Impossible Dream???

June 27,28,29 at Cleveland Indians (39-39)

June 27-An error by Billy Grabarkewitz allowed Dan Monzon score from thrid base in the bottom of the 8th inning, helping the Indians squeak past the Red Sox 4-3. (55-24)
W-Chuck Machemahl (4-5) L-Jonah Stickles (8-4) S-Bob Terlecki (7)

June 28-Chris Chambliss went 3-5 with 4 RBI, and Ken Brett came up with 7 solid innings, allowing just a pair of runs as Boston beat the Indians 7-3. (56-24)
W-Ken Brett (3-1) L-Steve Hargan (7-6)

June 29-Reggie Smith and Ted Simmons went a combined 9-12 with 6 runs scored and 3 RBI, and Billy Conigliaro (5) and Chris Chambliss (2) each hit 2 run homeruns as Boston doubled up Cleveland 12-6. (57-24)
W-Gary Nolan (9-5) L-John Denny (4-12) S-Vern Ruhle (1)

June 30, July 1,2 at Baltimore Orioles (37-44)

June 30-Rico Petrocelli and Dwight Evans each drove in runs in the top of the 9th to break a 7-7 tie, helping Boston beat Baltimore 9-7. Chris Chambliss added 3 more RBI, giving him 9 in the last 3 games. (58-24)
W-Cecil Upshaw (5-0) L-Daryl Patterson (2-7) S-Sparky Lyle (20)

July 1-Brooks Robinson had 3 hits, and an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning off Steve Foucault, helping the Orioles beat Boston 5-4. Ted Simmons hit a 2 run HR (15) in the loss. (58-25)
W-Daryl Patterson (3-7) L-Steve Foucault (1-1)

July 2-Davey Johnson hit a pinch hit, 3 run HR off Fergie Jenkins in the 7th inning, breaking a 3 all tie, and leading the Orioles to a surprising victory over Jenkins and the Sox, winning 6-3. (58-26)
W-Wayne Garland (6-4) L-Fergie Jenkins (15-3) S-Elias Sosa (13)

MLB Injury News:

More bad news for the Houston Astros, who are mired in last place in the NL West, losers of 10 of their last 12 games, as they lost OF Bobby Tolan for the year with broken wrist suffered after being hit by a pitch last week. Tolan was hitting .275 10-45 this year, after 3 straight years over .315, including a line of .324 17-74 with 31 steals a year ago.

Up next for Boston is 3 last games before the All-Star Break at home against the Texas Rangers.

July 3,4,5 v Texas Rangers (39-45)

July 3-Reggie Smith hit a leadoff homerun, and Doug Rau pitched 7 innings of 1 run ball, striking out 7 as Boston beat Texas 4-1. (59-26)
W-Doug Rau (1-1) L-Bill Moran (0-3) S-Sparky Lyle (21)

July 4-Tony Conigliaro lit off some fireworks of his own today as he hit a go ahead grand slam in a 6 run 7th inning, helping Boston overcome a 3-0 defecit en route to a 6-4 win. (60-26)
W-Roger Moret (4-5) L-Jim Maloney (4-8) S-Sparky Lyle (22)

July 5-Tony C. continued his hot hitting with 2 hits and 3 RBI and George Brett, after changing his batting stance added 3 hits, including 2 doubles and 2 RBI (Editors Note: His hitting ratings increased) as Boston entered the All-Star Break with a 7-6 win and a sweep of the Rangers. (61-26)
W-Steve Foucault (2-1) L-Tom Dukes (1-1)

Up next is the All-Star Break report!

