An Englishman in New York (or, British Invasion:The Second Echelon)

[kevarms]

Next time ... more thrilling trade news (betcha can't wait ), current league leaders, Hall of Fame inductions and find out which Mets make the All Star game.

PoC13: It was a nice draft wasn't it ? I've actually heard of some of the players It's too late now but I wish I had picked Griffey. Still, I got The Sarge so it could have been worse.

3RunHomer: @ the Pythons sketch. How can I call a baseball team the Lumberjacks without thinking of that all the time? I like Phoenix Scorpions btw. Now I'm torn between that and the Coyotes (since the hockey team doesn't exist yet I have first dibs on that name).

[PotatoOfCouch13]

July 2: Our pitchers look to be off to a good month

I read this and immediately thought to myself:

"KNOCK ON WOOD! KNOCK ON WOOD!"

Alas, it wasn't meant to be.

You are keeping yourself above .500, so if you can string a few victories together, you could be right in the thick of things.

[kevarms]

Time for the All Star break and we have almost a full week off. Probably just as well given the current state of our pitching rotation.

Here are the current league leaders.

		American League	        National League	         NY Mets

Batting Ave	.346 Carew (MIN)	.388 Clemente (PIT)	.312 Freehan

Home Runs	21 Matthews (DET)	 31 Howard  (ATL)	13 Buford
								13 Jones

RBI		70 Mantle (NYY)	        78 Howard (ATL)	        49 Buford

OBA		.427 Yastrzemski(BOS)	.440 Parker (LAD)	.408 Freehan
		
Steals		29 Campaneris (SDA)	35 Morgan (HOU)	        13 Buford (#5 in NL)



ERA		2.30 Jackson (BAL)	2.30 Jenkins (CHC)	2.64 Seaver (#2 in NL)

Wins		12 Palmer (BAL)	        12 Sutton (LAD)		10 Bolin (#5 in NL)
								*with Giants

Strikeouts	116 Lolich (DET)	124 Sutton (LAD)	94 Seaver

Saves		13  3-way tie		12 Perranoski (LAD)	11 Taylor (#2 in NL)

And the current league standings:

American League				        National League

		W	L	GB				W	L	GB
Baltimore	49	32	--		Houston	        51	33	--
New York	45	39	5.5		Pittsburgh	50	34	1
Minnesota	44	40	6.5		Los Angeles	49	35	2
Detroit		44	40	6.5		NEW YORK	44	40	7
Boston		41	40	8		Philadelphia	43	41	8
Cleveland	41	43	9.5		San Francisco	39	42	10.5
California	42	45	10		Chicago	        39	45	12
Chicago	        43	47	10.5		Atlanta		36	48	15
San Diego 	38	46	12.5		Cincinnati	36	51	16.5
Washington	33	48	16		St Louis	33	51	18

[kevarms]

1968 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES


Hal Newhouser - Signed by his hometown club in 1939, Newhouser's breakout season came in 1944 when he led the league in wins (29-9) and strikeouts (187) , which won him the AL MVP Award. He won the Pitching Triple Crown the following year, again picking up the MVP Award, and helped the Tigers to a World Series win. He was won of the top pitchers in the game until an arm injury in 1950 resulted in fewer starts. He saw out his career with Indians where he was a succesful long reliever. (Tigers 1939-53, Indians 1954-55)

Early Wynn - One of the most feared pitchers in the game, Wynn was part of the strong Indians rotation that included Bob Feller, Bob Lemon and Mike Garcia. He was the AL Strikeout Champion in his last season with the Indians in 1957 and he repeated the next year with his new team the White Sox. In 1959, at the age of 39, he won the Cy Young Award leading the Sox to the AL pennant with a 22-10 record. He returned to the Indians in 1963 where he picked up his 300th career win (10th All Time) before retiring. (Senators 1939-49, Indians 1949-57, White Sox 1958-62, Indians 1963)

Bob Lemon - Playing his entire career in Cleveland, Lemon started out as a third baseman, converting to pitcher at the suggestion of manager Lou Boudreau. In 1948 he went 20-14 to help the Indians to World Series victory. In his twelve year career Lemon posted 20+ win seasons seven times. (Indians 1946-58)

