PRELIMINARY ROUND
Series #153
1974 Los Angeles Dodgers (102-60) vs 1984 Cleveland Indians (75-87)
In what would become Walter Alston's last season of a very distinguished run, the 1974 Dodgers won yet another pennant but fell short to the A's for the title. The core infield that would dominate the decade was already in place with Steve Garvey hitting .312 at first with 111 RBI and a 130 OPS+ to go along with his graceful defense. Davey Lopes stole 59 bases at the top of the order with a .350 OBP and 95 runs scored. Lopes was the hardnosed type of player any team would love to have, as was short stop Bill Russell. Russell hit .266 but also stole 14 bases and had a .336 OBP. Russel and Lopes also made a nice and fluid double play combo. The Penguin Ron Cey was at third and he drove in 97 with a .746 OPS and 88 runs. Bill Buckner was in left and was a great contact hitter ending with a .314 average and 30 doubles to his name. Jim Wynn was in center having struck out 104 times but still stealing 18 bases with a team leading 108 RBI with 32 home runs. Willie Crawford was in right hitting .295 with 202 total bases and an .808 OPS. To cap off the impressive Dodgers lineup was catcher Steve Yeager who hit .266 with a .334 OBP and 41 RBI in 94 games. Joe Ferguson played 111 games and hit .252 with an .815 OPS hitting 16 home runs and becoming a valuable utility piece. Tom Paciorek and Lee Lacy were to more key pieces off the bench as the Dodgers always seem to be deep in talent. With the defense strong and throwing in a pitchers park, the Dodgers staff did well with a 2.97 team ERA. Andy Messersmith won 20 games with a 2.59 ERA including 221 strikeouts. Messersmith was excellent in giving quality innings and Don Sutton was not far behind him winning 19 times with a 3.23 ERA and five shutouts. Sutton was a great big game pitcher who's confidence resonating in his teammates. Doug Rau started 35 times with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Tommy John made 22 starts with a 13-3 record and a 2.59 ERA showing great command including three shutouts. AL Downing threw 98 innings in 16 starts and was a decent place holder with a 3.66 ERA but likely wont get a start in this series. Mike Marshall appeared in 106 games out of the pen with a 2.42 ERA in what was a trajectory we may never see again. He had 21 saves but was used in almost every situation because of his effectiveness. Charlie Hough went 9-4 as his knuckle ball danced at hitter. Hough had a 1.09 WHIP and could be used often as well. Geoff Zahn and Jim Brewer were the other pen arms that were used often and both had ERA's under three adding to the talent of the overall Dodgers roster. A great club to say the least that won 102 games and could really beat you in so many ways.
There was a world of parity in the AL East in the 1980's but the Indians just couldn’t break through. Their 75 wins in 1984 were good for 6th in the division and a long run of futility seemed to have no end. At 33 years old there was nothing slowing down about Bert Blyleven as the teams ace. Blyleven went 19-7 with a 2.87 ERA and 170 strikeouts In 245 innings. He had 4 shutouts and is sure to be leaned on and a big factor in this series. The remainder of the Tribe pitching goes downhill fast. Neal Heaton had a 5.21 ERA and lost 15 games walking as many as he struck out. His FIP was a bit lower making him have the potential to pitch better. Steve Comer had a 5.68 ERA in 117 innings and had a hard time being trusted. Steve Farr had a 4.58 ERA and an even better FIP at 4.22 but his record showed none of that finishing at 3-11. Rick Sutcliffe went 4-5 with a 5.15 ERA but was on his way to Chicago for his Cy Young before the season was very old. Roy Smith also made 14 starts at 22 years olf with a pedestrian 4.59 ERA. Ernie Camacho closed out 23 games and was impressive as the club closer when he had his chances. Tom Waddell and Mike Jeffcoat as the best options out of a pen that was actually quite good for a starting unit that struggled. Jeffcoat appeared in 63 games and Waddell in 58. Andre Thornton was most of the muscle in the lineup and spent most of his time at DH. Big Andre hit 33 home runs and 99 RBI and only 79 strikeouts. Thornton was the most feared in the lineup but also 25 year old Julio Franco was a big bat at short stop. Franco hit .286 with 79 RBI and 19 steals proving how good he was all around. Tony Bernazard was his infield mate who stole 20 bases but hit only .221 and I was a good thing that he had very sure hands. Mike Hargrove was the first baseman at 34 years old. He hit .267 with a .361 OBP and 53 walk that translated to 44 runs scored/. Hargrove was nowhere near the prototypical first baseman. Brook Jacoby was at third and he hit 7 home runs with 40 RBI in 126 games for a paltry .683 OPS. Brett Butler was a nice piece in center. He was one of the best bunters you would ever see and stole 52 bases while scoring 108 runs with a .269 average. George Vukovich was in right and he hit .304 but had only 9 home runs and 38 total runs scored. Mel Hall came from Chicago and played in just 83 games hitting .257 with 7 long ones. Pat Tabler was the main man off the bench playing in 144 games and hitting .290 with 21 doubles, look for him to probably start in this series. Young Joe Carter is another name to watch for as he hit .275 with 13 home runs while catcher Chris Bando hit 13. The everyday catcher was platooned worth Jerry Willard, who hit .224 with 10 home runs but had an adequate arm and called a good game. Otis Nixon was another speed burner on the bench and Carmelo Castillo hit .261 in pinch hit duty. The Indians should be no match for the Dodgers, but if Blyleven gives them a chance in a couple of games, they may be able to stay competitive.