1974 Home Run Derby

The Red Sox were well represented in this years Derby as Reggie Smith put on an excellent show reaching the finals before losing to Dave Kingman in "Extra Innings". Kingman followed up his opening round of 14 homeruns with 7 in the 2nd round, and after tying with Smith with 4 homeruns in the finals, beat Smith 3-2 in extra innings for the win. Complete totals below:

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1974 Home Run Showdown

FIRST ROUND (10 Outs)

PLAYER                          HOMERS
Dave Kingman (SFG)                  14
Mike Schmidt (CHC)                  10
Bill Melton (CHW)                    8
Reggie Smith (BOS)                  7
George Foster (CLE)                  6
Bobby Bonds (SFG)                    6
John Mayberry (KCR)                  4
Willie Horton (DET)                  4
Earl Williams (MON)                  4
Joe Lis (PHI)                        1

SECOND ROUND (5 Outs)

PLAYER                          HOMERS
Dave Kingman (SFG)                  7
Reggie Smith (BOS)                  4
Bill Melton (CHW)                    3
Mike Schmidt (CHC)                  3

FINAL ROUND (5 Outs)

PLAYER                          HOMERS
Dave Kingman (SFG)                  3
Reggie Smith (BOS)                  3

EXTRA INNINGS (3 outs)

PLAYER                          HOMERS
DAVE KINGMAN                        3
Reggie Smith                        2

    WINNER: Dave Kingman

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1974 All-Star Game

In a wild game, featuring 26 hits and 15 runs, the National League, lead by a 3 run HR by MVP Tony Perez, nip the American League 8-7. Ted Simmons (0-4 1BB) was named to the team as a starter, and Reggie Smith (0-1), Fergie Jenkins (2 IP 4 H 3 R), and Sparky Lyle (1/3 IP 1 K) were also named to the team. Boxscore below:

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American League All Stars at National League All Stars
July 10, 1974

                    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
      All Stars (AL) 1 0 0 1 2 2 0 0 1    7 14  2
      All Stars (NL) 0 1 0 3 0 0 1 3 x    8 12  0

AMERICAN LEAGUE      ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb    avg
J. Fregosi (SS)      5  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .267
R. Monday (CF)        4  3  1  2  1  3  1  2    .294
T. Simmons (C)        4  0  1  0  0  0  1  0    .336
J. Mayberry (1B)      4  1  1  1  1  2  1  0    .292
G. Foster (RF)        5  2  0  0  0  0  0  0    .326
W. Horton (LF)        5  3  0  2  2  2  2  0    .315
B. Melton (3B)        2  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .296
 B. Hansen (P)        3  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .317
D. Johnson (2B)      5  2  0  1  0  0  0  0    .311
 J. Lowenstein (P)    0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .367
 R. Smith (P)        1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .356
 H. Hill (P)          1  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    .297
 R. Fairly (P)        1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .316
 M. Sanguillen (P)    1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .362
TOTALS              41 14  4  7  4  7  6  2

  2B:  D. Johnson, W. Horton
  HR:  J. Mayberry, W. Horton 2, R. Monday

                  ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
        J. Reuss  1.0  1  0  0  0  0  0  10  2.88
    D. Lemanczyk  3.0  3  1  0  1  0  2  54  3.27
      F. Jenkins  2.0  4  0  1  3  3  1  48  2.56
  J. Strohmayer  1.2  4  2  1  4  4  2  45  1.80
        S. Lyle  0.1  0  0  0  0  0  1  8  1.88
          TOTALS  8.0 12  3  2  8  7  6 165

NATIONAL LEAGUE      ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb    avg
B. Bonds (CF)        3  3  2  0  0  1  0  0    .331
 W. Mays (P)          0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .289
J. Lefebvre (2B)      5  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .269
D. Kingman (1B)      5  0  0  0  0  0  3  0    .290
 E. Williams (P)      0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .228
D. Baylor (RF)        4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .357
M. Schmidt (3B)      4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .284
H. McRae (LF)        4  1  0  1  0  0  1  0    .392
T. McCarver (C)      3  2  1  2  0  0  0  0    .301
D. Menke (SS)        4  3  0  2  0  1  0  0    .296
 J. Lahoud (P)        1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .272
 T. Perez (P)        1  1  0  1  1  3  0  0    .335
 J. Lis (P)          1  1  0  1  1  1  0  0    .310
 J. Morgan (P)        1  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    .282
TOTALS              36 12  3  8  2  6  6  0