Johnny Mize - Nicknamed 'The Big Cat' for his adeptness as a first baseman, Mize won the NL Batting Title and led the league in home runs with the Cardinals in 1939. Traded to the New York Giants in 1941, Mize played one season before serving in the military, returning to baseball in 1946. He came within one of winning the Home Run title that year. In 1947 he tied for the Home Run title, with the Pirates Ralph Kiner also hitting 51. Incredibly, the two tied again for the lead in 1948, this time with 40. He spent the last five years of his career with the Yankees, playing a supporting role as they won the World Series five years straight. (Cardinals 1936-41, Giants 1942-49, Yankees 1949-53)

[kevarms]

1968 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR ROSTER

Starters

C	Earl Battey		MIN	
1B	Fred Whitfield		CLE	- *1st All Star, age 30, injured
2B	Davey Johnson		BAL
3B	Harmon Killebrew	MIN
SS	Dick McAuliffe		DET	-injured
OF	Mickey Mantle		NYY	-16th All Star, injured
OF	Frank Robinson 	        BAL
OF	Chuck Hinton		CLE


Bench

LF	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	- 
1B	Ernie Banks		CWS	- 10th All Star
RF	Reggie Jackson		SDA	- *1st All Star
C	Buck Rodgers		CAL	- *1st All Star, age 30
C	Tom Haller		NYY
2B	Cesar Tovar		MIN	- *1st All Star


Pitchers

SP	Andy Messersmith	CAL	- *1st All Star
SP	Phil Ortega		WSA	- *1st All Star
SP	Jim Palmer		BAL
SP	Larry Jackson		BAL
SP	Mudcat Grant		MIN
SP	Jim Perry		MIN
SP	Mel Stottlemyre		NYY

RP	Dick Radatz		CLE
RP	Jack Aker		SDA
RP	Clay Carroll		BOS	- *1st All Star
RP	Fred Gladding		DET	- *1st All Star

[kevarms]

1968 NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR ROSTER

Starters

C	Joe Torre		ATL
1B	Wes Parker		LAD	- *1st All Star
2B	Joe Morgan		HOU
3B	Bob Bailey 		LAD	- *1st All Star
SS	Jim Fregosi		PIT	
OF	Roberto Clemente	PIT	- 9th consecutive, injured
OF	Frank Howard		ATL	- *1st All Star, age 32, injured
OF	Hank Aaron		ATL	- 14th consecutive


Bench

LF	Willie Stargell		PIT	- 5th consecutive
OF	Billy Williams		CHC	
OF 	Tommy Harper		CIN	- *1st All Star
IF	Don Buford		NYM	- *1st All Star, age 31
CF	Willie Davis		PHI	- *1st All Star
CF	Willie Mays		SFG	- 15th consecutive


Pitchers

SP	Bob Gibson		STL	
SP	Fergie Jenkins		CHC	- *1st All Star
SP	Don Sutton		LAD	- *1st All Star
SP	Juan Marichal		SFG	- 7th consecutive
SP	Tom Seaver		NYM	- *1st All Star
SP	Don Wilson		HOU	- *1st All Star
SP	Don Drysdale		LAD	

RP	Dick Hall		PHI	- *1st All Star, age 37
RP 	Ron Perranoski		LAD	- *1st All Star, age 32
RP	Pete Mikkelson		PIT	- *1st All Star
RP	Ron Taylor		NYM	- *1st All Star, age 30

[kevarms]

1968 ALL STAR GAME

The Astrodome in Houston was host to this year's All Star game. The event accomplished three firsts: first All Star game in Texas, first time indoors and first All Star game on an artificial surface.
The American League would have to do without Mickey Mantle (replaced by Carl Yastrzemski). However, last year's AL Rookie of the Year Reggie Jackson would be making his first All Star appearance
For the National League Pittsburgh's Jim Fregosi would start at shortstop. He represented the AL in last year's game.
Accompanying me to to Texas for the game were no less than three Mets players: Don Buford and pitchers Tom Seaver and Ron Taylor. I am particularly pleased for Ron who has established himself as one of the top closers in the game since we converted him to the role last year.

