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

[CatKnight]

The "XXXX XXXXX tries to steal..." is part of it, but IIRC it's less severe. That's only a display issue.

Belinsky...needs to get his act together or he's just not going to make it.

[kevarms]

Cat: We have a few days off so Belinsky has some time to get his head screwed back on while I decide what to do with him. (In real life too...I'm heading over the water tomorrow so I won't be posting again until Sunday or Monday)

[Overbay17]

Bump.

[kevarms]

We had three days off after we returned from Atlanta. Maybe it hadn't been such a good idea to send Belinsky home from Cincinnati. Bo Belinsky, no baseball and New York City... I hadn't considered the possible ramifications of that scenario.
I had tried talking to Wes Westrum about Belinsky. Was he worth persevering with? Belinsky that is, not Westrum. "He was Whitey's idea," he said with a shrug.
That was true. It had been Whitey Herzog who had suggested bringing him from Houston, and now it seemed to be backfiring.
"Wes. You're the manager. You're responsible for discipline on the team, and it seems to me you're passing the buck."
"So what do you want me to tell him?"
"Explain to him that he's a thirty year old pitcher whose contract is up in October and, the way things stand, won't be getting a new one from this club." I was getting irritated.
"Shame. I think he likes New York. Pretty glamourous city and all."
Now I was angry. "Wes, he's a pretty good pitcher when he wants to be and we need good pitchers. If he can't be professional then he should look for another club for next year."
"Doubt anybody would want him to tell the truth," he mumbled.
"You're probably right about that Wes. Just make sure he understands what's at stake here alright?"
"Yes sir, " he said with a touch of disdain.
"One other thing." It wasn't just the future of the pitching staff that was on my mind. "This club won't be carrying passengers. If there is anybody here who isn't doing their bit to move us forward, and I mean anybody... I don't care if they are a player, coach, front office or even the batboy, they are gone. Is that clear?"
With lips pursed, Wes nodded and walked away.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
August 11-13
Atlanta Braves (57-54) @ New York Mets (44-64)

August 11: Cleon Jones with a walk off solo homer. Mets 4-3
W: Dick Selma (4-6) L: Jay Ritchie (2-5)

August 12: Bo Belinsky pitches eight strong innings, holding the Braves to one run. In the eleventh Clete Boyer hits a single off Dick Selma that gives the Braves the lead but we come back with a single from Larry Stahl. The game goes to thirteen, then Ron Swoboda hits a double down the left field line, bringing in Don Bosch for the winning run. Mets 3-2 (13)
W: Ron Taylor (7-3) L: Dick Kelley (1-1)

August 13: Ken Johnson gives up only six hits. We score two runs early on but are not in it for the rest of the game. Braves 5-2
W: Ken Johnson (8-5) L: Ralph Terry (4-12) S: Clay Carroll (12)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rookie second baseman Kevin Collins will miss the rest of the season with a back injury.


August 14-16
New York Mets (46-65) @ Cincinnati Reds (59-55)

August 14: Tom Seaver is pulled after a disastrous four innings, giving up eight earned runs in his worst start ever. Tommy Davis' two homers count for nothing. Reds 8-7
W: Gary Nolan (11-9) L: Tom Seaver (7-10) S: Ted Abernathy (11)

August 15: Sammy Ellis gives up only five hits but our pitching staff is torn apart. Reds 11-1
W: Sammy Ellis (7-8) L: Bill Graham (2-5)

August 16: Milt Pappas once again dominates us, pitching a three hitter. Reds sweep us again! Reds 3-1
W: Milt Pappas (11-9) L: Jack Fisher (9-7)


August 17-19
New York Mets (46-68) @ Philadelphia Phillies (54-60)

August 17: Dick Allen gives up only seven hits and a walk. Belinsky starts for the Mets but gives up five runs in five innings. Phillies 7-2
W: Jim Bunning (10-8) L: Bo Belinsky (5-5)