  2B:  D. Menke, B. Bonds, H. McRae
  HR:  T. Perez, J. Lis
  GIDP:  J. Lefebvre, D. Menke

                  ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
      E. Sprague  2.0  2  2  1  1  1  3  38  1.59
    J. Marichal  2.0  2  1  1  1  1  0  34  4.15
        D. Ellis  2.0  7  0  1  4  4  2  41  3.19
      D. Bosman  1.0  2  0  0  0  0  0  19  2.45
    P. Gilliford  1.0  0  1  0  0  0  1  19  1.92
    T. Plodinec  1.0  1  0  1  1  1  0  18  3.05
          TOTALS  9.0 14  4  4  7  7  6 169

    WP: P. Gilliford
    LP: J. Strohmayer
    SV: T. Plodinec

    Temperature: 68F
    Wind: 10 MPH (in from left)
    Attendance: 50,235
    Time: 3:24

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Boston did not stand pat during the All-Star break, ensuing that a couple of key components would be in Boston for years to come. First, expecting the loss of Cecil Upshaw after this year, Boston has come to terms with RP Gene Garber on a 3 year contract extention worth $111,000 per year. The Sox ripped up Garber's 1 year $80,000 deal to sign him through the 1976 season. Garber has struggled at times this year, going 1-2 5.40. In 29 games, he has pitched 26 innings, allowing 42 hits while walking 16 and striking out 29.

The big deal however was announced prior to the All-Star Game as Ted Simmons and the Red Sox have agreed to make Simmons the 4th highest paid player in the game and the highest paid catcher ever as Simmons and the Red Sox agreed to a 5 year deal worth 2.44 million dollars. Simmons is the games premier offensive catcher, hitting .336 16-56 on the year with 25 doubles and a 33/28 BB/K ratio after hitting .327 29-116 a year ago. His signing means he will be locked up through 1978 when he is 29 years old.

MLB Trade News:

There was one deal that went down this week and it saw the Houston Astros send disappointing P Steve Carlton (89) to the San Fransisco Giants for prospect P Randy Jones (81/94). I'd have to give the edge to Houston here as Carlton was only 2-11 with a 7.90 ERA and was 4-17 7.04 in just under a season for the Astros. Jones was 11-5 2.78 in AAA this year and is expected to move right into the Astros rotation.

Leading off the 2nd half of the season for Boston is 6 games on the road, the first three in Cleveland against the Indians followed by 3 against the Orioles in Baltimore.

I'm shocked that Carlton's fizzling out so badly. I guess this version is going to have trouble making the HoF. :(

A great show by the BoSox in the All Star Game! It's a shame Smith couldn't quite take the HR Derby

Cat: There have been a couple of players in my world that are nowhere close to how they performed in real life. Carlton is career 60-86 4.93 ERA, but he was 41-33 in 3 years in Boston, so 19-53 elsewhere. The other one is Carlton Fisk, who until this year, never made it out of the minors, and he's gone 5-40 3 RBI so far as Simmons backup. However, that's one of things I love about BM, you just never know.

July 12,13,14 at Cleveland Indians (44-43)

July 12-Billy Conigliaro drove in Toby Harrah in the 10th inning to help Boston open the 2nd half of the season with a come from behind 8-7 victory over Cleveland. Boston trailed 6-3 after 5 innings, but scored 2 in the 7th, and 2 in the 9th on a 2 run HR by Billy Grabarkewitz to tie the score. (62-26)
W-Gene Garber (2-2) L-Rick Austin (5-1) S-Sparky Lyle (23)

July 13-Reggie Smith homered twice (25,26), and Rico Petrocelli hit a 3 run blast (10), to help Boston outlast the Indians 8-6. (63-26)
W-Gary Nolan (10-5) L-Jerry Koosman (6-5) S-Sparky Lyle (24)

July 14-Jonah Stickles pitched 7 innings of 2 run ball and Reggie Smith continued his hot streak, with 2 hits including his 27th HR of the year as Boston completed the sweep of the Indians, winning 4-3. (64-26)
W-Sparky Lyle (6-1) L-Bob Terlecki (0-1)