Starting for the Nationals was the Cardinals Bob Gibson. Although not able to dominate batters this year he is still one of the most feared and respected pitchers in the National League. He takes every game seriously and this one is no exception. The American's first batter, Cesar Tovar, faces a couple of screaming fastballs than are a shade under 100 mph. He takes two balls then hits the third pitch, a flyball to Bob Bailey at third. Davey Johnson gets the same treatment but Gibson is struggling to get his throws on target. Not known for his slugging, Johnson takes the count to 2 and 1 before blasting a shot into the right field seats. Frank Robinson and Harmon Killebrew both grounded out to end the half inning. 1-0 Americans

Andy Messersmith started for the Americans in his first All Star game. This year has seen him rack up an impressive ERA of 2.53 but he seems nervous, throwing ball after ball. Willie Stargell comes up with the bases loaded. He grounds out but brings in a run to tie the game. Next up is Hank Aaron who hits a single that brings in another. Joe Torre is walked to load the bases again. Jim Fregosi blasts a line drive down the right field line that stays fair and brings in two. With two out and men on first and second, Billy Williams comes in to pinch hit for Gibson. He makes the most of what will be his only at bat, smashing a curveball that richochets off the left field wall to bring in another two. Cy Young winner Jim Palmer then comes in to get the final out of the inning. Nationals 6-1

The Americans pulled one back in the fourth but the Nationals cancelled that one out in the sixth. Nationals 7-2

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As the inning ended Chub Feeney came over and took an empty seat next to me. We had an interesting chat. He is about the same age as me but has been a baseball executive for over twenty years. He knows the game inside out. We both complained about having to play a double-header the day before Bobby Kennedy's funeral. Chub had a few choice words to say about the Commissioner Wiliam Eckert. As delicately as I could I asked him why the reigning champs of the National League were doing so badly this year. His feeling was that the pitching rotation was too reliant on Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry, hence why he picked up a few pitching prospects from the Mets. In fact, he said, he would like to take another couple of minor league players from us. Here's the deal we worked out:


To Mets:
OF Ollie Brown (77/80) Age 24 (.280 Avg. 0 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB in 25 AB)
$12,900 4th season


To Giants:
1B Mike Jorgensen (61/82) Age 20 (.365 Avg, 5 HR, 38 RBI, 1 SB in R-Ball)
$400 Rookie

LF Tommie Reynolds (68/72) Age 27 (.259 Avg, 1-24-2 in Triple-A)
$12,900 4th season
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back to the game... it was all over in the eighth with the Nationals racking up another five runs off Boston's Clay Carroll. The Americans brought in Fred Gladding, another debutant, to get the final out but his first pitch was wild, past Earl Battey and to the backstop letting in Willie Stargell to make it Nationals 13-2

The Americans scored a consolation run in the ninth but all in all it was a pretty comprehensive win for the Nationals. Nationals 13-3

Pittsburgh's Jim Fregosi won the MVP Award. He went 3 for 5, scored 3 runs and drove in 2. Don Buford was the only Met to get into the game. He pinch hit in the fourth but could only manage a ground out off Larry Jackson.

[kevarms]

We weren't the only team to use the All Star game as an opportunity to get some business done. The Astros sent two players to Cincinnati in exchange for pitcher Milt Pappas

To Astros:
SP Milt Pappas (89) Age 29 (8-5, 3.05 ERA, 2 CG in 1968)
$162,000 12th season Former All Star


To Reds:
RP Steve Shea (81/95) Age 25 (3-2, 2.06 ERA, 8 SV in Double-A)
$12,900 Rookie

SP Bruce von Hoff (63/88) Age 24 (0-3, 14.94 ERA !!! in 15.2 IP)
$12,900 2nd season


