.38, WHIP 1.20). This year's first-rounder, leftie Johnny Westerman (4.66 in 9 2/3 IP, WHIP 1.24) is beginning to settle as a pro.


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

Another big series coming up in Tampa... It's time to return the favor of three weeks ago and beat the Tomahawks in their own house!

We finally called up Steve Brown. You can only ignore power like that for so long... Our friends in Winston-Salem might not be happy about it, but Frank Thomas swings a pretty big bat too, especially for AAA, so they shouldn't be in danger of losing their 15 1/2 game lead over the other Eastern Division AAA teams...

Kevin Hodgkins is starting to worry me. He's given up at least one run in eight of his last twelve appearances, not much of a record for a closer. Problem is, nobody else around here can close either... Bingham can't go back-to-back days, Thorn I'd rather keep as a leftie specialist, Randolph has too _much_ endurance to be stuck as a closer, and Jahnke just doesn't throw hard enough. That leaves Houston, who actually has some good numbers for a mop-up man, 3.57 ERA and 1.24 WHIP, but he has a tendency to give up longballs... not a trait you'd want in your closer.

You probably noticed some (more) changes to the lineup, so here's the basic rundown right now, with their stats against righties:

CF Matt Kirk (.321, 7 HR, 28 RBI, 5 SB)
1B Chris Wayman (.307, 3 HR, 30 RBI)
C Mike Weber (.351, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 3 SB)
LF Steven Robinson (.300, 6 HR, 48 RBI, 11 SB)
SS Dave Powell (.316, 3 HR, 29 RBI)
3B Valentine Stephens (.267, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
2B Russ Roderick (.308, 2 HR, 28 RBI)
RF Walt Finney (.212, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 1 SB) or Mike Sutton (.271, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 7 SB)

Finney and Sutton switch depending on who's hot or not. Right field is probably the position I'll be looking to upgrade next month... it would be sooner but the prospect everybody seems to want, Walt Russell, just strained his back in his second AA start. It'll be a couple weeks before he's ready to go again, so don't expect much movement on the trade front before the All-Star Game.

Speaking of that, be sure to come out to the ballpark soon to vote your Flyers into the All-Star Game... I think we could have as many as five!