July 15,16,17 at Baltimore Orioles (44-46)

July 15-Rock Colavito went 2-4 with a HR (6) and 5 RBI, and Ted Simmons hit his 18th HR of the year, a 2 run shot, as Ken Brett won his 4 game in 5 decisions in a 9-5 win over the Orioles. (65-26)
W-Ken Brett (4-1) L-Carroll Sembera (2-4) S-Vern Ruhle (2)

July 16-Willie McCovey homered and drove in 4 runs, and Fergie Jenkins pitched another complete game, allowing 6 hits and 2 runs while walking 3 and striking out 6 as Boston beat up on Baltimore 9-2. (66-26)
W-Fergie Jenkins (16-3) L-Wayne Garland (6-5)

July 17-Rico Petrocelli went 2-4 with a pair of homeruns, including a grand slam in a 6 run 5th inning, and Rocky Colavito continued to hit the ball hard in limited play time, hitting his 7th HR in just his 15th game as Boston completed the sweep, and extended their winning streak to 9 with a 10-5 win over Baltimore. (67-26)
W-Gary Nolan (11-5) L-Woodie Fryman (7-5)

MLB Trade News:

Houston sends P Danny Coombs (79/80)
New York NL sends P Terry Forster (73/83)
Another nice deal by the Astros, as they send a 32 year old middle reliever to the Mets for a 22 year old who already has the same skill set.

MLB Contracts:

The Philadelphia Phillies have locked up surprising 1B Joe Lis to a 3 year contract worth $254,000 per year. Lis is hitting .301 25-73 this year, after breaking out last season with a line of .274 27-107. Lis is also an excellent fielder with a .995 fielding percentage this year thusfar.

MLB Retirements:

P Jim Bouton retired this week after 12 years after he was released by the only team he ever played for, the New York Yankees. Bouton was 111-96 3.45 for the Yankees from 1962-1973. He had 2 20 win seasons (1969 20-7, and 1963 21-7). He was a two time All-Star (1963,69) and won the Cy Young in 1969 after going 20-7 with a 2.24 ERA. In 253 IP he struck out 182 and walked just 75.

MLB Injuries:

Bill Stein of the Pittsburgh Pirates will miss the rest of the season with a broken foot. Stein was having a breakout year, hitting .364 1-36 with 30 doubles after hitting .321 2-49 a year ago. Veteran Bob Johnson will take Stein's place in the lineup.

Up next for the Sox is 3 games at home against the Cleveland Indians followed by 3 games in the Bronx to face the Yankees.

July 18,19,20 v Cleveland Indians (45-48)

July 18-George Brett had 3 hits and 2 RBI, and Toby Harrah added a 2 run HR, his 15, helping Roger Moret, who pitched his best game of the year, a complete game 5 hit shutout, striking out 6 as Boston blanked Cleveland 7-0. (68-26)
W-Roger Moret (5-5) L-Charles Lemay (5-8)

July 19-Toby Harrah hit a solo HR, and George Brett drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Red Sox won a pitchers duel, 2-1 from the Indians. Jonah Stickles pitched 9 innings, allowing 1 run and struck out 7 in the win. (69-26)
W-Sparky Lyle (7-1) L-Rick Austin (5-2)

July 20-Reggie Smith hit a 2 out, 3 run HR off Chuck Machemahl in the bottom of the 9th inning, to give Boston a 5-3 victory over the Indians. Fergie Jenkins pitched 8 innings, striking out 10 in the victory. (70-26)
W-Steve Foucault (3-1) L-Chuck Machemahl (4-6)

July 21,22,23 at New York Yankees (53-43)

July 21-John Young went 3-5 with 3 RBI, and Jim Ray Hart hit a 2 run HR, as New York nipped Boston, ending the Sox 12 game winning streak, 5-3. (70-27)
W-Wayne Simpson (13-4) L-Gary Nolan (11-6) S-Ron Klimkowski (2)