August 18: Johnny Callison hits two homers for the Phillies. Phillies 7-1
W: Dick Ellsworth (9-4) L: Ralph Terry (4-13)

August 19: A flattering scoreline for us after the Phillies bullpen implodes. Mets 10-1
W: Tom Seaver (8-10) L: Chris Short (10-15)

[kevarms]

August 20-22
New York Mets (47-70) @ St Louis Cardinals (58-62)

August 20: Ron Taylor gives up two runs in the ninth but hangs on for the save. Mets 5-4
W: Bill Graham (3-5) L: Jim Cosman (1-3) S: Ron Taylor (6)

August 21: A throwing error by Jerry Buchek in the bottom of the ninth costs us two runs and ties the game. A double from Mike Shannon brings in Dal Maxvill for the winner. Cardinals 5-4 (10)
W: Joe Hoerner (2-3) L: Ron Taylor (7-4)

August 22: Bo Belinsky is lit up, giving up eight earned runs in three and one third innings. Cardinals 10-1
W: Bob Gibson (15-10) L: Bo Belinksky (5-6)


August 23-25
New York Mets (48-72) @ Philadelphia Phillies (57-63)

August 23: Chris Short gives up only five hits for the Phillies. Phillies 3-1
W: Chris Short (11-15) L: Ralph Terry (4-14) S: Dick Hall (7)

August 24: Ed Kranepool goes 3 for 4 but gets little support from the rest of the line-up. Phillies 5-2
W: Rick Wise (5-11) L: Tom Seaver (8-11) S: Bob Lee (11)

August 25: In extra innings we score four in the top of the tenth. The Phillies come back with a three run homer off Dick Selma with two outs. Ron Taylor comes in to get the last out, striking out Bill White. Mets 9-8 (10)
W: Dick Selma (5-6) L: Bob Lee (3-3) S: Ron Taylor (7)


August 26-28
Los Angeles Dodgers (64-62) @ New York Mets (49-74)

August 26: After a shakey start that gives us an early lead after two wild pitches, Don Drysdale gives up only two hits and two walks . Dodgers 2-1
W: Don Drysdale (12-15) L: Jack Fisher (9-8)

August 27: First complete game shutout for Bo Belinsky as a Met. He throws an outstanding three hitter!!! Mets 3-0
W: Bo Belinsky (6-6) L: Don Sutton (16-9)

August 28: Five hour epic battle that went to eighteen innings and saw twelve different pitchers take the mound. Dodgers take it with a one run single and bases loaded walk off Bob Shaw. Dodgers 3-1 (18)
W: Jim Brewer (4-1) L: Bob Shaw (1-2) S: Gary Wagner (1)


August 29-31
Philadelphia Phillies (61-65) @ New York Mets (50-76)

August 29: Phillies ace Jim Bunning gives up just five hits and strikes out ten. Dick Allen goes three for five and drives in three runs. Phillies 6-3
W: Jim Bunning (12-8) L: Tom Seaver (8-12)

August 30: An eighth inning rally sees Jerry Buchek and Bud Harrelson both knock in two run doubles to gives us the lead. Mets 5-4
W: Dick Selma (6-6) L: Dick Ellsworth (9-6) S: Ron Taylor (8)

August 31: Jack Fisher throws a six hitter complete game. Mets 5-1
W: Jack Fisher (10-8) L: Bob Buhl (2-3)

[kevarms]

AUGUST SUMMARY

It's looking bad. We went 9-19 in August now it looks like we will struggle to reach the magic 67 (we have 33 games remaining) The Astros are just about keeping pace with the Giants at the top of the league, with the Reds not too far behind.


National League Standings

		W	L	GB
San Francisco	73	56	--
Houston	        71	61	3.5
Cincinnati	69	60	4
Los Angeles	69	63	5.5
Pittsburgh	67	62	6
Atlanta		64	65	9
Philadelphia 	62	67	11
St Louis	62	70	12.5
Chicago	        62	70	12.5
NEW YORK	52	77	21

In the American League the Orioles are 4 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees in what seems to be turning into a two horse race.


