[jmm8356]

Flyers Weekly, Volume XXIV, Issue 19 - July 26, 1971

The Flyers held station in the Eastern Division last week, still two games behind the Jacksonville Ospreys. The club opens their first homestand in two weeks with Retro Game Day today against Miami. After three games with the Meteors and an off day Thursday, a weekend set with Tampa rounds out the week.


Last Week's Results

July 19 - OFF

July 20 - at MEM - L 3-5

Miscues lead to four runs for the Blues in the decisive 7th inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Dave Powell makes a wild throw to the plate, a two-run error, followed with a passed ball by Jack Lowe and a wild pitch by Bill Morgan (7 IP, 5 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 7 K) scoring two more. Dale Francis has a two-RBI night; Matt Kirk adds a solo shot in the 9th.

L - Morgan (10-4)
HR - Kirk (9)

After the game, the team announces that Dave Powell has come down with a viral infection and will be out of action for about a week. [No email and no note in Injury News... lucky I check the Roster Report for injuries every day.]

July 21 - at MEM - W 2-0

Matt Halstead (6 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K) and the bullpen of Randolph (1 IP, 2 H, 1 K), Thorn (2/3 IP, 1 BB), Bingham (1/3 IP) and Hodgkins (1 IP, 1 H, 1 K) combine to shutout the Blues, while Kirk goes 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI.

W - Halstead (8-3)
SV - Hodgkins (22)

July 22 - at MEM - W 7-6 (10)

Russ Roderick's (3 for 6) second double of the night in the 10th scores Walt Finney to win this seesaw affair. Entering a one-run game with the bases loaded and two out in the 8th, Hodgkins (1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H) gives up a three-run double to Blues 3B George Hecker, followed by a run-scoring single for a three-run deficit and Hodgkins' ninth blown save. In the 9th, Mike Weber (3 R) triples, Francis (2 for 6, 2 RBI) singles, Valentine Stephens hits a pinch-hit double, and Jack Lowe (2 for 4, 2 RBI) singles to tie the game, then Memphis manager Dave Boger is ejected arguing a caught stealing that ends the Blues' 9th. Finney draws a walk to leadoff the 10th, and Kirk bunts him over to second to set the stage for Roderick.

W - Bingham (3-1)
SV - Jahnke (2)

July 23 - at NWO - W 7-5

Another bullpen blowup and another comeback victory produced by the Flyers today. With a three-run lead in the 8th, Randolph (2/3 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 4 H) allows two singles and a triple in between two outs. Then Francis muffs a fly ball in right, scoring the tying run, and Pelicans pinch-hitter Bill Waldrup smacks a double down the right-field line for a 5-4 New Orleans lead. In the 9th, Weber (2 for 5, 2B, 3B, 2 R, RBI) triples and Francis gets the free pass to put runners on the corners with one out. After Steven Robinson whiffs, a wild pitch ties the game and Finney hits a pinch-hit two-run homer for the win. Bud Fox (6 IP, 1 R, 8 H, 2 K) gets a tough no-decision; Alan Bruns hits 3 of 5, making him 5 for 14 while subbing for Powell.

W - Jahnke (3-2)
SV - Hodgkins (23)
HR - Stephens (4), Finney (4)

July 24 - at NWO - L 1-4

Pelicans starter Gene Arndt (W, 6-7, 8 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K) gets his revenge on the Flyers after being waived last month, while Calvin Thayer (7 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 4 BB, 9 K) has a rocky debut for Carolina.

L - Thayer (5-5)
HR - Weber (12)

July 25 - at NWO - W 7-5

Every Flyers position player has at least one of their seventeen hits, led by Stephens (3 for 4, 2B, 2 R, RBI) and Kirk (2 for 5, HR, 2 RBI). Steven Robinson adds a two-run homer in the 5th, while Morgan (5 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 6 BB, 3 K) muddles his way to his eleventh win, one behind the league lead, disappointing a crowd of 32,763 for Mini Bat Day at Bridge Street Park.

W - Morgan (11-4)
SV - Hodgkins (24)
HR - Kirk (10), S. Robinson (8)

Last week: 4 - 2
This month: 13 - 8
Overall: 57 - 42, 2nd, -2 of Jacksonville


Who's Hot

Valentine Stephens
Last 5 games: 6-15 (.400), 1 HR, 3 RBI

Matt Halstead
Last 4 games: 3-0, 0.74 ERA, 24 1/3 IP

Calvin Thayer
Last 3 games: 2-1, 2.53 ERA, 21 1/3 IP

Who's Not

Bud Fox
Last 3 games: 0-2, 5.40 ERA, 15 IP


A Closer Look - AA Hickory

At 56-43, Hickory is just one loss behind the best record in AA. Top prospect 1B Everett Putman (age 22, .313, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 38 BB, 18 2Bs) has just about played his way out of town already, while SS Kyle Smith (age 29, .250, 15 HR, 46 RBI, 50 R, 70 BB, 14 2Bs) has been a pleasant surprise. Chase Nelson (age 24, 11-6, 2.96 ERA, WHIP 1.24) has thrown well, and Howard Terry (age 25, 4-0 in 6 GS, 2.03, WHIP 1.01) is also 4-0 in six starts at AAA Winston-Salem. This year's first rounder, leftie Johnny Westerman, (2.08 in 21 2/3 IP at A-ball, WHIP 1.11) was just promoted from Columbus this week.


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

We were very lucky to win four of six last week with all the mistakes and poor relief work. I'll be glad to see State Fair Park again... that's for sure.

Dave Powell should return for the Tampa series, but there's not a big rush, considering Alan Bruns hit .318 last week. I think he'll be in the mix for the starting third baseman job next year.

Chris Wayman could be back at first base by the middle of next week, but Roger Coomes is not healing well, so don't expect him until late August...

It's good to see a few balls leaving the park from our bats, for a change... now we just have to figure out how to do it when there are actually runners on base!

Not much activity on the trade front, but (a) there's plenty of time left and (b) I'm pretty happy with the roster, as is...

Today is the first home game since July 11, so c'mon down and see us!