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Flyers Weekly, Volume XXIV, Issue 25 - September 6, 1971

Both Carolina and Jacksonville split their six games last week, so the Flyers continue to hold a 3 1/2 game lead in the Eastern Division race. The club returns to Charlotte this week to play two against Norfolk (including Batting Glove Day today), two against Atlanta, and three against Tampa (with Baseball Cap Day on Friday).


Last Week's Results

Aug 30 - at SAN - L 3-4

Bill Morgan (6 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 K) has a good night, both on the mound and at the plate (2 for 2, RBI), but Justin Randolph (1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 K) cannot keep the Missions from scoring two in the 7th, turning a one-run Flyers lead into a one-run loss.

L - Randolph (9-5)

Aug 31 - at SAN - W 10-7

After giving up a pair of two-run homers in the 1st, Roger Coomes (6 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 2 K) settles into a groove in his first start in two months, and the Flyers score eight runs in the next four innings, thanks to Valentine Stephens (2 for 4, HR, 3 RBI), Dave Powell (2 for 5, R, 2 RBI) and Russ Roderick (2 for 5, 2 R). Coomes even drives in a pair with a single in the 2nd!

W - Coomes (5-7)
SV - Bingham (6)
HR - Stephens (8)

After the game, the team announced their September callups. From AAA Winston-Salem, SP Bill Frazier (17-5, 3.84, WHIP 1.37), RP Dave Brown [6/8/3] (2.73 in 52 2/3 IP, WHIP 1.12), C Gary Armitage (.278 in 237 AB, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 79 BB), 1B Steve Brown (.262 in 328 AB, 28 HR, 85 RBI, 78 BB, 23 2Bs), 3B Darrel Robinson (.342 in 152 AB, 8 HR, 38 RBI, 28 BB), LF Frank Thomas (.293 in 205 AB, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 45 BB) and CF Rudy Olson (.307 in 449 AB, 9 HR, 61 RBI, 20 2Bs, 12 SB) are all recalled. RP Chad Williams [4/6/4] (5.23 in 32 2/3 IP, WHIP 1.56), SS Bill Oliver [1/1/3] (.268 in 41 AB) and CF Danny Bowen [2/6/4] (.239 in 209 AB, 11 HR, 35 RBI, 42 BB) are called up from AA Hickory, and RP Robin Houston is activated from the DL, though the club says he likely will not throw at all until the final week of the season.

Sept 1 - at SAN - W 4-2

Chris Wayman (2 for 4) hits a two-run homer in the 5th, but it is Stephens' (2 for 4) two-run single in the 7th that provides the margin of victory. Matt Halstead (6 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 H, 5 K) wins his eleventh straight decision, while the bullpen of Dave Brown (1 IP, 1 K), Hodgkins (1 1/3 IP, 1 K), Thorn (1/3 IP) and Bingham (1/3 IP) no-hit the Missions in the final three frames. Walt Finney, in as a defensive replacement in the 9th, leaves the game in pain after making a play in right; a sore back will put him on the shelf for at least a week.

W - Halstead (12-3)
SV - Bingham (7)
HR - Wayman (6)

Sept 2 - OFF

Sept 3 - at HOU - L 5-7

Keith Becker (5 IP, 5 R, 7 H, 3 BB, 2 K) gives up three taters, while John Jahnke (1 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 BB) also allows a longball to give the Buffaloes a 7-3 lead in the 8th. The Flyers manage two runs on bases-loaded walks in the 9th, but Thomas strikes out swinging to end the threat and the game. Roderick hits 3 of 4, scoring twice in the losing effort.

L - Becker (10-8)

Sept 4 - at HOU - W 7-3

Steven Robinson goes 2 for 4 with two runs and four RBIs, including a two-run homer in the 8th as the Flyers come back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Buffaloes. Carolina scores five in the 7th on four hits and four walks, with Powell contributing a two-run double. Bud Fox (5 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 2 BB, 2 K) does not see the comeback, so John Jahnke (1 IP) earns the win with a perfect 6th. Bingham (1/3 IP) comes in with two on and two out in the 9th and throws two pitches for the save.

W - Jahnke (4-2)
SV - Bingham (8)
HR - S. Robinson (10)

Sept 5 - at HOU - L 4-6

Morgan (4 2/3 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 4 BB) nearly escapes a poor outing with a chance for his fifteenth win until Buffaloes 1B Steven Wells hits a three-run shot down the line to right in the 5th for a 5-3 Houston lead. Matt Kirk hits a double, a triple, and a homer on the night, yet scores just twice and drives in only one run.