MLB Injury News
August 17: Harmon Killebrew (MIN) - Broken fibula- 4 months (.278 Avg, 27 HR, 91 RBI)

MLB Milestones
August 16: Frank Robinson (BAL) 400 Home Runs
August 17: Rocky Colavito (SFG) 1,000 Runs
August 31: Lou Brock (STL) 300 Steals

MLB Retirements
August 24: Angels relief pitcher Jim Coates retired today after a season which has seen him struggle with a shoulder injury and be demoted to AAA. The right-hander was a spot starter with the Yankees teams that won the World Series in 1961 and 1962 and went on to have brief spells with the Senators and Reds before joining the Angels in 1965. (Career Stats ERA 3.98, Saves 15, Strikeouts 357)

[3RunHomer]

It's fun reading this. My "dynasty" is just a few years behind yours and many of the players are the same ... only on different teams. I'm glad to see that Frank Robinson has made his way to Baltimore where he belongs. In my sim he was signed to a long-term contract by the Reds.

Bob Johnson was on my team at the start as a good-field no-hit injury-prone SS, so it's funny to see him as a no-hit injury-prone 3B on your Mets. Poor Bob. He had a lot of trade value for me though; maybe not so much in 1967.

[kevarms]

3RunHomer: Glad you are enjoying it. It's fun to write too. Bob Johnson has seen a fair bit of playing time this year thanks to Bart Shirley being out for the season and the rest of the infield being terrible His health is only 62, so I'm surprised he has only missed two weeks.
I've played through September. Hate to spoil the surprise but it's bad news for Frank Robinson and the Orioles.

[kevarms]

SEPTEMBER 1967

September 1-3
New York Mets (52-77) @ Houston Astros (71-61)

September 1: Don Cardwell's first game back. He throws a magnificent three hit complete game shutout. Mets 7-0
W: Don Cardwell (2-0) L: Larry Dierker (9-12)

September 2: Bo Belinsky has a solid start, taking us into the bottom of the sixth with a 3-0 lead. Our former catcher Jerry Grote comes in and starts of a rally that sees us 4-3 down by the end of the inning. We come back with runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth. Mets 6-4
W: Bob Shaw (2-2) L: Danny Coombs (2-1)

September 3: Ralph Terry is unlucky to lose a pitching duel with Mike Cuellar. Astros 3-1
W: Claude Raymond (4-9) L: Ralph Terry (4-15)


September 4-6
Philadelphia Phillies (62-67) @ New York Mets (54-78)

September 4: A one run single from Don Lock in the eighth proves to be the winner for the Phillies. Phillies 5-4
W: Grant Jackson (4-3) L: Tom Seaver (8-13) S: Bob Lee (13)

September 5: The Phillies take a 5-4 lead in the tenth. We come back when a Dick Allen throwing error puts men on second and third. Cleon Jones hits a line drive to right that brings both runners home. Mets 6-5 (10)
W: Joe Grzenda (3-2) L: Bob Lee (3-4)

September 6: Don Cardwell has a solid game and is unlucky to give up two late runs. Phillies 2-0
W: Dick Ellsworth (10-6) L: Don Cardwell (2-1) S: Dick Hall (8)


September 7-9
Cincinnati Reds (71-61) @ New York Mets (55-80)

September 7: We have the game sewn up by the eighth thanks largely to Bud Harrelson's three RBI. Mets 8-5
W: Bo Belinsky (7-6) L: John Tsitouris (6-4) S: Bob Shaw (2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our leading batter Ed Kranepool's season is over after he dislocated a hip in yesterday's game. The first baseman finished with a career high .312 average and 70 RBI.


