June 1, 1993 Philadelphia Phillies at Cincinnati Reds
Juan Voyage!
An Introduction…
I’m the guy who thought it would be a great idea to work at Phillies games this summer and now has zero chance of a fun job for the next few months. With the chance of the season dwindling and only the KBO to salve my baseball addiction, I made the decision to go back in time. Thanks to the internet and more specifically the saint who runs the ClassicPhilliesTV youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWb6dGkCnKBlrQLJAjZ-4-w), I’m going back and watching the 1993 Phillies, day for day just like if it was 27 years ago, but with the internet. To reminisce about the legends of John Kruk, Mitch Williams, and Darren Daulton, mixing the knowledge we have now, with jokes of how dumb things were then. Follow along for the month of June and if it works out, I’ll continue to the month of July.
Where We Last Left Our Intrepid Heroes…
The 1993 Phillies were atypical for a Philadelphia baseball team in many ways, but most impressively was their auspicious start to the season. Not only did the boys in red pinstripes finish the Grapefruit season with the best record in the league, they raced to an incredible 17-5 record in April, and followed it up with a 17-10 record in May. They were first in the NL East coming into June and only spent one day in second so far the entire season (spoilers). Before the series against the Reds, the Phillies had just spent their first weekend in Colorado where they swept the Rockies with a combined score of 39-10. The night before in the first game of the series in Cincinnati, the Phillies fell to the Reds, after Catcher Darren Daulton, Manager Jim Fregosi, and pitching coach Johnny Podres were tossed for arguing balls and strikes (Richie “Whitey” Ashburn sums it up the next day “I think there are a few umpires who are not good umpires”). More importantly for the Phillies, they have finally given up on starting shortstop Juan Bell and put him on Waivers (he was picked up by the Brewers). This is extremely important for the Phightins’ as Juan Bell has been the only negative part of the 34-15 start, slashing .200/.267/.323 and doing nothing with the glove but causing issues (including a game costing flub against the Mets the week previous), while racking up 6 errors in 44 games (The Brewers would immediately move him to 2nd Base).
The Red on the other hand are in the midst of the whole Marge Schott calling a couple Reds players the N word (if you want to read more). Which led to her being suspended from going to the ballpark she owned, and Lou Pinella refusing an extension and running to Seattle just three years after winning the World Series. The quickie hiring of beloved former Red (and POC) Tony Perez lasted a blissful 44 games before Perez was replaced with 2019 World Series winning manager Davey Johson. Davey Johnson would immediately hire future Phillie foe Bobby Valentine as his 3rd base coach. The Reds limped into the series against the Phillies at 24-26
Today’s Game:
It is Tuesday June 1, 1993, at Riverside Stadium in Cincinnati Ohio. Today’s crew for the WPHL production will be Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn for the first three innings, Richie Ashbrun and Chris Wheeler for the 3rd through 6th inning, and ending with Harry Kalas and Chris Wheeler for the final three innings of the game.
Watch for yourself at
The Line-Up
CF Lenny Dykstra
SS Mariano Duncan
1B John Kruk
3B Dave Hollins
C Darren Daulton
RF Jim Eisenreich
LF Milt Thompson
2B Mickey Morandini
P Danny Jackson.
On the Mound
Danny Jackson (4-2, 3.74 era) will take the rubber for the Phils. In his first season with the team, Danny Jackson was 1 of 6 free agent acquisitions in the offseason by General Manager Lee Thomas to provide depth to the Phillies roster.
Jose Rijo (6-1, 2.85 era, 8th in NL in ERA, 7.4 Ks/9) is the starter for the Cincinnati Reds. The former World Series MVP is in the midst of one of his best seasons as a starting pitcher and will eventually lead the NL in strikeouts for the year. Rijo has the fun distinction of being one of the few players to be voted on twice for the Hall of Fame as he received .2 percent of the vote in 2001, but then made a surprise comeback to the Majors that year as a relief pitcher. He would receive no votes when he appeared for the second time in 2007. To add further color, Wikipedia reveals that Rijo was involved in some way with Dominican drug trafficker Matías "Daniel" Avelino Castro in 2011 (who murdered a journalist) and Rijo was eventually arrested for money laundering. We also find out during the broadcast that Rijo and Mariano Duncan were best friends (adorable).