July 22-4 different Yankees drove in runs, and Mel Stottlemyre pitched a complete game, scattering 9 hits, while walking none and striking out 5 as New York squeaked past Boston 4-2. (70-28)
W-Mel Stottlemyre (11-5) L-Roger Moret (5-6)

July 23-Billy Grabarkewitz (11), George Brett (8) and Billy Conigliaro (6) each hit homeruns as Boston avoided the sweep, outslugging the Yankees 9-7. Al Yates homered twice, driving in 4 in the loss. (71-28)
W-Gene Garber (3-2) L-Ron Klimkowski (2-5) S-Sparky Lyle (25)

MLB Milestones:

Joe Lahoud of the Pittsburgh Pirates hit for the cycle

Ending July for the Sox are 6 games at home, the first three against the Cleveland Indians followed by 3 vs the Baltimore Orioles.

July 24,25,26 v Cleveland Indians (46-53)

July 24-George Brett went 3-4 with a 3 run HR, his 9th of the year in the 3rd inning and it helped Boston squeak past Cleveland 4-3. (72-28)
W-Fergie Jenkins (17-3) L-Steve Hargan (7-8) S-Sparky Lyle (26)

July 25-Billy Grabarkewitz drove in Tony Conigliaro with an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving Boston a come from behind 7-6 victory. Tony C. went 2-4 with 2 RBI in the victory. (73-28)
W-Steve Foucault (4-1) L-Bob Terlecki (0-2)

July 26-Dwight Evans hit a 2 run HR on the first pitch he saw after coming back off the disable list, and Billy Grabarkewitz hit his 11th of the year, a solo shot as Boston completed the sweep, beating the Indians 7-1. (74-28)
W-Vern Ruhle (2-1) L-Charles Lemay (5-10)

July 29,30,31 v Baltimore Orioles (46-53)

July 29-Fergie Jenkins pitched a complete game, 4 hit shutout, walking just 1 and striking out 11, and Tony C. (19) hit a 3 run HR as Boston blanked the Orioles 6-0. (75-28)
W-Fergie Jenkins (18-3) L-Wayne Garland (6-6)

July 30-Boog Powell and Davey Johnson each hit homeruns, and Woodie Fryman pitched 7 1/3 innings of 1 run ball as Baltimore roughed up Gary Nolan and the Sox 6-1. (75-29)
W-Woodie Fryman (9-5) L-Gary Nolan (11-7)

July 31-Frank Robinson hit a 2 run HR, his 13th of the year, and 6 other Orioles drove in runs as the Orioles beat up on the Sox 11-4. (75-30)
W-Paul Mitchell (5-5) L-Vern Ruhle (2-2) S-Carroll Sembera (2)

MLB Trade News:

A few deals went down leading up to the trade deadline:

New York (NL) sends P Gary Serum (49/76)
Oakland sends P Hank Fischer (73/74)
Edge Mets as Serum was an undrafteed FA played in Puerto Rico 2 weeks ago.

Detroit sends P Phil Meeler (73/83)
Kansas City sends OF George Hendrick (83/84)
Don't quite understand this one from KC's point of view. Meeler is a couple years away and Hendrick was cost controlled and one of the Royals few offensive threats.

Houston sends Dick Woodson (86)
New York (NL) sends 2B Juan Bonilla (49/83), P Bob Stanley (67/81), P Jeff Reardon (59/80)
Another good deal for the Astros as they get 3 promising prospects, 2 of whom should really solidify their bullpen in a couple years.

MLB Contract News:

The New York Mets have signed ace Tom Seaver to a 4 year contract worth $341,000 per year. Seaver has struggled a little bit this year, going 11-10 with a 4.43 ERA. In 150 IP he has struck out 143. Last year Seaver went 20-9 3.02 with 203 strikeouts. Seaver has 7 straight seasons of over 235 innings pitched.

MLB Milestones:

Tom Paciorek of the St. Louis Cardinals hit for the cycle

Larry Hisle of the Philadelphia Phillies hit for the cycle

Tony Oliva notched his 2000th career hit, a single in a 6-5 loss to the California Angels.