Game 1 At Dodger Stadium
Partly cloudy 57
1984 Indians....................4
1974 Dodgers..................5 (11 inn)
WP: G. Zahn (1-0) LP: E. Camacho (0-1)
HR: J. Carter (1), C. Bando (1), B. Blyleven (1), S. Garvey (1)
POG: Joe Ferguson
1974 Dodgers lead series 1-0
Joe Ferguson hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning scoring Bill Buckner and giving a hard fought game one to the Dodgers. The Indians hit three home runs including one by pitcher Bert Blyleven but the Dodgers managed 17 hits and should have won easily if it were not for 13 runners stranded on base. Geoff Zahn gets the win but it was Andy Messersmith who navigated through the game and for the Indians their ace just didnt have his best stuff allowing 15 hits.
Game 2 At Dodger Stadium
Clear 61
1984 Indians.......................4
1974 Dodgers.....................3
WP: S. Farr (1-0) LP: T. John (0-1) S: E. Camacho (1)
HR: D. Lopes (1), J. Fergusen (1) C. Bando (2)
POG: Chris Bando
Series tied at 1
Chris Bando went 4-5 with 4 RBI including a three run home run off losing Dodger Tommy John. John went 8 innings walking six as Cleveland scored three times in the seventh to break a 1-1 tie. Steve Farr was quite good striking out 8 and allowing only one run as the Indians steal one in Dodger land.
At Cleveland Stadium
Clear 55
1974 Dodgers..................4
1984 Indians....................5 (10 inn)
WP: J. Easterley (1-0) LP: M. Marshall (0-1)
HR: J. Ferguson (2), D. Lopes (2), C. Bando (3)
POG: Don Schulze
1984 Indians Lead Series 2-1
Mel Hall ripped a walk off single in the 10th off of Mike Marshall and the Indians have all of a sudden become believers in this series. Chris Bando hit his third home run of the series to tie the game in the 8th after a Bill Buckner two run single had put the visitors up. Don Sutton and Don Schulte both went 8 strong but nothing could be decided until the dramatics of the 10th inning.
Game 4 At Cleveland Stadium
Clear 50
1974 Dodgers..........................7
1984 Indians............................3
WP: D. Rau (1-0) LP: R. Smith (0-1)
HR: D. Lopes (3), S. Yeager (1), J. Carter (2)
POG: Doug Rau
Series tied at 2
Davey Lopes and and Ron Cey each drove in two runs as the visiting Dodgers put down the hammer in game four to even the series. Lopes hit his third home run of the series in the first and Cey hit a two run double in the 3rd while Steve Yeager also went deep as Roy Smith of the Indians had a short day. Doug Rau went seven and a third allowing two runs even with five walks to get the win. Joe Carter went 3-4 with a home run in the losing effort.
Game 5At Cleveland Stadium
Clear 55
1974 Dodgers...................1
1984 Indians.....................4
WP: B. Blyleven (1-0) LP: A. Messersmith (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Bert Blyleven
1984 Indians Lead Series 3-2
Bert Blyleven went the distance allowing only three hits and striking out four in what was a crucial pitching gem against lost Andy Messersmith and the Dodgers. George Vukovich drove in a run and scored two as Cleveland scored three in the first two innings and race away with the series lead. The series now heads West for the dramatic finish.
Game 6 At Dodger Stadium
64 Partly cloudy
1984 Indians..................0
1974 Dodgers................7
WP: T. John (1-1) LP: S. Farr (1-1)
HR: B. Buckner (1), R. Cey (1)
POG: Tommy John
Series Tied at 3
The Dodgers were not in the mood to end this series on their home diamond and Tommy John put all his pitches together to throw a shutout. John walked only one and struck out seven and the biggest moment in the game came when Ron Cey launched a seventh inning grand slam into the LA night off of loser Steve Farr, The final game now awaits as the Indians still in the fight to pull the upset.
Game 7 At Dodger Stadium
Clear 64
1984 Indians........................1
1974 Dodgers......................2
WP: D. Sutton (1-0) LP: D. Schulze (0-1) S: M. Marshall (1)
HR: J. Wynn (1)
POG: Don Sutton
Don Sutton got the early lead in the 2nd inning when Jim Wynn hit a solo home run, and the righthander had what he needed in game seven and never looked back. Sutton struck out seven and allowed only one run through 8 strong innings. To wrap up the series Mike Marshall came on in the ninth and struck out the side as the Dodgers took care of business at home with two straight wins when all was in doubt; that is what great teams do. Schulze did very well in his two starts with a 1.93 ERA but was ultimately unlucky, as were the Indians after the final out.
1974 Los Angeles Dodgers Win Series 4 Games To 3
Series MVP:
Ron Cey
(.417, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 3 R, 1.083 OPS)