Friday, July 7, 2017

Series Preview - Padres at Phillies: July 7th to July 9th


Friday 6:35, Saturday 4:05 and Sunday 1:35
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

Padres 36-49, 4th Place in the N.L. West, 21 games behind the Dodgers
Phillies 28-56, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 21 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Padres Probables:  Clayton Richard (5-8, 4.85), Jhoulys Chacin (7-7, 4.52), Trevor Cahill (3-2, 2.96)
Phillies Probables:  Nick Pivetta (2-4, 4.85), Aaron Nola (6-5, 3.73), Jerad Eickhoff (0-7, 4.93)

At the Ballpark:  Despite the product on the field, it should be a great weekend to visit Citizens Bank Park!  Tonight is 1980s Retro Night and both teams will be wearing uniforms from their 1983 seasons.  Following the game will be the second of the two annual fireworks shows.  On Saturday, all fans will receive a Mike Schmidt bobblehead and kids on Sunday will receive a Retro Pullover Jacket.  Play ball!

Padres Leaders
Average:  Yangervis Solarte - .268
Runs:  Wil Myers - 44
Home Runs:  Wil Myers and Hunter Renfroe - 16
RBIs:  Wil Myers - 42
Stolen Bases:  Manuel Margot and Wil Myers - 9

Wins:  Jhoulys Chacin - 7
ERA:  Jhoulys Chacin - 4.52
Strikeouts:  Jhoulys Chacin - 82
Saves:  Brandon Maurer - 17

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Aaron Altherr - .280
Runs:  Cesar Hernandez - 40
Home Runs:  Tommy Joseph - 14
RBIs:  Maikel Franco - 44
Stolen Bases:  Howie Kendrick - 8

Wins:  Aaron Nola - 6
ERA:  Jeremy Hellickson - 4.49
Strikeouts:  Aaron Nola - 72
Saves:  Hector Neris - 7

1982 Topps #434
1982 Topps Traded #73T
1982 Topps Appreciation:  On May 22, 1983, the Padres and Phillies completed a trade sending Joe Lefebvre to the Phillies and Sid Monge to San Diego.  Monge had been one of the team's best relievers in 1982, compiling a record of 7-1 and a 3.75 ERA.  Filling Monge's hole in the bullpen was Willie Hernandez, also acquired that May 22nd from the Cubs.

The addition of Lefebvre was a huge boost to the club and he played a key role in helping the team win the National League pennant.  In 1983, he set or tied career highs in most offensive categories including average (.306), home runs (8) and RBIs (39).  Lefebvre played all over the field, starting 44 games in right field, 14 games in left field, six games at third base and coming in as a defensive replacement at catcher three times.  He was red hot in July, hitting .356.  Unfortunately, injuries derailed the rest of Lefebvre's career as he appeared in just 52 games in 1984, missed the entire 1985 season, and hit .111 in 14 games in 1986 before retiring.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm looking forward to the convergence of the 1983 retro uniforms and the 2017 Chachi design!

Steve F. said...

It is a 33-year-old memory, so it could be wrong, but...I believe I saw the injury that essentially ended Joe Lefebvre's career at Reading in the summer of 1984, He was there on rehab assignment and playing outfield. Me recollection is that he was almost ready to go back up to the majors and he went to make a play on a sinking line drive to the outfield. He slipped on the outfield grass that was wet from a recent rain and tore some muscles or something. The stadium went quiet as he was helped off the field. I didn't remember that he ever came back, but from your post and from Baseball Reference, I see that he did for 14 games in 1986 (all but 3 as just a PH), and that was it.

Steve F. said...

And it didn't take long to confirm. August 6, 1984--as shown on page 22 in the next day's Reading Eagle (a great free source to check for Phillies articles, both Philadelphia and Reading, by the way): https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ZuSUVyMx-TgC&dat=19840807&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

It doesn't say the ground was wet, but I seem to recall it. And he reinjured the same knee that he was rehabbing while making a play on a ball hit to the outfield. Interestingly, Wally Joyner was on second base on the play. Tough break for him.

Jim said...

TSR - Working on something!

Steve - Joe Lefebvre briefly filled my "favorite player" void after Bob Dernier had departed for the Cubs.