September 8: On a pitcher's night the game went thirteen innings with no runs scored. Tony Perez broke the deadlock in the fourteenth with a solo homer off Bill Graham. The Reds extended their lead when a wild pitch by Graham let in Pete Rose. Wayne Simpson made short work of the Mets line-up to finish the game. Reds 2-0 (14)
W: Jack Baldschun (8-4) L: Bill Graham (3-6) S: Wayne Simpson (1)

September 9: Pete Rose and Jimmie Coker both go 3 for 5 to hand us a crushing defeat. Reds 10-4
W: Gary Nolan (14-10) L: Tom Seaver (8-14)


September 10-12
Los Angeles Dodgers (72-66) @ New York Mets (56-82)

September 10: Jack Fisher has one of his less composed starts, giving up ten hits for six earned runs in five innings. Dodgers 7-2
W: Don Drysdale (13-16) L: Jack Fisher (10-9)

September 11: We are down 2-1 at the bottom of the ninth. Bob Johnson hits a double that brings home Johnny Lewis to tie the game. Johnson cross the plate for the winning run off another double from rookie Mike Jorgensen. Don Cardwell made only his fourth start of the year and pitched a strong eight innings. Mets 3-2
W: Dick Selma (7-6) L: Ron Perranoski (2-9)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After the game pitching coach Harvey Haddix informs me that Cardwell was complaining of a sore finger. They had it checked out and it looks like a stress fracture, hopefully nothing worse, and should be fine given a couple of weeks rest. At this stage of the season I think the sensible thing would be to let him sit it out until next year.

September 12: Cleon Jones and Johnny Lewis with a homer apiece. Mets 6-4
W: Bo Belinsky (8-6) L: Claude Osteen (11-13) S: Bob Shaw (3)


September 13-15
New York Mets (58-83) @ Philadelphia Phillies (69-70)

September 13: Amos Otis brings home Mike Jorgensen for our solitary run, but the rookies get no help from the veterans. Phillies 6-1
W: Chris Short (12-15) L: Ralph Terry (4-16)

September 14: Tom Seaver muffs a groundball that puts the deciding run on base but otherwise has a strong game. Phillies 3-2
W: Jim Bunning (14-8) L: Tom Seaver (8-15)

September 15: We should have won this, with Jack Fisher allowing the Phillies only six hits. We leave twelve runners on base to hand the Phillies the sweep. Phillies 4-3
W: Bob Lee (4-4) L: Jack Fisher (10-10)


September 16-18
Chicago Cubs (67-77) @ New York Mets (58-86)

September 16: Bo Belinsky throws a complete game shut-out giving up only three hits. Not only that, but Belinsky also knocks in the only run of the game. Mets 1-0
W: Bo Belinsky (9-6) L: Ken Holtzman (15-13)

September 17: Quite perturbing to see Belinsky starting again. He doesn't do too badly but homers from Ernie Banks and George Altman prove our undoing. Cubs 4-2
W: Fergie Jenkins (13-12) L: Bo Belinsky (9-7) S: Cal Koonce (6)

September 18: I have to feel sorry for Vida Blue. The poor boy was drafted in June and thrown in at the deep end when Roy Culp broke his wrist a couple of weeks later. He has an even worse record than our own Jerry Koosman. Durocher must be some kind of sadist. Mets 6-1
W: Ralph Terry (5-16) L: Vida Blue (1-12)


September 19-21
St Louis Cardinals (68-79) @ New York Mets (60-87)

September 19: The usually reliable Ron Taylor allows three runs in the eleventh. We have no answer. Cardinals 4-1 (11)
W: Joe Hoerner (3-5) L: Ron Taylor (7-5) S: Jim Bibby (1)

September 20: It's not too heart-breaking to lose when it's a loss to Bob Gibson. He gives up only five hits in a masterful display of pitching. Cardinals 4-1
W: Bob Gibson (18-11) L: Jack Fisher (10-11)

September 21: Steve Carlton is not bad either. Cardinals 8-3
W: Steve Carlton (17-8) L: Bill Graham (3-7)

[kevarms]

NEW YORK CHRONICLE
September 22, 1967

ORIOLES LOSE ROBINSON FOR PENNANT TILT
Broken Leg Ends Slugger's Season

BALTIMORE, Md. - In a serious blow to their pennant aspirations the Orioles will have to do without Frank Robinson who broke a leg in last night's game. The outfielder was attempting to steal second when he collided with baseman Jerry Lumpe.
The eight times All Star is hitting .297 this year with thirty homers and 103 RBIs and has been the driving force, along with Boog Powell, behind the World Champion's pennant charge. No official announcement has been made but it is expected that Russ Snyder will fill in for Robinson.
Following the 3-2 win over Detroit, the Orioles lie five games ahead of the Yankees.