The move makes sense for both teams. Pappas was famously traded to the Reds by Baltimore in exchange for Frank Robinson but struggled to win over the Cincinnati fans, angry at the loss of a popular player. Von Hoff went 3-0 in 3 starts last year but this year has struggled, going 0-3 as a spot starter and racking up a horrific ERA of 14.94. The Reds pitching options are very limited, with long term injuries to Sammy Ellis and Jim Maloney, so von Hoff is expected to go straight into the rotation. Steve Shea will also be moving up to the bigs, taking up a middle relief spot in the bullpen

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 12-14
New York Mets (44-40) @ Cincinnati Reds (36-51)

July 12: Tom Seaver gets himself into a jam in the middle of the game and blows a 4-0 lead. A little unfair that McGraw gets the loss. Reds 8-6
W: Ross Grimsley (3-1) L: Tug McGraw (4-5) S: Don Nottebart (7)

July 13: Jack Fisher completes the game giving up seven hits and two walks, with Don Buford hitting his 14th homer of the year. Mets 3-2
W: Jack Fisher (6-5) L: Gary Nolan (5-8)

July 14: Bobby Bolin gets his first win as a Met with homers from Don Buford and Bill Freehan giving us the win. Mets 5-4
W: Bobby Bolin (11-3) L: John Tsitouris (2-3) S: Tug McGraw (1)


July 15-17
Los Angeles Dodgers (49-38) @ New York Mets (46-41)

July 15: Don Cardwell comes out ahead of a pitching duel. Both our runs are sac flies by Mickey Stanley, with Don Buford tagging up and scoring. Mets 2-0
W: Don Cardwell (9-4) L: Doug Rau (4-6) S: Ron Taylor (12)

July 16: Jerry Koosman is shelled. In the first Bob Bailey hits a grandslam, immediately followed by a solo shot by Jim Hickman. In the third Hickman solos again and Koosman is pulled. Dodgers 8-5
W: Don Sutton (13-6) L: Jerry Koosman (2-7)

July 17: Tom Seaver struggles through 4.2 innings as we play catch up for most of the game. We tie the game in the eighth and, in the ninth, Cleon Jones comes up with a walk off home run to give us an unexpected win. Mets 9-8
W: Tug McGraw (5-5) L: Phil Regan (1-3)

[kevarms]

July 19-21
St Louis Cardinals (35-52) @ New York Mets (48-42)

July 19: We take an early when Bill Freehan hits a 3 RBI triple in the first and then comes in off a wild pitch. The Cardinals come back but we eke out a couple of singles to get the win. Mets 6-4
W: Jack Fisher (7-5) L: Mike Torrez (0-7) S: Bob Shaw (2)

July 20: Don Buford ties the game in the ninth, hitting a single to bring in Jesus Alou from second. Mickey Stanley can only manage a pop fly that doesn't leave the infield for the final out of the inning. In the tenth Jose Tartabull hits a line drive to right that is booted by Larry Stahl allowing the leadoff man to make second. He comes in off a double by Tim McCarver who also scores. We get two on bases in the bottom of the inning but pinch hitter Ron Swoboda is struck out to end the game. Cardinals 5-3 (10)
W: Bob Gibson (12-8) L: Ron Taylor (3-5) S: Hal Gilson (5)

July 21: Steve Carlton over-powers us, striking out nine and only allowing four hits. Our scores come from a Don Buford 3-RBI double in the fifth. Then, in the ninth, Jesus Alou scores from third when Ed Spezio misfires the throw to home. Cardinals 7-4
W: Steve Carlton (5-12) L: Don Cardwell (9-5)

