Holy Cow! The 1984 Cubs

[Nick Soulis]

Monday League Recap





Rose Makes It 4000!

[Nick Soulis]

Game #10
Wednesday April 18

St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs



Matthews Walks It Off in Extra-Inning Thriller as Cubs Edge Cardinals, 2-1

By PAUL SULLIVAN
Chicago Tribune Staff Writer



Wrigley Field — A brisk April afternoon at the Friendly Confines turned dramatic late as Gary Matthews delivered a 10th-inning single to lift the Cubs to a 2-1 walk-off victory over the rival St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

Before a bundled-up crowd of 10,386, Matthews laced a clean single to left off Cardinals reliever Bruce Sutter, scoring Ryne Sandberg and bringing the crowd to its feet in jubilation. The Cubs (3-7) snapped a seven-game skid and claimed their first extra-inning win of the young season.

“The crowd went wild,” Matthews said postgame, smiling as he recalled rounding first to a wave of cheers. “It’s moments like this that remind you why you love the game.”

The game was a pitcher’s duel for most of the afternoon. St. Louis right-hander Joaquin Andujar turned in a gem, throwing 9.0 innings while allowing just one run on five hits and fanning seven. But despite his brilliance, the Cardinals' bats fell silent against a trio of Cubs pitchers.

Chicago starter Chuck Rainey went 5.2 innings, surrendering just one run—a solo shot by Andy Van Slyke in the third that landed in the left field bleachers. Relievers Rich Bordi and Tim Stoddard kept St. Louis off the board the rest of the way. Stoddard (1-1) earned the win with two sharp innings of relief, striking out four and working around a pair of walks.

The Cubs got on the board in the second when Matthews drew a walk and later came around to score on a wild throw from Ozzie Smith that prolonged the inning. But after that, both offenses went cold, combining for just 12 hits across 10 innings and stranding 16 runners.

The turning point came in the bottom of the 10th. Sandberg, who had been mired in a slump, reached on an error by Smith with one out. He advanced to second on Leon Durham’s single and then moved to third on a walk by Mel Hall. That set the stage for Matthews’ heroics.

Sutter (0-1), the former Cub and now Cardinals closer, was tagged with the loss. He allowed one unearned run on one hit in 0.2 innings of work.

“I thought we had it locked down with Andujar going nine strong,” Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog said. “But when you don’t hit, you leave yourself no margin for error. And we made two costly ones.”

Indeed, St. Louis committed a pair of errors—one from Van Slyke and another from Smith—that helped extend innings and gave the Cubs extra chances.

Chicago’s offense was paced by Durham, who went 2-for-4 with a double, and Matthews, who reached base twice. Hall added a hit and threw out Willie McGee at second with a laser from right field, killing a potential St. Louis rally in the seventh.

For the Cubs, the win offered a welcome sigh of relief amid a rocky start to the season.

“This was a gut-check game,” said manager Jim Frey. “We’ve had some tough breaks, but the guys didn’t quit. We battled, and today we got the bounce we needed.”

GAME NOTES:

Joaquin Andujar was named Player of the Game despite the loss, with a game score of 75.

Tim Stoddard was credited with two balks during his two-inning appearance.

Temperature at first pitch was a chilly 43 degrees with an 11 mph wind blowing in from right field.

Attendance: 10,386

[Nick Soulis]

Game #11
Wednesday April 18

St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs



Woods Socks It to Cardinals as Cubs Cruise to 6-1 Win at Wrigley
By Dan Cahill, Tribune Sports Staff



CHICAGO — With the wind brushing out to right field on a brisk 42-degree afternoon at Wrigley, Gary Woods brought the heat of his own, belting two home runs—including a decisive three-run blast in the eighth—to power the Cubs past the rival St. Louis Cardinals, 6-1, on Wednesday.

Woods, who entered the game hitting .571, only added fuel to his sizzling start with a 4-for-4 showing at the plate. His solo homer in the second got the Cubs on the board, and his eighth-inning shot off weary Cardinals starter Dave LaPoint put the game out of reach.

"Gary was seeing beach balls today," Cubs manager Jim Frey said postgame. "Whenever we hold the other team to one run, I like our chances. But when Woods does that? Well, then we just sit back and enjoy the ride."

The Cardinals struck early, thanks to a solo homer off the bat of Tommy Herr in the first inning—his first of the season—tagging Cubs starter Scott Sanderson. But that would be the only blemish on an otherwise solid performance from the right-hander, who scattered seven hits across seven innings for his first win of the year.

"Just tried to keep the ball down and let the defense work," said Sanderson, who struck out five and didn’t allow a walk until the sixth inning.

Chicago responded in the bottom of the second with Woods’s solo shot, and then grabbed the lead for good in the fourth. Ron Cey’s RBI single plated Bill Buckner, who finished 3-for-4 with a run scored, and Woods followed with another base hit to make it 3-1.

