Tag: Roger Craig

July 18, 1984: White Sox 10 – Tigers 6

W: Floyd Bannister (7-6) – L: Jack Morris (12-6) – S: Juan Agosto (3) | Boxscore

Record: 62-29 — 8 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Yikes. Another forgettable game by Morris: Four innings (he faced three batters in the fifth), seven earned runs, 10 hits, and two walks.
  • Roger Craig’s 1984 season journal, “Inside Pitch,” is in many ways superior to Sparky’s “Bless You Boys” because of the focus on the pitchers. Here’s part of what Craig wrote about this game:

Our five-game winning streak died in a Morris tantrum. He flew into a fit over a borderline ball-strike call by home plate umpire Mark Johnson and proceeded to lose 3-1 and 4-3 leads in a 10-6 loss …

… Jack seems unable to comprehend the serious nature of his frustrations. He ranted and raved. He embarrassed me, himself, Sparky, and the front office. He incensed his teammates. Quite obviously, Jack has a lot of growing up to do. He’s not having fun pitching and he’s not a happy person.

I did not talk to Jack following the game, but he’s going to hear from me tomorrow.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Tiger Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Mark Johnson, 1B – Greg Kosc, 2B – Ted Hendry, 3B – Drew Coble
  • Time of Game: 2:59
  • Attendance: 39,051

Birthdays

Eugenio Suarez, Torii Hunter, Harry Spilman and the late Johnny Hopp

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 473 8/9: Rarity: 182

See you tomorrow.

The Monday Fungo

Today’s Game: July 20, 1985

Tigers 6 – Rangers 5, 15 Innings

W: Bill Scherrer (1-1) – L: Greg Harris (2-3) | Boxscore

When Brookens started the game at third, chances are he didn’t expect to finish it as part of the Tigers’ battery.

A routine Saturday evening game at Tiger Stadium, with Jack Morris pitching a typical eight and two thirds, and Willie Hernandez entering in relief of a 3-3 tie in the ninth got interesting in the top of the 11th when, given limited bench flexibility, to say the least, Sparky was forced to move Tom Brookens from third base to catcher … where he stayed for five innings.

Here’s how it happened:

In the bottom of the eighth, and the Tigers down 2-1, Alejandro Sánchez pinch hit for Bob Melvin with one out and pinch runner Dave Bergman on first — and homers! A two-run shot to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.

Then, in the top of the ninth, Marty Castillo replaced Sánchez in the lineup at catcher.

Morris allowed the tying run in the top of the ninth and the Tigers failed to score in the bottom half.

Bottom of the 10th: Johnny Grubb pinch hits for Castillo.

Bottom of the 11th: Aurelio López replaces Hernández pitching, and Brookens moves from third to catcher, and Doug Flynn replaces Grubb playing third batting ninth.

So, Brookens caught three innings for Señor Smoke and two for lefty Bill Scherrer — talk about two different type of pitchers — and was flawless. No passed balls and no errors.

The teams traded runs in 10th and 13th, and the Tigers scored in the bottom of the 15th to win it.

Alan Trammell singled and went to second on an error by Rangers left fielder (and future Tiger) Gary Ward. The next hitter, Barbaro Garbey, singled Tram home.

A great win, but the story of the game was Brookens. His 1 for 6 night is a mere footnote in what was undoubtedly one of the most memorable games of his career.

Miscellany

  • Umpires: HP – Ken Kaiser, 1B – Rocky Roe, 2B – Larry McCoy, 3B – Larry Barnett.
  • Time of Game: 4:14
  • Attendance: 38,602

Birthdays

Travis Fryman, Scott Sanders and the late Alan Koch.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 358 7/9 — Rarity: 251

See you tomorrow.

The Saturday Fungo: Feb. 17

An Afternoon at the Ballyard

I spent the day at Camelback Ranch, the spring training home of the Dodgers and White Sox, watching my alma mater, Western Michigan, come from ahead to beat Michigan, 11-9 in 10 innings.

Imagine my surprise when I noticed that former Tiger Daniel Schlereth is the Broncos’ pitching coach.

Here’s the final out.

Western Michigan vs. University of Michigan — Camelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz. February 17, 2024

Birthdays

Danny Patterson and the late Roger Craig, Jack Crimian, Orlin Collier, Eddie Phillips, Eddie Onslow and Wally Pipp.

Today’s Grid

Avert your eyes.

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 321 6/9: Rarity: 343

I hope you’re having a great weekend.