[jmm8356]

Flyers Weekly, Volume XXIV, Issue 31 - October 18, 1971

The Flyers drop Games 5 and 6, losing the Confederate Series for the first time in three trips. A tough way to end a successful first year for Jeremy McGrath, the first time in CBA history that a rookie manager led his team to the postseason.


Last Week's Results

Oct 11 - vs DAL - L 6-8

Skipper Jeremy McGrath's ejection in the 8th inspires the team to score three in the bottom of the 9th, but the Flyers still fall two runs short. Bill Morgan (4 2/3 IP, 6 R, 8 H, 2 BB, 5 K) is hit hard, while Thorn (1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H) and Jahnke (1 IP, 1 R, 3 H) give up two runs in the 8th. The Flyers get the tying run on first in the 9th, but Valentine Stephens (0 for 5) grounds out to end the game. Dale Francis goes 3 for 5 with a double and a run, driving in two; Matt Kirk adds a 3 for 4 night with a run and an RBI.

L - Morgan (1-1)

Oct 12 - OFF

Oct 13 - at DAL - L 2-5

The third bullpen loss of the series puts the Flyers out of their misery, as Kevin Hodgkins (1 IP, 1 R, 1 H) gives up a solo shot to ex-Flyers C Mark Johnson in the 7th that breaks the two-all tie. Matt Halstead (6 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 2 BB, 3 K) keeps the game close against Drifters starter John Philips (6 2/3 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K), but the same cannot be said for Hodgkins, Justin Randolph (1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H) and Robin Houston (1/3 IP, 2 H). Francis drives in both Carolina runs with a single in the 3rd.

L - Hodgkins (0-1)

Playoffs: 2 - 4


Who's Hot

Matt Kirk
Last 7 games: 9-25 (.360), 0 HR, 4 RBI

Keith Becker
Last 3 games: 2-0, 2.50 ERA, 18 IP

Who's Not

Mike Weber
Last 5 games: 1-21 (.048), 0 HR, 1 RBI

Steven Robinson
Last 5 games: 2-20 (.100), 0 HR, 2 RBI


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

Well, the haunting thought for me will be "What if I hadn't fiddled with the lineup?"... but even though Matt Kirk (6 for 21) outperformed Steven Robinson (3 for 23, 2 BB), I feel like it was actually a positive to have Kirk near the other guys who actually hit the ball, namely Dave Powell (9 for 23) and Jeff Harvey (5 for 11).

Chris Wayman had an OBP of .481 (7 for 20, 6 BB) for the series, but without Mike Weber (2 for 24) contributing, Dale Francis (7 for 26, 3 2B) couldn't make up the difference, though he did end up with six RBIs...

I don't know who to focus on for the pitching side of the ledger... The only performances I could call "great" was Bud Fox's Game 4 start (W, 6 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 7 K) and Keith Becker's Game 3 start (8 IP, 1 R, 7 H, 0 BB, 7 K). George Thorn (4 G, 2 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 BB) is obviously the worst offender, but no one in the bullpen was really on the ball...

On the other hand, asking all the relievers to be perfect, because the starters are only going five innings and the offense is only going to put up two runs, isn't really fair either...

All in all, we went a lot further than I thought we would, and I had a lot more fun than I ever had up north... so let's do it again next year!