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Flyers Weekly, Volume XXIV, Issue 32 - October 25, 1971

Final Report Card Edition

Awards and Honors

Jeremy McGrath is named Eastern Division Manager of the Year for guiding the Flyers to a 98-win season and the pennant after the team finished 80-82 last year.

Matt Halstead wins his second Hurler of the Year award. Matt went 14-4 with a 2.32 ERA on the year, walking just twenty batters in 197 2/3 innings for a 1.09 WHIP. His ERA was second-best in the league, while 0.9 walks per nine tops the CBA.

Russ Roderick wins his first Slick Fielder award at second base. While his sixteen errors tied for the league lead amongst second basemen, his 837 chances (.981 fielding percentage) tops the league by almost 40.


Starting Pitchers - Grade: A-

It'd be hard to ask for a better threesome than Matt Halstead (14-4, 2.32, WHIP 1.09), Keith Becker (14-8, 3.49, WHIP 1.09) and Bill Morgan (15-7, 3.82, WHIP 1.26). Bud Fox (9-8 in 22 GS, 3.60, WHIP 1.32) was a solid #4 once he was given the chance. Calvin Thayer (2-1 in 4 GS, 3.03, WHIP 1.22) has departed, but Christopher Horan (1-1 in 3 GS, 3.44, WHIP 1.25) also looked good in a short stint. The remaining starters were a mess: Roger Coomes (5-8 in 17 GS, 5.34, WHIP 1.43), Gene Arndt (2-4 in 10 GS, 4.96, WHIP 1.78) and Bill Frazier (0-3 in 4 GS, 6.66, WHIP 1.93). Luckily, only the latter of the three remain with the team.


Relief Pitchers - Grade: A

Terry Bingham (6-0, 12 SV, 2.63 in 41 IP, WHIP 1.15) was an effective closer, despite taking a loss in the postseason, while Kevin Hodgkins (3-9, 31 SV, 4.07 in 84 IP, WHIP 1.36) seemed to settle into the set-up role in September (WHIP 1.13). John Jahnke (4-2, 2 SV, 2.10 in 90 IP, WHIP 1.22) was a key free agent pickup; George Thorn (6-0, 3 SV, 2.19 in 74 IP, WHIP 1.20), Robin Houston (3-1, 3.25 in 61 IP, WHIP 1.16) and Justin Randolph (10-5, 2 SV, 3.68 in 110 IP, WHIP 1.35) all turned out surprisingly good, considering they were claimed on waivers. Bob Lamb (2-1, 1 SV, 2.70 in 20 IP, WHIP 1.40) impressed when called up but is now with Jacksonville. Evan Becnel (1-1, 1 SV, 5.32 in 22 IP, WHIP 1.86), traded to Dallas, will not be missed.


Catchers - Grade: A+

Mike Weber (.315, 24 HR, 86 RBI, 108 R, 92 BB, 32 2Bs, 7 3Bs) was clearly the team's MVP and would have been a good choice for Eastern Division MVP as well. Jack Lowe (.280 in 125 AB, 2 HR, 17 RBI) and Gary Armitage (.238 in 42 AB, 1 HR, 7 RBI) are adequate backups, though neither is great defensively. Mark Johnson (.333 in 99 AB, 3 HR, 24 RBI) could not sit on the bench forever, even though Dallas turned out to be not quite far enough away.


First Basemen - Grade: B+

Chris Wayman (.324 in 444 AB, 6 HR, 52 RBI, 73 R) could have scored 100 runs if he had not missed seven weeks to injury. Steve Brown (.111 in 45 AB, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 10 BB) never found the stroke he had in AAA (.262 in 328 AB, 28 HR, 85 RBI, 78 BB, 23 2Bs).


Second Baseman - Grade: B

Russ Roderick (.313, 7 HR, 77 RBI, 83 R, 24 2Bs) lost some power but gained batting average, along with winning a Slick Fielder. Jeff Harvey (.218 in 87 AB, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 22 BB) had nine pinch-hits and ten "pinch-walks". Clark Davidson (.293 in 58 AB, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 20 R, 12 SB) showed he was ready to start next season and was a key pinch-runner down the stretch.


Third Basemen - Grade: C

Valentine Stephens (.283 in 311 AB, 12 HR, 52 RBI, 23 2Bs) was another key waiver acquisition, while Darrel Robinson (.206 in 199 AB, 6 HR, 35 RBI) was a less impressive pickup.


Shortstops - Grade: B-

Dave Powell (.309, 8 HR, 86 RBI) is beginning to show his age at 37 but still contributes. Alan Bruns (.316 in 209 AB, 1 HR, 24 RBI) hit well but cannot find a way to break through at either short or third. We prefer to forget that Ed Rooker (.174 in 23 AB) existed.


Left Fielders - Grade: A

Steven Robinson (.311, 11 HR, 96 RBI, 84 R, 20 2Bs, 29 SB) was a big surprise, playing his first full season in the bigs at age 34. Walt Finney (.219 in 274 AB, 4 HR, 38 RBI) struggled at the plate but was the best defensive outfielder on the bench after Mitchell was traded. Frank Thomas (.170 in 53 AB, 1 HR, 5 RBI) was disappointing after some good AAA numbers (.293 in 205 AB, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 42 R, 45 BB).


Center Fielders - Grade: B-

Matt Kirk (.305, 15 HR, 66 RBI, 87 R, 12 2Bs, 9 3Bs) was another pleasant surprise, likely making his curtain call at age 38. Rudy Olson (.111 in 27 AB) has not shown he's ready to take over here.


Right Fielders - Grade: B+

Dale Francis (.320 in 256 AB, 5 HR, 42 RBI, 42 R, 14 2Bs) was a key pickup, leading the August push that gave the Flyers the division lead. Mike Sutton (.297 in 239 AB, 3 HR, 38 RBI, 11 2Bs, 12 SB) became a solid bench player, leading the team with ten pinch hits. Lloyd Mitchell (.265 in 68 AB) was a good backup but improved greatly with more regular playing time with Nashville (.302).


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

Despite the disappointing end, I think you'd have to call this season a success. Going from 80-82 to 98-64 is nothing to sneeze at, plus we got the financial situation back in order...

Speaking of the bottom line, with the nearly $2.3 million in postseason money, we ended up with total revenues of $85.2 mil, up from $79.5 last year. The rest of the increase is due to increased attendance; we drew 2,776,709 to the park this year, compared to 2,607,280 last season, and bumped ticket prices up a couple times when the park was filling up...

More importantly, we cut expenses from $96.5 mil a year ago to $71.3 mil this year, for a net profit of nearly $14 million (and $1.4 mil cash on hand). This should allow us to pick up a free agent or two, though I expect our current payroll of nearly $60 mil will jump $8 to $10 mil with Steven Robinson, Sutton, Becker, Houston, Hodgkins, Randolph, Thorn and Weber headed to arbitration.

Another plus is that most of the team will be back next year... Kirk has said he'll be retiring, which is a shame, while Wayman, Roderick and Harvey are our only free agents. Davidson will be the new second baseman, but first base is wide open. If Putman isn't ready to jump from AA, that leaves Steve Brown, Darrel Robinson or even Alan Bruns... Bruns doesn't play first, technically, but did play a few games there this year without incident.

So knowing now what this team can do, I see no reason why we can't do it again (and one better!) next season... The only problem is... it's a long time to wait! See ya next spring!