------------------------------------------------------

NEW YORK CHRONICLE
July 22, 1968

NIGHTMARE FOR REDS DEBUTANTS
Von Hoff Shelled As Astros Run Riot

HOUSTON, Tex. - It was meant to be a fresh start for pitchers Bruce von Hoff and Steve Shea. Struggling to break into the Astros plans they were traded this month for Cincinnati's Milt Pappas. Reds skipper Dave Bristol liked them enough to have them debut against their old team in a first versus last match-up, von Hoff starting with Shea in the bullpen. Neither player could have expected it to be such a humiliating experience.
Taking the mound with a 1-0 lead von Hoff immediately gave up a double to Vada Pinson. The pitcher did not have any of the good stuff we saw briefly last year when he went 3-0 in 3 starts. His pitches had no zip and he struggled to keep them in the strike zone. Pinson scored when Leo Cardenas hit a drive into right field. By the time Bob Allison came up the bases were loaded and he belted a grandslam into the right field seats. Vada Pinson came up again at the end of the inning and hit a three run homer, this time to left. Von Hoff did not pitch again. In one inning he threw 48 pitches and gave up 6 hits for 8 runs.
The other debutant, Steve Shea, was making his major league debut. He came in to mop up in the seventh with the Reds already down and out 14-1. The seventh went well, striking out Joe Morgan and a single the only hit given up. The eighth was not so good. Joe Morgan came up again with the bases loaded. He took three balls and then hit a long shot that ended up at the bottom of the right field wall for two runs. Bob Watson also hit a two run double to make the final score 18-1 Astros.

[kevarms]

July 24-26
New York Mets (49-44) @ Cincinnati Reds (38-58)

July 24: Don Buford leads off with a solo home run but then the Reds hand us a lesson in small ball. Reds 8-3
W: John Tsitouris (3-4) L: Jerry Koosman (2-8)

July 25: In the second game we face off against the humbled Bruce von Hoff, making his first start since the Houston debacle. He hurls eight strong innings allowing only eight hits and four walks. Johnny Bench does most of the damage with a 3 RBI homer. Reds 8-3
W: Bruce von Hoff (1-4) L: Ralph Terry (5-5)

July 26: Tom Seaver gives up four hits and four walks and completes the game as we squeak the win. We avoid the sweep against the Reds only decent starter. Mets 3-2
W: Tom Seaver (10-6) L: Gary Nolan (6-10)


July 27-29
New York Mets (50-46) @ Houston Astros (62-37)

July 27: After a disappointing series against last place Cincinnati it's on to Houston to face the league leaders. We rack up sixteen hits, including seven doubles, to cruise to the win. Mets 9-3
W: Jack Fisher (8-5) L: Barry Latman (3-4)

July 28: Bud Harrelson goes 3 for 4 and scores three times. Mets 8-6
W: Bobby Bolin (12-3) L: Scipio Spinks (1-2) S: Ron Taylor (13)

July 29: A good pitching performances from both teams but the Astros take it with a run knocked in by Joe Morgan and a wild pitch by Tug McGraw that lets in Doug Rader. Astros 2-0
W: Milt Pappas (11-5) L: Don Cardwell (9-6) S: Dave Giusti (7)


July 30-August 1
Philadelphia Phillies (50-49) @ New York Mets (52-47)

July 30: Back at Shea it's another pitching duel. Dick Ellsworth edges it with five hits and a walk in eight innings. Phillies 3-2
W: Dick Ellsworth (12-6) L: Dick Selma (6-4) S: Dick Hall (13)
*Three Dicks? There's a joke there somewhere

July 31: Tom Seaver hurls a strong eight innings but our offensive is impotent, only managing one hit. Del Bates knocks in the only run of the game. Phillies 1-0
W: Chris Short (8-6) L: Tom Seaver (10-7) S: Bill Laxton (1)

[kevarms]

JULY SUMMARY

The Mets went 10-12 in July to fall further off the pace. The pennant seems out of reach now, not that it was ever a serious goal. It would nice if we could stay over .500 though.
The race for the pennant is developing into a two horse race between the Astros and the Pirates. The Reds had a month they will want to forget, going 5-14 as they struggle to contend with injuries to two key pitchers.


National League Standings

Houston	        65	39	--
Pittsburgh	63	38	0.5
Los Angeles	55	46	8.5
Philadelphia	55	49	11.5
NEW YORK	52	49	11.5
San Francisco	48	53	15.5
Atlanta		43	55	19
St Louis	42	56	20
Chicago 	45	59	20	
Cincinnati	40	61	23.5

The American League is wide open again with Orioles going 12-13 in July but strong showings by the Twins and Yankees seeing them come back to 1.5 and 2.5 games back respectively.




