[jmm8356]

Flyers Weekly, Volume XXV, Issue 9 - May 15, 1972

Winning four of their five games last week, the Flyers stretch their Eastern Division lead out to 2 1/2 games over new second-place rival Tampa. After an off day today, the club finally returns to State Fair Park to play three against New Orleans (including Mini Bat Day on Wednesday), followed by three with Nashville.


Last Week's Results

May 8 - OFF

May 9 - at MEM - W 5-4 (11)

Alan Bruns' pinch hit with two down in the top of the 11th scores Mike Weber (0 for 2, 3 BB, 2 R) from second to win this seesaw game. Entering a two-all tie with one on and two out in the 8th, George Thorn (1/3 IP, 1 H) gives up a RBI-double. The Flyers score two in the top of the 9th to retake the lead, but Terry Bingham (1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) blows his first save of the year with a little help from Dale Francis (3 for 6, 2B, 2 R, RBI), who makes his first error at short. Keith Becker (7 2/3 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 2 K) throws well, but Kevin Hodgkins gets the win (1 IP, 1 H, 1 K); Justin Randolph (1 IP, 1 K) earns the save.

W - Hodgkins (3-1)
SV - Randolph (1)

May 10 - at MEM - W 17-3

With three runs in the 1st, five runs in the 3rd and six runs in the 9th, the Flyers top the Blues by two touchdowns for the two-game sweep. Seventeen hits and fourteen walks (including seven with the bases loaded) propel Carolina to victory. While Matt Halstead (7 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 4 K) is pitching a solid game, twelve different Flyers get a hit, led by Bruns (2 for 5, 3 R), Weber (2 for 3, 2B, 2 R, RBI), Rick Roberts (2 for 3, 4 BB, R, 2 RBI) and Everett Putman (1 for 5, 3 R, 2 RBI). Halstead even contributes, hitting a two-run double and scoring in the 3rd.

W - Halstead (3-0)
HR - LaFontaine (4)

May 11 - OFF

May 12 - at SAN - L 1-2

Talk about adding insult to injury! First, Bill Morgan (4 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K) is hit by a line drive off the bat of Missions CF Paul Goode in the 5th, then he is hung with the loss when John Jahnke (1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K) allows Goode to score. Morgan leaves the game with a broken jaw; he may be out for as long as a month.

L - Morgan (2-1)

After the game, Morgan is put on the DL, but no immediate replacement is called up.

May 13 - at SAN - W 6-4

Frank Thomas goes 3 for 5, hitting his second career homer in the 4th. while Clark Davidson (2 for 5, R) and Jack Lowe (2 for 4, RBI) both add a pair of hits to the winning effort. Justin Nowlin (5 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 5 BB, 4 K) struggles with his control but gets the win.

W - Nowlin (4-2)
SV - Bingham (11)
HR - Thomas (1)

After the game, the team activates SP Ken Green [7/5/5] (3.52 in 15 1/3 IP this year, 9-13 with a 3.75 ERA in AA Daytona (DAL) last year), recently claimed on waivers from Memphis.

May 14 - at SAN - W 5-3

Valentine Stephens hits 3 for 5, including a three-run homer in the 3rd, while Weber's (1 for 2, 2 BB, 2 R) 443-foot shot to right scores two in the 1st. Becker (6 2/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K) has a decent outing; Hodgkins (1/3 IP), Randolph (1 IP, 1 H) and Bingham (1 IP, 1 H, 1 K) close out the Carolina win.

W - Becker (3-2)
SV - Bingham (12)
HR - Weber (6), Stephens (2)

Last week: 4 - 1
This month: 7 - 4
Overall: 26 - 11, 1st, +2 1/2 on Tampa


Who's Hot

Frank Thomas
Last 5 games: 8-16 (.500), 1 HR, 2 RBI

Alan Bruns
Last 5 games: 4-12 (.333), 0 HR, 3 RBI

Matt Halstead
Last 3 games: 2-0, 1.35 ERA, 20 IP

Who's Not

Mike Sutton
Last 6 games: 2-14 (.143), 0 HR, 3 RBI


A Closer Look - AA Hickory

Hickory has the second-best record in Double-A, 22-15. The most impressive hitters thus far have been the team's catchers, Frank Saville (age 30, .348, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 7 2Bs, 23 BB) and Ron Ayres (age 32, .320 in 50 AB, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 12 BB). 2B Martin Sansone (age 25, .323, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 6 2Bs, 9 SB), SS Kyle Smith (age 30, .295, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 27 BB) and LF Clement Bodine (age 32, .281, 6 HR, 18 RBI, 26 BB) also contribute to this veteran squad. Starters Bryant Hamilton (age 31, 2-1, 3.34, WHIP 1.04) and Chase Nelson (age 25, 4-0, 2.44, WHIP 1.31) have thrown well, along with relievers Tim Pauly (age 35, 11 SV, 1.61 in 22 1/3 IP, WHIP 1.21) and Dave Reed (age 28, 3.32 in 21 2/3 IP, WHIP 1.11). Wilbert Cagle (age 22, 3-2 in 4 GS, 2 SV, 4.46 in 34 1/3 IP, WHIP 1.49) is just getting comfortable after making the transition from closer to starter.


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

See how lucky we were last year? Now half of the opening day rotation is on the disabled list! Ken Green is one of those guys who was a hot prospect, once upon a time, but he's been kicking around the minors for quite a while now... He's still just 26, though, and he's with his third team this year... Miami tried to send him down, but Memphis claimed him, then the Blues tried to send him down, but we claimed him! We probably would have tried to send him down too, but since we have a hole in the rotation, we might as well see what he can do...

It looks like the hitters got the memo, but Memphis pitching makes everybody look good... I mean, seven RBI-walks?! Enough said...

Everett Putman looks more and more like a guy who's not quite ready for the bigs... 1 for 11 last week makes him 3 for 18 (.167) overall... so Alan Bruns might break back into the lineup after all...

Robin Houston is skating on thin ice too... A 1.86 WHIP in 16 2/3 IP is not quite what I'm looking for, especially for $1.3 mil...

But besides all that, things are great! Back home again this week, so c'mon down to the ballpark!