Frank Robinson

[CatKnight]

Ouch. You have to go 7-5 to reach your goal. Certainly possible....just not very likely.

And Baltimore's going to miss Robinson in the Series.

[kevarms]

Cat: I've just about given up on the magic 67. It would be nice though to NOT finish with the worst record in the majors.(Indians are 55-69).
I think the Orioles will take the AL pennant, probably facing the Giants (boo!) in the Series. Without Robinson I think the Giants (boo!) have the edge with Mays, McCovey and Colavito hitting home runs for fun.
--------------------------------------------------------------------


Since taking over as Mets GM I had only made a couple of changes to the playing staff, and none to the non-playing staff. I wanted a season to find my baseball feet rather than jumping in like a bull in a china shop.
The players, aside from the occasional wise-cracks, were fine. The coaches were respectful but cool towards me. As for my manager, Wes Westrum had become downright hostile and, the more we lost, the worse our relationship had been getting. After being swept for the second time in a month I finally decided his position was untenable, but I needed some advice.
Johnny Murphy was officially my assistant, although we had not really developed much of a working relationship. He spent most of his time with the coaches and players. I didn't have a problem with that. Reticent but not unfriendly, he had been helpful on matters to do with administration and so on. Besides, the one time Yankee was very highly respected by the entire staff, especially the younger players who he had nurtured during his time as farm director.
I found him, where I expected, out on the field where he had been shagging fly balls during a workout for the rookies that just finished. I let the coaches and players head for the clubhouse and then beckoned him to take a seat.
"Something I can help with Roy?" he asked, putting his glove at his feet.
"Yes, I hope so." There was no point beating around the bush. "I'm firing Wes."
Johnny sighed. "I kind of expected you would." He paused, gave a few seconds thought to our relative positions in the hierarchy then remembered it was I who had come to him.
"It's not all his fault you know. We've been building a good club here. It's just not quite ready yet."
"I know that Johnny. It's not the results..." I stopped myself. That was a lie. 60-90? Of course it was the results. "It's not only the results. I don't like how he works. He has his favourite players. Then he has the others he just doesn't help at all. You've seen how he talks to Kranepool. He's our best player! Same with Belinsky."
"Wes is a traditional kind of manager. There are a lot worse than him around."
"He talks to me like I'm an idiot. I'm his boss and I'm not going to tolerate it any more."
"Sounds like your mind is made up. What is it you want me for? I'm not going to tell him, if that's it."
"No it's not that Johnny. I can do my own dirty work. I wanted to ask you ... will you take over for the rest of the season?"
"What?" he said, astonished."You're firing him today? Besides the contractual issues, there's only a couple of weeks left of the season. What's the point firing him now?"
He had a point. Perhaps I was being hasty. I didn't think we would make the target of 67 wins now in any case, so I may as well just let Wes limp along for the rest of the season while I started looking for a new manager.
"I think you're right Johnny. It can wait. Thanks for your time."
"Glad to help." He rose, picking up his glove. Just in front of the backstop lay a discarded bat. A grin broke his solemn face. "Hey, want to shag some flies?"

[3RunHomer]

Belinsky did so well on the 16th that your manager decided to just let him continue on the 17th? Ha! What happened to cause such a thing?

Belinsky is far from an "iron man" in my sim. I'm surprised he survived that abuse without an immediate injury.

PS - Russ Snyder was on my team for a while as a good-hit no-field LF. If he's similar in your sim and he takes Robinson's spot, the Os will be hurting on defense the rest of the season.