From there, the Cubs’ bullpen sealed the deal. Rookie Rich Meridith worked a clean eighth and Lee Smith closed it out in the ninth, needing just 11 pitches to retire the side in order.

LaPoint (1-3), meanwhile, was left out to dry by his offense. Despite going 7.1 innings and striking out eight, the St. Louis bats fell silent after the first, stranding eight runners and going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

"Any time you leave that many guys out there, you’re asking for trouble," said Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog. "We made Sanderson work early, but we didn’t capitalize."

Offensively, the Cardinals managed seven hits but only one that mattered—Herr’s first-inning homer. Lonnie Smith, Ozzie Smith, and Willie McGee were all held hitless, with the heart of the order going a combined 0-for-9.

Cubs fans, braving the chilly April air at Wrigley, had plenty to cheer about. The North Siders racked up 12 hits, turned a double play, and committed just one error in what Kokosioulis called the "most complete game" of their young season.

Game Notes:

Player of the Game: Gary Woods (4-for-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 10 total bases)

Attendance: 25,434

Time of Game: 2 hours, 43 minutes

Weather: Clear skies, 42°F, wind blowing out to right at 9 mph

The Cubs improve to 4-7, while the Cardinals fall to 5-7.

[jksander]

[Nick Soulis]

Game #12
Thursday April 19

St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs



Cox Muzzles Cubs as Cardinals Cruise at Wrigley

By Paul Sullivan
Chicago Tribune Sports



CHICAGO — On a chilly Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field, the Cardinals brought the heat — and Danny Cox brought the hammer.

Behind a masterful eight-inning performance by the right-hander, the St. Louis Cardinals quieted the Cubs’ bats and the North Side faithful in a 5-1 victory that snapped a modest two-game slide and dropped Chicago to 4-8 on the season.

Cox, now 1-1 on the year, scattered just four hits while striking out six and walking only one, taming a Cubs lineup that had shown flashes of power in recent days. The only blemish on his line came in the third inning, when Bob Dernier drove home Larry Bowa with a two-out RBI single. But from that point on, the Cubs were effectively silenced.

“Danny gave us everything he had,” said Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog. “He challenged hitters all day long and worked quickly. That’s the kind of effort we needed.”

The Cardinals (6-7) broke through in the sixth inning against Cubs starter Scott Sanderson Trout, who had held them scoreless through five. With one out and Ozzie Smith aboard via a walk, George Hendrick laced a two-run single to right. Willie McGee followed moments later with an RBI hit of his own, capping a three-run frame.

Trout (0-3) was tagged with the loss and continues to search for his rhythm early in the campaign. He allowed seven hits and five earned runs over 6⅓ innings, despite a solid first half of the outing.

St. Louis struck again in the seventh with some help from the Cubs' defense. An error by Ron Cey opened the door for two unearned runs, as Art Howe drove in a run with a single and Hendrick added another RBI on a sharp liner.

“We just didn’t get the big hits when we needed them,” said Cubs manager Jim Frey. “Cox pitched well, give him credit. But we didn’t put much pressure on them.”

The Cubs finished with just four hits — singles by Dernier, Gary Matthews, Jody Davis, and Bowa — and managed only two baserunners after the fourth inning. Chicago’s lone real threat ended quickly when Dernier was caught stealing in the third.

Offensively, the Cardinals were led by McGee, who collected three hits and an RBI while swiping his fourth base of the season. Ozzie Smith reached base three times, scored twice, and stole two bags of his own, keeping the Cubs defense on its toes.

The lone bright spot for the Cubs came in the form of reliever Rich Patterson, who struck out two Cardinals in a perfect ninth.

Game Notes:

Attendance was not announced, but the crowd braved 52-degree weather and partly cloudy skies. A light wind blew out to right field at 4 mph.

Cox threw 104 pitches, 74 for strikes.

St. Louis executed one double play and had no errors.

The Cubs, meanwhile, committed one costly error and turned a single double play.

[Nick Soulis]

Game #13
Saturday April 21

Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs



Cubs Edge Pirates 2–1 Behind Ruthven’s Strong Outing
By Paul Sullivan | Tribune Staff Writer



Wrigley Field — On a chilly, windswept Friday afternoon at the Friendly Confines, it took just three hits, one timely swing, and a dose of determined pitching for the Cubs to snap their three-game skid and cool off the red-hot Pirates.

Dick Ruthven tossed eight gritty innings and Lee Smith slammed the door in the ninth as the Cubs edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 2–1 in front of a lively matinee crowd. The win pushes Chicago to 5–8 on the young season and halts Pittsburgh’s momentum, dropping the Bucs to 8–5.

It was a pitcher’s duel from the outset, with both teams getting superb outings from their veteran right-handers. Pittsburgh’s Rick Rhoden was masterful despite the loss, surrendering only three hits and striking out four over eight innings. Two unearned runs in the bottom of the first proved to be the difference.