MLB Retirements

Dennis Bennett retired after 12 big league seasons this week. Bennett pitched for Philadelphia (1962-1965), Boston (1965-1969), and Seattle/Milwaukee (1969-1973). He was a career 88-86 pitcher whose best season was 1969 when he went 18-5 3.46 for the Red Sox. In 1597 career innings, he struck out 1136. He was named to the All-Star team in 1968.

MLB Injuries:

Dave Robinson of the Oakland A's will miss the next two months with a torn elbow ligament. Robinson was hitting .279 7-66 so far this year, and hit .256 23-76 a year ago. With Reggie Jackson also out for the year, the A's offense will really struggle with only Rick Monday and Sal Bando as legitimate offensive threats.

Bill Robinson of the Montreal Expos will miss the rest of the year after suffering a broken ankle. He was hitting .238 9-37 after breaking out with a .243 19-73 a year ago.

Up next for the Sox starting off August is an extended home stand that starts with 3 against the Orioles followed by 3 against the Detroit Tigers.

Well since I forgot to post team stats and league standings at the end of July, here they are!

Complete Team Batting Stats Through August 6-(team leaders in bold)

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1974 Batting            Team    G  AVG    AB    H  2B  3B  HR  BB    K  SB  CS    R  RBI  SLG  OBP
Smith, Reggie            BOS  106  .347  453  157  31  4  32  70  74    3  0  107  96  .645  .433
Harrah, Toby              BOS  103  .279  420  117  25  0  17  53  38    9  2  73  70  .460  .363
Conigliaro, Tony          BOS  97  .254  409  104  20  2  21  39  69    0  0  63  86  .467  .326
Simmons, Ted              BOS  95  .349  401  140  30  3  22  44  30    0  0  77  70  .603  .416
Evans, Dwight            BOS  98  .285  375  107  21  3  15  62  76    1  0  75  55  .477  .387
Brett, George            BOS  98  .292  360  105  23  11  9  38  37    5  2  65  55  .492  .362
Petrocelli, Rico          BOS  86  .237  342  81  13  2  14  33  65    0  0  48  48  .409  .301
Grabarkewitz, Billy      BOS  74  .295  261  77  7  2  13  38  47    6  2  41  46  .487  .381
Conigliaro, Billy        BOS  54  .314  207  65  13  2  6  19  47    0  0  40  32  .483  .368
McCovey, Willie          BOS  55  .229  205  47  8  2  7  33  45    0  0  28  30  .390  .344
Chambliss, Chris          BOS  45  .296  186  55  9  2  2  11  18    0  0  28  27  .398  .333
Bowa, Larry              BOS  39  .225  111  25  6  0  0    8    8    6  3  10    8  .279  .277
Colavito, Rocky          BOS  19  .212    66  14  0  1  8    2    7    0  0  16  17  .606  .236
Fisk, Carlton            BOS  16  .200    55  11  2  0  0    4  12    0  0    3    6  .236  .246
Ruhle, Vern              BOS  18  .000    4    0  0  0  0    0    2    0  0    0    0  .000  .000

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Complete Team Pitching Stats Through August 6-(team leaders in bold)

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1974 Pitching            Team    IP  ERA    G  GS  W  L  SV    K  BB  R/9
Lyle, Sparky              BOS  51.0  1.94  41  0  7  1  27  36  11  9.18
Foucault, Steve          BOS  44.0  2.25  37  0  4  1  0  27  11 10.84
Guidry, Ron              BOS  36.1  2.72    5  5  4  1  0  29    9 11.64
Jenkins, Fergie          BOS 209.1  2.75  27  27  18  4  0  177  37 10.10
Mingori, Steve            BOS  27.1  2.96  18  0  3  1  0  19  13 12.84
Upshaw, Cecil            BOS  44.2  3.43  36  0  5  0  1  25  13 11.89
Stickles, Jonah          BOS  148.0  3.89  21  21  8  4  0  80  41 12.47
Ruhle, Vern              BOS  56.2  3.97  21  3  3  2  3  24  14 12.71
Garber, Gene              BOS  48.1  4.47  37  0  3  2  1  32  19 13.59
Moret, Roger              BOS  91.2  5.01  15  15  7  6  0  60  33 13.75
Nolan, Gary              BOS  164.0  5.49  26  26  12  7  0  112  53 14.21
Brett, Ken                BOS  63.0  6.43  14  11  4  1  0  33  25 16.29
Rau, Doug                BOS  18.0  6.50    8  2  1  1  0    9  14 17.50