[kevarms]

3RunHomer: That was very strange Belinsky starting on consecutive days. He must be trying to impress me. He went 4-1 in his last six starts. He's another one with low health (60) yet surprisingly injury-free.
Russ Snyder can't hit in my game but his fielding is faultless so far.

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

September 25-27
Los Angeles Dodgers (75-75) @ New York Mets (60-90)

September 25: Ralph Terry pitches eight strong innings giving up four hits and three walks. Mets 3-0
W: Ralph Terry (6-16) L: Don Drysdale (13-19) S: Ron Taylor (9)

September 26: We are shut out with Don Sutton giving up only one hit. a bunt from Bud Harrelson, in eight innings. Dodgers 4-0
W: Don Sutton (17-11) L: Tom Seaver (8-16)

September 27: Claude Osteen gives up a run in the first when he throws a wild pitch to let in Bud Harrelson, then proceeds to dominate for the rest of the game. Dodgers 7-1
W: Claude Osteen (12-14) L: Jerry Koosman (1-10)


That wraps up September for us. We have a three day break, time to start thinking about a replacement skipper.

[kevarms]

Wes resigned. Somehow he got wind that I was getting rid of him. I don't think it was Johnny Murphy that told him. Foolishly, I was a little too eager in sounding out a replacement. I asked Whitey Herzog how he felt about becoming a manager. He said he would one day, but for now he just wanted to be removed from his scouting role and re-instated as director of farm operations. After Whitey's rebuff I turned to our first base coach, Yogi Berra. He seemed interested but I'm not so sure he's the right man for the job. He had a succesful stint as skipper of the Yankees but we need a manager with a bit of drill sergeant in him. He's a popular coach here but I often hear the player's making fun of him.
Anyway, Wes burst into my office and told me where I could stick my ballclub. Actually, he said a bit more than that, most of it not repeatable here. Then he walked out.
I'll leave the contractual issues to our legal people while I choose a temporary skipper to see out the season.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SEPTEMBER SUMMARY

After a promising start, the season has just been terrible for us. We've had injuries to key players like Cardwell, Shirley and Kranepool which didn't exactly help. We wouldn't have won the pennant without the injuries but we would be a lot closer to being a .500 team.
With our season all but over, attention turns to the pennant races such as they are. The Giants need only two wins from their final six against closest rivals Houston.
In the AL, Baltimore should wrap things up handily enough, with or without Frank Robinson.


Standings at October 1 (games remaining in parentheses)

American League        				National League	


		W	L	GB				W	L	GB
Baltimore	93	60	--  (9)	        San Francisco	90	66	--   (6)
New York	90	66	4.5 (6)		Houston	        83	70	5.5  (9)	
Minnesota	89	67	5.5 (6)	        Cincinnati	82	71	6.5  (9)  
-----------------------------------------------		-----------------------------------------------
Chicago        	77	70	13		Pittsburgh	80	73	8.5
Detroit		79	74	14		Los Angeles	79	77	11
Boston		75	78	18		Atlanta		80	49	11.5
Kansas City	75	81	19.5		Philadelphia	75	78	13.5
California	64	86	27.5		St Louis	74	82	16
Washington	64	89	29		Chicago	        70	86	20
Cleveland	59	94	34		NEW YORK	61	92	27.5

MLB Injury News
September 1: Tony Gonzalez (LAD) - Broken hip- 3 months (.288 Avg, 17 HR, 84 RBI, 10 SB)
September 22: Frank Robinson (BAL) - Broken fibula- 4 months (.297 Avg, 30 HR, 104 RBI, 10 SB)


MLB Milestones
September 1: Hank Aaron (ATL) 1,500 Runs
September 2: Fred Whitfield (CLE) 4 Homers in a Game
September 11: Frank Robinson (BAL) 2,000 Hits
September 18: Rock Colavito (SFG) 400 Home Runs


MLB Retirements
None