MLB Injury News
None of note


MLB Milestones
July 21: Vada Pinson (HOU) 1,000 Runs
July 26: Whitey Ford (NYY) 250 Wins


MLB Retirements
July 12: Former Met Eddie Broussard hangs up his glove after twelve seasons in the majors. Debuting with the Giants in 1956 he spent six seasons in New York and San Francisco before being selected by Houston in the 1961 expansion draft who then traded him to Boston. With the Red Sox Broussard established himself as first choice at short and was an All Star in 1964. He played single seasons with the Mets (1966) and Cardinals (1967) . The 36 year old will take over as manager of the Cardinals Single-A team in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Career Stats Avg . 256, HR 94, RBI 381)

July 22: Closer Al Worthington takes up a new role as head coach at Liberty University, Virginia. He began his career with the Giants in 1953 and hurled shutouts in his first two starts. However, his career did not progress as hoped and he found his way into the bullpen by 1957. After short spells with the Red Sox and White Sox Worthington began to establish himself in the closer role with the Reds. He was traded to Minnesota in 1964 where he became one of the top closers in the game, receiving a well deserved All Star nomination last year at the age of 38. He ranks 9th in Career Saves with 106 (Career Stats 65-75, ERA 3.43, SV 106)

[kevarms]

AUGUST PREVIEW


We head into August with both the line-up and rotation at full strength. Bobby Bolin has got off to a good start with two wins in four starts so far. Jesus Alou made a couple of appearances off the bench but will go down to Double-A Williamsport for this month. When their season is over he will be back up here. Ollie Brown is yet to play as a Met and will be on the bench.

Line-up			Bench			Rotation	Bullpen

2B Buford		C Sullivan		Seaver		Taylor
1B Kranepool		IF Shirley		Fisher		Selma
C Freehan		OF Cline		Bolin		McGraw
CF Stanley		LF Davis		Cardwell	Shaw (Don)
LF Jones		LF Swoboda		Terry		Shaw (Bob)
SS Harrelson		RF Brown				Koosman
3B Johnson
RF Stahl

[kevarms]

AUGUST 1968


August 1
Philadelphia Phillies (55-49) @ (New York Mets (52-49)

August 1: Don Buford hits a solo homer and a 3 RBI triple. Mets 8-3
W: Jack Fisher (9-5) L: Pedro Ramos (8-7) S: Tug McGraw (2)


August 2-4
New York Mets (53-49) @ Houston Astros (65-40)

August 2: In the first Bud Harrelson steals second then third. He scores when Mickey Stanley hits a single that bounces out of Joe Morgan's glove. The Astros tie the game in the seventh and the game goes to extra innings. There is no score going into the thirteenth then things explode into life as we score six runs. The win is marred by an injury to Larry Stahl. He pulls a groin muscle sliding into second and is replaced by Ollie Brown, in to make his Mets debut. Mets 7-1 (13)
W: Bob Shaw (1-0) L: Howie Reed (1-2)

August 3: We get ten hits but can't generate any runs as our offense is stifled by a fine pitching performance by Mike Cuellar. The outfield suffers another injury blow with Mickey Stanley suffering from a stretched ankle ligament. Astros 3-2
W: Mike Cuellar (15-8) L: Don Cardwell (9-7)

August 4: Ollie Brown homers on his first Mets start and Ed Kranepool hits a three run shot but the league leaders squeak it. Astros 6-5
W: Dave Giusti (9-5) L: Tug McGraw (5-6) S: Jay Ritchie (5)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Former Met Gary Gentry makes his major league debut for the Giants in Cincinnati. He comes in in the third inning with the Reds already 8-0 ahead. He gets through the third and fourth innings allowing only one hit. Then, in the fifth, he seems to lose his concentration walking two then giving up hits to the next four batters. He leaves the game after the sixth with the Giants down 13-1.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

August 5-7
New York Mets (54-51) @ San Francisco Giants (49-56)

August 5: Juan Marichal gives Tom Seaver a pitching lesson, allowing only five hits and three walks. Tom Seaver gives up eight earned runs including three homers, and is pulled in the fourth. Giants 12-1
W: Juan Marichal (13-10) L: Tom Seaver (10-8)