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League Standings Through August 6-

What happened to George Scott, Jim Rice and Fred Lynn?

Oh...for the record, I started a 1967 season. Traded Fisk for Bench. Traded TonyC for Hank Aaron in 1970 which is how long it took me to win the WS. 1967 wasn't even close. Those guys wern't very good and would have been worse if I hadn't shipped Lonborg out of there.

Pavelb1-George Scott is the starting DH for the Detroit Tigers. He played for the Sox through 1969, when he was traded to the LA Dodgers. He played sparingly, being stuck being Steve Garvey. He played there for 2 seasons before signing with Detroit in 1972. He has 187 career homeruns, 1117 hits and a career .272 average.

Jim Rice is currently in the Cleveland Indians system. He is in A ball and is rated (72/94). Fred Lynn is in the Kansas City Royals chain. He is in A ball as well and is rated (75/90).

August 2,3,4 v Baltimore Orioles (48-54)

August 2-The Red Sox sent 15 men to the plate in the first inning, scoring 10 runs capped by back to back homeruns by Ted Simmons and Tony Conigliaro, en route to a 19-9 win over Jim Palmer and the Orioles. Simmons went 4-6 with a HR and 5 RBI and Dwight Evans added 4 hits and 3 RBI in the victory. (76-30)
W-Roger Moret (6-6) L-Jim Palmer (10-10)

August 3-The Orioles pounded out 12 hits over 6 innings against Fergie Jenkins, including a HR by Felipe Alou as Baltimore surprised the Sox, winning 6-3. (76-31)
W-Dave Roberts (5-6) L-Fergie Jenkins (18-4)

August 4-Billy Grabarkewitz (13) and Reggie Smith (30) each hit 3 run homeruns as Boston beat up on the Orioles 10-4. Dwight Evans added 3 hits in the victory. (77-31)
W-Gary Nolan (12-7) L-Wayne Garland (6-7)

August 5,6,7 v Detroit Tigers (58-30)

August 5-Tony Conigliaro had 2 hits including his 21st homerun of the year, a 2 run shot, and Vern Ruhle pitched 7 2/3 innings of 1 run ball helping Boston beat Detroit 4-1. (78-31)
W-Vern Ruhle (3-2) L-Mickey Lolich (10-6) S-Sparky Lyle (27)

August 6-Reggie Smith hit a 3 run homerun, and George Brett added 3 hits and 3 RBI helping Roger Moret, who pitched 7 innings, allowing just 2 runs and striking out 5 as Boston beat up on the Tigers, winning 7-2. (79-31)
W-Roger Moret (7-6) L-Pat Dobson (10-9)

August 7-Fergie Jenkins pitched 7 innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 runs while striking out 3, and Tony Conigliaro had 3 hits, including a HR and 4 RBI as Boston completed the sweep of the Tigers, winning 10-3. (80-31)
W-Fergie Jenkins (19-4) L-Mike Krukow (4-12)

MLB Injuries:

Jerry Stephenson of the Oakland A's will miss the remainder of the season with a broken leg. Stephenson 5-11 with a 7.64 ERA this year. Stephenson's best season was with the Red Sox in 1970, when he went 16-5 3.22 in 163.2 innings covering 27 starts.

The Orioles lose the services of 2B Davey Johnson for the rest of the year with a ruptured disc in his back. Johnson was hitting .311 17-67 this year after hitting .320 6-32 last year while missing most of last year with a broken elbow.