High (Hopes) and Lows of the Game
High: Reds Uniforms
The Reds are rocking their sweet sleeveless jerseys and their white hats with red pinstripes. Every guy on this team looks crisp in these things. I never understood why the sleeveless jersey/under shirt combo didn’t expand to other teams, and now I think even the Reds phased out the look. So dumb.
High: Top 1st Darren Daulton 1st Half MVP
When Darren Daulton steps up to the plate in the first inning with the bases loaded, he is only hitting .250, but he leads the league in RBIs and Walks, while having already blasted 14 home runs on the season. He pads his credentials with a double to right field that puts the Phillies up 2-0. Coming into this season the Phillies had rewarded Daulton with a 4 year 18.5 million dollar contract which in 1993 is essentially the equivalent to 4 years /100 million in today’s league, and Daulton put his body on the line for the Phillies in response. At this point in the season Todd Pratt has only started 5 games, and none in the previous month of May.
High: Top 2nd, 2nd Chances
Mickey Morandini opens up the 2nd inning with a triple to the gap between the Reds’ Center and Right fielders, but the Phillies seem desperate to leave him on third, after Jackson and Dykstra quickly get out. Mariano Duncan then comes up to bat and slices a ball down the third base line where Reds 3rd Basemen Jeff Branson (who is replacing just injured Chris Sabo) makes a great snag and throw to get Duncan out at third. TWIST! The home plate ump (who’s been terrible all game, more on this later) rules the grounder to be a foul ball and Duncan still at bat. With new life, Duncan lines a double to right and scores Mickey to make the game 3-0, good guys.
High: Danny Jackson- Inning Eater
As mentioned earlier, Danny Jackson was one of the big free agent signings of the Phillies in the offseason. The year previous, the Phillies, while being 2nd in the National League in runs scored, had just terribly unreliable starting pitching (and relief pitching). While Phillies fans were thirsting after big time free agent Doug Jones, Lee Thomas quietly signed Danny Jackson, whom a fair amount of the league thought was no longer the Cy Young runner up he was in 1988. But what he was, in Thomas’ eyes, was a guy who could give the Phillies a chance to win when he pitched, and so far that’s exactly what he was doing. The Phils were 7-3 in his 10 starts so far, and this game was no different. Jackson got himself into trouble in the 3rd, and gets a huge double play ball. More trouble in the 5th and he strikes out the best player (and only future MVP) on the field in Barry Larkin to get out of the inning.
Low then High: Bottom 6th, Super Dangerous Home Plate Collisions
It used to be that no one cared about how hard grown men ran into each other. What crazy logic. In the bottom of the 6th, Danny Jackson is once again in trouble with Reds on 2nd and 3rd after a rare error by Lenny Dykstra. Reggie Sanders sends a single into center field to the Dude, one run scores. Making his way from 2nd and turning the corner at third is Reds Right Fielder Randy Milligan whom his teammates affectionately refer to as Moose (6’2” 200). Dykstra, who is still pissed at himself for the error on the previous play, sends a rocket to home to ensnare the Moose. Standing in front of home plate is Darren Daulton waiting both for the ball and the train that’s about to barrel into his chest. In one of the best plays you can see a catcher make, Daulton takes the hit, catches the throw and tags Milligan for the out in one motion. This is a play that could never happen in today’s game as catcher’s like Buster Olney have no idea the proper way to protect the plate. Even crazier is that it’s Milligan who gets injured on the play. Phils are still winning 3-1.
or gif
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| totally legal |
Low: Strikeouts?
Jose Rijo ends up giving out 7 hits with 4 going for extra bases as well as two walks on the night (no one gave a shit about WHIP in 1993), but strikes out 10 Phillies. As mentioned, Rijo would lead the NL in strikeouts this year, but he is greatly aided on this night by the Umpire Hohn. The home plate Umpire Hohn (I was paying attention when they intro’d his first name) was straight garbage. So many outside pitches were called for strikes, that were at least half a foot off the plate. As you will learn Whitey was VERY unhappy.