August 6: Ed Kranepool drives home five runs including a grand slam. Mets 7-5
W: Don Shaw (1-0) L: Mike Davison (0-1) S: Tug McGraw (3)

August 7: Willie McCovey, Rocky Colavito and Jim Ray Hart grab 3 RBIs apiece as the Giants run riot again. Bobby Bolin is pulled after four innings. He heads for the trainers room complaining of spasms in his back. Giants 11-3
W: Mike McCormick (7-14) L: Bobby Bolin (12-4) S: Steve Stone (2)

[kevarms]

We sent Bobby Bolin for x-rays on his back. Apparently he had mentioned to a couple of the players he had been getting some pains but just played through it. It turns out he has a couple of broken vertebrae. That's just our luck. Just when we think we've found a nice fit into our rotation he gets himself a long term injury. It's not even certain the guy will play again. What is certain is he won't be playing baseball for a long time.


August 8-10
Philadelphia Phillies (58-53) @ New York Mets (55-53)

August 8: Don Buford hits his 20th homer of the year and our pitchers and our pitchers hold the Phillies to six hits. Shoddy fielding is what costs us the most runs. Mets 9-5
W: Don Shaw (2-0) L: Doyle Alexander (1-7) S: Tug McGraw (4)

August 9: We can only rustle up three hits as Chris Short and Dick Hall combine for a superb pitching display. Phillies 4-1
W: Chris Short (9-7) L: Ralph Terry (5-6) S: Dick Hall (14)

August 10: An shakey performance from Tom Seaver. He fans eleven but gives up six runs before being pulled in the seventh. A fine performance by Cleon Jones is capped when he hits a walk-off single in the twelve to bring in Ed Kranepool. Jones went 3 for 5 with 4 RBI. Mets 9-8 (12)
W: Ron Taylor (4-5) L: Jerry Johnson (4-2)


August 11-13
Los Angeles Dodgers (59-49) @ New York Mets (57-54)

August 11: Geoff Zahn gets his first complete game in the majors, allowing only six hits in a strong showing. Dodgers 5-2
W: Geoff Zahn (3-1) L: Jack Fisher (9-6)

August 12: We lead by four going into the eighth and Jerry Koosman is on for a shutout but the Dodgers come back to tie the game. In the bottom of the ninth with one out, Ollie Brown comes in from second off a walk off hit by Ty Cline. Mets 5-4
W: Dick Selma (7-4) L: Phil Regan (1-4)

August 13: Ed Kranepool goes 2 for 3 with 2 walks and 5 RBI. The Dodgers come back with a late rally but Bob Shaw holds on for the win. Mets 9-6
W: Don Cardwell (10-7) L: Doug Rau (6-8)


August 14-16
New York Mets (59-55) @ San Francisco Giants (53-61)

August 14: Ed Kranepool hits two homers. Mets 6-2
W: Ralph Terry (6-6) L: Juan Marichal (14-11) S: Ron Taylor (14)

August 15: We are 3-1 down going into the ninth. We come back with a one run single and then Ron Swoboda hits a 3 RBI home run. Ron Taylor makes short work of the final three outs. Mets 5-3
W: Tom Seaver (11-8) L: Gaylord Perry (12-8) S: Ron Taylor (15)


August 16: We sweep the Giants with a good offensive performance from Cleon Jones, Ollie Brown and Bart Shirley. Cleon Jones dislocates a hip sliding into second. It looks pretty bad. Probably he will be out for the season. Mets 6-2
W: Jack Fisher (10-6) L: Mike McCormick (7-15)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yet more injury news with Don Buford nursing a knee sprain after twisting it during fielding practice.


What's with all these injuries? I'm ranked first in medical but I checked on the finances page and my medical staff are ranked D+. Is that why I'm getting so many? I'm assuming it takes time for the ranking to increase.

[CatKnight]

Don't trust the finance page. It lies. Some sort of bug. Go to league editor and that'll show your true current medical rating.