Up next for Boston is a continuation of their homestand as they face the Oakland A's for 3 followed by the Milwaukee Brewers for a 3 game set.

August 8,9,10 v Oakland Athletics (40-71)

August 8-In a wild game, Andre Thornton and Rick Monday each hit 3 run homeruns as Oakland held off a Boston comeback to nip the Sox 9-8. Oakland took a 5-0 lead in the first, Boston came back to take a 8-7 lead, and in the 6th, Monday and Thornton each drove in runs to help Oakland retake the lead, and the A's bullpen shut down the Sox for the final 4 2/3 innings. (80-32)
W-Larry Andersen (3-0) L-Cecil Upshaw (5-1) S-Jerry Crider (7)

August 9-George Brett hit a first inning grand slam, and Toby Harrah hit an 8th inning slam as Boston hammered the A's 11-1. Rookie Vern Ruhle pitched his first career complete game, allowing 6 hits, walking 1 while striking out 5 (81-32)
W-Vern Ruhle (4-2) L-Steve Blass (3-10)

August 10-Rick Monday went 4-5 with 5 RBI and 3 runs scored, and the A's took two of three, banging out 18 hits in a 11-8 slugfest win over Boston. (81-33)
W-Gary Waslewski (1-0) L-Doug Rau (1-2) S-Greg Washburn (13)

August 11,12,13 v Milwaukee Brewers (52-59)

August 11-Bruce Christensen and John Knox each drove in single runs in the 9th inning, and Denny McClain somehow managed to pitch into the 8th despite walking 8 batters and allowing just 1 run as Milwaukee beat Boston 3-1. (81-34)
W-Jim York (6-3) L-Fergie Jenkins (19-5)

August 12-Reggie Smith (34), Ted Simmons (24), Tony Conigliaro (24) and Billy Grabarkewitz (15) each hit homeruns, and Boston pounded out 11 runs and 18 hits as they beat up on the Brewers 12-7. (82-34)
W-Jonah Stickles (9-4) L-Mike Marshall (1-2)

August 13-5 Different Brewers drove in runs, lead by rookie Doug DeCinces as Milwaukee took two of three from the Sox, winning 5-3. (82-35)
W-Brian Mogford (9-11) L-Vern Ruhle (4-3) S-Lyle Richardson (14)

MLB Contracts:

The New York Yankees and P Chris Nelson have agreed to a 2 year contract extension worth approximately $500,000 total. Nelson has gone 13-8 3.53 this year, his second with the Yanks. He has a career line of 38-39 4.34, while pitching for Montreal, Cincinnati and New York.

C Bob Boone and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a 2 year contract extension worth $251,000 per year. Boone has been a workhorse for the Phillies over the last two seasons, playing every single game for the last 1+ year. He is hitting .280 8-54 this year after hitting .281 18-77 a year ago.

MLB Milestones:

Reggie Smith of the Boston Red Sox scored his 1000th career run

MLB Retirements:

Ray Culp retired this week after playing for 11 seasons with Philadelphia (1963-1966), Chicago (NL) (1967-1972), Chicago (AL) (1973-1974). Culp had a career line of 115-98 3.69. His best season came in 1970 with the Cubs when he was 17-10 3.34, when he struck out 192 in 234 1/3 innings. He made one All-Star team in 1963.

MLB Injuries:

The St. Louis Cardinal playoff push suffered a hit this week when they lost starting RF Tom Paciorek until May of next year with a broken wrist. Paciorek was hitting .307 12-64 this year to go along with 25 doubles. Paciorek hit .271 9-57 last year, his first with the Cards after spending his first 4 years with the Montreal Expos.

The Oakland A's continue to suffer serious injuries as now 3B Sal Bando will miss the rest of the year after suffering a torn ligament in his knee. Bando was hitting .266 11-50. Bando had hit at least 20 homeruns for 5 straight years and drove in 100+ for 4 straight seasons.

Up next for the Red Sox are 3 games at home against the Detroit Tigers followed by 3 in the Bronx against the New York Yankees.