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Flyers Weekly, Volume XXV, Issue 32 - October 23, 1972

Final Report Card Edition

Awards and Honors

Jeremy McGrath wins his second Manager of the Year award, the first time in CBA history that a skipper has won the award in his first two years in the league. Setting a new league record with 108 wins, Jeremy improved the team's record by ten games despite suffering four season-ending injuries during the year.

Bill Morgan wins the Confederate Series MVP award after clinching the championship with his win in Game 5. Bill struck out twelve San Antonio batters in his twelve innings of work, while allowing just nine hits, two walks, and one run for a 0.75 ERA.

Mike Weber wins his first Slick Fielder award at catcher. Mike led the league's backstops in both fielding percentage (.995) and caught stealing percentage (55 of 120, 45.8%) this season.


Starting Pitchers - Grade: B+

Bill Morgan (15-4, 2.60, WHIP 1.16) and Keith Becker (14-10, 3.04, WHIP 1.04) are amongst the best in the league, and Justin Randolph (19-6, 3.36, WHIP 1.26) was just as effective as a starter as he had been coming out of the pen. Bill Frazier (12-5, 4.34, WHIP 1.47) and Ken Green (11-8 in 23 GS, 4.47, WHIP 1.39) won their share of games despite some less-than-stellar numbers. Other starters included Matt Halstead (3-0 in 10 GS, 1.84) and Justin Nowlin (4-4 in 10 GS, 5.34) who are no longer with the team, along with Christopher Horan (2-0 in 1 GS, 4.20), Gerald Bonham (1-0 in 1 GS, 6.51) and Bud Fox (1-1 in 2 GS, 2.80).


Relief Pitchers - Grade: A

Terry Bingham (2-2, 40 SV, 3.27 in 52 1/3 IP, WHIP 1.26) led the CBA in saves, but the whole bullpen was made up of potential closers: Kevin Hodgkins (6-2, 7 SV, 1.89 in 71 1/3 IP, WHIP 1.02), Bruce Rafferty (2-0, 2 SV, 1.93 in 32 2/3 IP, WHIP 1.29), Oscar Matthews (2-1, 2 SV, 2.38 in 45 1/3 IP, WHIP 1.28) and even Dave Elliot (2-2, 1 SV, 2.68 in 57 IP, WHIP 1.23). Less effective were former Flyers John Jahnke (3.91 in 53 IP), George Thorn (4.35 in 49 2/3 IP) and Robin Houston (5.31 in 20 1/3 IP), plus current members Bob Lamb (4.16 in 26 IP), Dave Brown (3.86 in 21 IP) and Johnny Westerman (5.00 in 9 IP).


Catchers - Grade: A

For the second straight year, Mike Weber (.294, 20 HR, 85 RBI, 92 R, 84 BB, 15 2Bs, 8 3Bs) could have easily won the Eastern Division MVP. Jack Lowe (.282 in 110 AB, 5 HR, 23 RBI) was an effective backup before he was traded to Atlanta, but Tom VanWinkle (.217 in 83 AB, 2 HR, 10 RBI), Ron Ayres (.111 in 36 AB) and Gary Armitage (0 for 10) all struggled with the role.


First Basemen - Grade: C

Everett Putman (.299 in 331 AB, 0 HR, 44 RBI, 16 2Bs) had a decent rookie season, though you'd hope he'd show more power than the typical shortstop. Darrel Robinson (.272 in 206 AB, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 9 2Bs) was an important contributor off the bench, but Steve Brown (.198 in 121 AB, 3 HR, 10 RBI) struggled to hit big-league pitching for the second straight year.


Second Basemen - Grade: C

Clark Davidson (.261, 7 HR, 48 RBI, 92 R, 80 BB, 40 SB) really put it together late in his first full year in the bigs, and Thomas Wilkins (.415 in 41 AB) was a key September callup. Jeff Harvey (.244 in 41 AB) and Eddie Chaney (.214 in 14 AB) have departed and will not be missed.


Third Basemen - Grade: B-

Mike Schaaf (.296, 13 HR, 80 RBI, 19 2Bs) greatly improved the hot corner when he was acquired from Memphis for Valentine Stephens (.263 in 156 AB). Dave Snow (.310 in 142 AB) played more at third after being picked up from Norfolk to take over second from Davidson. Troy Shaughnessy (0 for 3) got a look-see in September.


Shortstops - Grade: C+

After hitting .316 in a half-season last year, Alan Bruns (.271, 4 HR, 57 RBI) hit less but walked more (70 BB, OBP .376). Henry McKie (.250 in 20 AB) had a good September.


Left Fielders - Grade: C+

Steven Robinson (.290 in 200 AB) started the most games in left before being sent to Norfolk; John Trull (.293 in 174 AB, 14 2Bs) and John Hoyle (.256 in 86 AB, 4 HR) were effective replacements, while Frank Thomas (.286 in 185 AB, 1 HR), Walt Finney (.222 in 18 AB) and Rudy Olson (1 for 6) were not.


Center Fielders - Grade: A

Paul LaFontaine (.360, 10 HR, 80 RBI, 95 R, 24 2Bs) was everything Carolina thought he would be when they committed to pay him $40 million over five years. John Swanson (.315 in 89 AB, 2 HR, 9 2Bs, 3 3Bs) looked good in his limited action.


Right Fielders - Grade: A-

Dale Francis (.311, 17 HR, 91 RBI, 93 R, 27 2Bs) hit well, no matter what position he was asked to field (46 GS at RF, 45 GS at SS, 36 GS at LF). Rick Roberts (.221 in 367 AB, 4 HR, 38 RBI, 63 BB) started out strong but faded late in the year. Mike Sutton (.200 in 60 AB) showed little before going to Norfolk.


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

And I said _last_ year was a success! A league record for wins and a championship... what more could you ask for?

Despite a slight drop in attendance (2.70 million versus 2.78 million last year), we made over $3.6 million more in gate revenue this year, since last year's success allowed us to keep the ticket price at $13 almost all year.

Overall, we took in $88.6 mil and paid out $75.0 mil in payroll. Adding our $13.5 mil profit to $10.4 cash means we'll just sneak under the $25 million cash cap. It also means that our funds are virtually unlimited next year, since anything more than a couple mil of profit will be wasted... However, a lot of Flyers are headed to arbitration: Becker, Jeremiah Davis, Weber, Hodgkins, Fox, Randolph, Roberts, Elliot, Robinson, Swanson, Bruns and Rafferty...

Yet they'll all be back, while Powell, Hoyle, Matthews, Bingham and Trull will be free agents... The only possible hole is losing two relievers, but we have about eight big-league starters on the roster, so it just means Randolph and perhaps one other starter will end up in the bullpen.

So there's no reason we can't repeat, especially if we stay healthier next season... I can't wait for next year! See you then!