“We didn’t do much with the bats,” Cubs skipper Jim Frey said. “But we made the most of our chances, and Ruthven gave us exactly what we needed.”

The Cubs took advantage of an early Pirates miscue to plate both their runs. With one out in the bottom of the first, Gary Matthews singled and moved to third on a Billy Buckner double. That’s when Pirates third baseman Bill Madlock — a former Cub — misplayed a potential inning-ending grounder, allowing Matthews to score. Ron Cey followed with a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Buckner.

That was all the cushion Ruthven needed.

The veteran right-hander scattered seven hits and walked just two, striking out seven. He worked his way out of trouble in the third and fifth innings, inducing double plays and keeping Pittsburgh’s hitters guessing with a mix of fastballs and off-speed offerings. His only blemish came in the top of the first when Marvell Wynne led off with a single, stole second, and came around to score on a Johnny Ray single.

“I didn’t have my best stuff,” Ruthven said. “But I trusted my defense, tried to stay ahead in the count, and battled.”

Lee Smith, called upon to protect the narrow lead in the ninth, needed just 14 pitches to strike out the side and notch his first save of the season. His overpowering fastball left no doubt.

“It’s great to get that first one out of the way,” said Smith, who was lights-out in spring training but had yet to record a save in April. “When Ruthven pitches like that, you want to finish it right.”

Despite the loss, Rhoden earned high praise for his effort. The Pirates’ right-hander threw 119 pitches, 78 of them strikes, and allowed no earned runs. Manager Chuck Tanner expressed frustration with his team’s missed opportunities.

“We had the right guys up at the right times,” Tanner said. “We just didn’t cash in.”

Indeed, the Pirates left seven runners on base and struck out 10 times, including three in the final frame against Smith. Tony Peña and Doug Frobel each struck out three times, and Pittsburgh’s lone extra-base hit never materialized.

Madlock’s first-inning error was his fifth of the season, a troubling stat for a normally reliable glove man. “That one’s on me,” Madlock admitted. “You’ve got to make those plays early, especially when your pitcher is dealing.”

Game Notes:

Rick Rhoden was named Player of the Game despite taking the loss.

Official time of game: 2:23.

Weather at first pitch: 51°F and cloudy, with 11 mph winds blowing out to left field.

Attendance was not announced, but the crowd gave Smith a standing ovation after the final out.

[Nick Soulis]

Game #14
Sunday April 22

Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs



Cubs Clip Bucs Behind Reuschel’s Arm, Bowa’s Bat
Chicago Tribune – April 22, 1984
By Paul Sullivan, Tribune Staff Writer



Wrigley Field — On a cold, rainy Saturday at the Friendly Confines, Rick Reuschel warmed up the Cubs faithful with a vintage performance that led the North Siders to a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 34-year-old right-hander went seven strong innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out four, earning his first win of the season and reminding everyone why he’s still a dependable force in the rotation.

The Cubs (6-8) scratched together their first runs in the fifth inning when veteran shortstop Larry Bowa slapped one of his three singles through the right side, scoring Keith Moreland to break a scoreless tie. A sacrifice fly from Ron Cey plated another, and in the eighth, Gary Woods added insurance with a clutch two-out RBI single.

“I just tried to stay ahead in the count and let the defense work,” Reuschel said after the game. “With Bowa playing like that behind me, it makes the job a lot easier.”

Bowa, who finished the day a perfect 3-for-3, sparked a Cubs lineup that struggled early but capitalized on key opportunities late. Meanwhile, the Pirates (8-6) failed to solve Reuschel, stranding runners and managing just a lone tally on a seventh-inning pinch-hit RBI single by Lee Lacy.

Pirates starter Larry McWilliams took the loss, falling to 0-3 on the year despite a solid effort through seven innings. “Every loss hurts,” Pirates skipper Chuck Tanner said. “But this was a tough one. We just couldn’t string anything together.”

Tim Stoddard and Lee Smith closed it out for Chicago, with Smith striking out two in the ninth to lock down his second save. The Cubs will look to take the series Sunday, hoping momentum from this win sparks a climb out of the early-season doldrums.

[Nick Soulis]

[ZapMast]

I think this is the greatest thing!

This is my favorite team. I love the idea of reliving 1984. The year after the Winnin' Ugly White Sox won their division. Dallas Green brought the north side a winner. And when we got the Red Baron ...

I love doing entire leagues. But if there was ever a time I would do it this way this is it.

Thanks!

(The Daily Double)


[To this day it turns my stomach to see Steve Garvey]

--------------------------------------
The Players League, 1946 -- An OOTP 26 Dynasty

Major Sim Baseball -- An OOTP 26 Dynasty

Action Baseball League -- An OOTP 26 Dynasty