Low: Bottom 7th, Terrible Fregosi decision
In the 7th, once again Jackson is struggling (not once is his pitch count shown or mentioned during this inning) with 2 Reds on base with only 1 out. Phillies Manager Jim Fregosi has both RHP David West and LHP Larry Andersen warmed and ready (as mentioned by Chris “Wheels” Wheeler in the booth) in the bullpen, but this is 1993, so Fregosi is sticking with his starter. To Jackson’s credit, he gets a huge pop-up for the 2nd out of the inning after pitching coach Johnny Podres talks to him. With plenty of time to make a pitching change while up 3-1 for what is probably the most important at-bat of the game, Fregosi again decides to let it ride. Jackson finally falters and gives up a 2 run double to tie the game at 3. Super Super Super Super Dumb. Larry Andersen comes into the game and immediately strikes out the next Red player to end the inning.
HIGH: Top 8th, Eisie Save the Day
Dave Hollins answers back in the top of the 8th by getting an infield single on a crazy hop to shortstop. Two players later, Jim Eisenreich steps to the plate with the game on the line. Eisenriech had been another one of Lee Thomas’ quiet free agent signings before the season. Brought in to allow Fregosi to platoon in Right Field with Wes Chamberlain, the quiet Eisenreich has been christened “Ted Dahmer” by his teammates during Spring Training due to his regular guy looks, but icy demeanor (also that he carried around a bow and arrow in the locker room), he also is one of the few Major Leaguers to play while afflicted with Tourette’s Syndrome. Eisenreich makes the GM and manager look good by delivering a huge RBI single to center field to score Hollins and allow the Phillies to take a 4-3 lead in the 8th. He is currently 7-15 against left handers on the season.
HIGH: Top 9th, Comfort Runs
It’s the summer of 1993 and absolutely no lead feels safe when Mitch Williams is in the back of your bullpen, so luckily the Phillies slap together 2 more runs in the top of the 9th off a single by Dykstra and a balk by the Red’s reliever (yes, a balk). 6-3 Phillies.
WILD RIDES
This section is reserved in telling the final outs of Phillies games, whether it will be the last chance of a rally or the ongoing adventures of closer Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams, it will be covered here to summarize the game. I only bring this up, because for the first edition, it’s going to be pretty brief. Mitch Williams threw the best inning of baseball I can ever remember seeing him throw (and that includes the time I went and saw him and Pete Incavigla when they were playing/coaching for the Atlantic City Surf). Mitchie Poo threw 7 pitches to strike out the first two Reds in the inning and finished off the last one with a pop up to Dykstra for the Phillies win and his 15th save on 10 pitches.
Final: Phillies (35-15) 6 Reds (25-27) 4
Words of Wisdom from Harry and Whitey (and sometimes Wheels)
“I wouldn’t last one inning today (without arguing)”- Whitey.
“Harry, I’m not going to do this. I’m not going to sit here and watch these pitches” -Whitey
“He must have that plate on rollers down there, it just moves side to side” - Whitey
“That’s a called strike, about 10 inches outside”- Whitey. His Whiteness was in fine form today as he constantly railed on the home plate ump for having a ridiculous strike zone.
“Struck him out. got him on 3 pitches” -Harry
“You sound surprised”- Wheels
“Make it 5.”- Harry
“You sound so surprised, Harry, you see this all the time” -Wheels
“Anthony Young is winning 1-0 in the 7th”- Harry Kalas. I bring this up as Harry mentions it in the MLB round-up, and continues to mention that Young has currently (in 1993) lost 19 straight decisions as a starting pitcher. He would go on to lose this game as well, and would continue his streak for 27 straight decisions, an MLB record. He’s a Met, so who cares?
FInal Conclusion.
That’s it. Phillies win, as I’m going to assume they will quite a bit during this month (though I don’t have any idea). If you enjoyed this wonderful blast from the past please feel free to share, like, or comment on it. The hope is to have more people watching 93 Phillies games on youtube and talking about it. So hit me up @Kevin_Seamus on twitter or @loudphilliesguy on Instagram. I’ll be back tomorrow with the rubber match between the Phillies and Reds, please enjoy this wonderful gif I made of a random Reds player not agreeing with a call.
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| when people say "all lives matter" |
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