L - Morgan (14-5)
HR - Kirk (14), Stephens (9)

Last week: 3 - 3
This month: 2 - 2 (21 - 7 in August)
Overall: 84 - 52, 1st, +3 1/2 on Jacksonville


Who's Hot

Dave Powell
Last 5 games: 7-17 (.412), 0 HR, 4 RBI

Valentine Stephens
Last 6 games: 9-22 (.409), 2 HR, 6 RBI

Matt Kirk
Last 6 games: 7-23 (.304), 1 HR, 2 RBI

Matt Halstead
Last 3 games: 2-0, 0.87 ERA, 20 2/3 IP

Bud Fox
Last 3 games: 2-0, 2.33 ERA, 19 1/3 IP

Who's Not

Nobody!


A Closer Look - Carolina

With the September callups, the Flyers have thirty-six players on the roster at the moment (though Houston, Finney and Olson are unavailable due to injury):

SP Keith Becker (10-8, 3.62, WHIP 1.13)
SP Bill Morgan (14-5, 3.85, WHIP 1.25)
SP Matt Halstead (12-3, 2.28, WHIP 1.06)
SP Bud Fox (8-4 in 17 GS, 3.04, WHIP 1.24)
SP Roger Coomes (5-7 in 16 GS, 5.81, WHIP 1.51)
SP Bill Frazier (0-2 in 3 GS, 7.36, WHIP 1.98)

RP Justin Randolph (3.82 in 96 2/3 IP, WHIP 1.34)
RP John Jahnke (1.57 in 80 1/3 IP, WHIP 1.10)
RP Kevin Hodgkins (31 SV, 4.04 in 71 1/3 IP, WHIP 1.36)
RP Terry Bingham (8 SV, 3.44 in 68 IP, WHIP 1.13)
RP George Thorn (2.05 in 66 IP, WHIP 1.24)
RP Robin Houston (3.19 in 59 1/3 IP, WHIP 1.18)
RP Bob Lamb (5.06 in 10 2/3 IP, WHIP 1.88)
RP Dave Brown (9.00 in 8 IP, WHIP 1.25)
RP Chad Williams (0 IP in bigs this year, 3.38 in 8 IP last season)

C Mike Weber (.308, 19 HR, 69 RBI, 95 R, 82 BB, 28 2Bs, 6 3Bs)
C Jack Lowe (.270 in 126 AB, 2 HR, 17 RBI)
C Gary Armitage (.310 in 29 AB, 1 HR, 5 RBI)

1B Chris Wayman (.319 in 348 AB, 6 HR, 47 RBI, 62 R, 47 BB)
1B Steve Brown (.196 in 97 AB, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 19 BB)

2B Russ Roderick (.308, 7 HR, 66 RBI, 72 R, 20 2Bs, 5 3Bs)
2B Jeff Harvey (.241 in 79 AB, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 19 BB)
2B Clark Davidson (.314 in 35 AB, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 6 BB)

3B Valentine Stephens (.285 in 263 AB, 9 HR, 40 RBI, 19 2Bs)
3B/SS Alan Bruns (.330 in 185 AB, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 28 R, 24 BB, 6 2Bs)
3B Darrel Robinson (.206 in 180 AB, 5 HR, 32 RBI)

SS Dave Powell (.312, 7 HR, 76 RBI, 59 R, 12 2Bs)
SS Bill Oliver (0 AB in bigs this year, .250 in 172 AB last season)

LF Steven Robinson (.312, 10 HR, 85 RBI, 76 R, 61 BB, 17 2Bs, 28 SB)
LF Walt Finney (.215 in 256 AB, 4 HR, 36 RBI, 45 BB, 9 2Bs)
LF Frank Thomas (.164 in 61 AB, 1 HR, 7 RBI)

CF Matt Kirk (.307, 14 HR, 57 RBI, 77 R, 11 2Bs, 8 3Bs, 13 SB)
CF Rudy Olson (.125 in 16 AB, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
CF Danny Bowen (1 AB this season, .161 in 56 career at-bats)

RF Dale Francis (.289, 16 HR, 76 RBI, 84 R, 73 BB, 17 2Bs, 8 3Bs)
RF Mike Sutton (.288 in 215 AB, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 8 2Bs, 11 SB)


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

Well, that road trip went a bit too long, I think...

Actually, we had a chance to win every game this week, but either the bullpen would give up an extra run or two, or we just couldn't get the clutch hit in the 9th. Those are two areas we'll need to improve if we want to win the championship.

Unlike most teams, everybody we called up was already under a major league contract, so we've gone from a middle-of-the-road payroll to the second-lowest current payroll in the league!

Speaking of money, we're on pace to bring 150,000 more fans to the park this year than last year, collecting nearly $2 million more in gate revenue. So we should be in very good financial shape this offseason and could be active in the free agent market, depending on how big a raise a few players (Steven Robinson, Weber, Becker, Thorn) get in arbitration.

To thank our fans for their great support, we have some terrific giveaways next week... come on out and cheer us to the pennant!