June 12, 1993- Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets
Boss DJ
An Introduction...
I’m the guy who cried during Scott Rolen day when it was announced that Scott Rolen was going to
take the day off. 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
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 Phillies are continuing their domination of National League competition, winning their last 4
games, 7 of their last 8 and 9 of their last 11. By the strength of an offense that’s first in Home Runs
and a pitching stats that’s first in complete games; they have not lost a series since mid May, and
haven’t been out of first place since April 9th where they are currently 10 ½ games ahead of the next
team in the division.
At the bottom of the standings sitting comfortably in the basement are the New York Mets. A team
that Pittsburgh Pirates manager Jim Leyland picked to win the East, the Mets, at 19-39, are 8 ½
games behind the expansion Florida Marlins and 22 ½ games out of first place. If Barney Stinson
really does smoke a cigarette the day the Mets are eliminated from playoff contention, he best get
his matches ready. After winning 2 games against the Cincinnati Reds on April 17th-18th, the Mets
haven’t won 2 consecutive games since. They’ve lost their last 4 games, and 7 of their last 8.
Today’s Game
It is Saturday, June 12th, 1993 at that stupid stadium that had a big plastic Apple that popped out
during home runs (aka Shea Stadium). Today’s game is being broadcast on WPHL 17, with the
classic line-up of Harry and Whitey with Wheels along for the ride. Harry Norbert Kalas joined the
Philies in 1971 when he replaced the retiring Bill Campbell. Kalas was paired with Richie Ashburn
and the pair quickly became best friends, and synonymous to baseball in the Philadelphia area.
Harry the K’s career would span the entire Phillies history at Veteran’s stadium, as well as the first
five years at Citizen’s Bank Park where the in arena restaurant was named after him (it has since
closed before the 2020 season was to start). Harry would join Richie Ashburn in the Major League
Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 receiving the Ford Frick Award for broadcasting. Kalas’ home run call
of “It’s outta here” is often imitated but has never been duplicated.
Watch for yourself at:
Today’s Line-up:
CF Lenny Dykstra
SS Mariano Duncan
1B John Kruk
C Darren Daulton
LF Jim Eisenreich
RF Milt Thompson
3B Kim Batiste
2B Mickey Morandini
P Danny Jackson
On The Mound
The Phillies have arrived yet again to Danny Jackson’s spot in the rotation. He comes into the game
today with 5-2 record and a 3.57 ERA. In his last start against the Astros, Jackson lasted 6 ⅔ innings
giving up 1 run while earning the victory. Though nowhere near as effective as Jackson had been in
1988 when he was runner up for the Cy Young, The Phillies are 9-3 in the games Jackson starts this
season.
For the Mets, Dwight “Doc” Gooden will be the starter in this contest. When The former first round
pick, Gooden, came into the league he set the entire NL on fire, earning his nickname “Doctor K” by
leading the league in strike outs and going 17-9 while winning Rookie of the year. The next year,
1985, Gooden became the best pitcher in baseball, posting a 24-4 record with a microscopic 1.53
ERA and 268 strike outs. Each of his starts that season became a media circus, a 102 foot mural of
his face was painted in New York, and he would win the Cy Young in a near unanimous decision.
The next year he would help the Mets win the World Series against the Boston Red Sox. All of this
before he turned 21 years old. After 1986, Doc Gooden went from poster boy of pitching to poster
boy of how cocaine and alcohol can ruin a career. While he stayed effective for the following years,
he never again reached the heights of his first 2 seasons in the Majors. His first arrest from cocaine
possession would come in 1986 and would culminate with his suspension from the league for the
entire 1995 season. Gooden would go on to throw a no-hitter in 1996 and win two more World
Series with the Yankees (though he pitched few meaningful playoff innings), but his career is a
primary example of wasted potential. In 1993, Gooden is attempting to get back to being the pitcher he once was while putting his personal demons aside. His 1992 campaign started with rape allegations and would end with his first double digit loss season of his career. So far in 1993, he does lead the league in innings pitched with a 2.72 ERA, but hasn’t been able to keep away from the knucklehead Mets stuff. In late April, Gooden was struck by his teammate Vince Coleman’s golf club and forced to miss a start, in an incident that was not told to reporters by the Mets. In an attempt to cover up the accident, the Mets just made the whole team look like idiots, and continued to push the negative narrative around Gooden.
Highs (Hopes) and Lows
High- Dykstra Causing Trouble
Phillies Manager Jim Fregosi once described Lenny Dykstra as “a red-light player. When the red light
goes on, he gets the job done... He always finds a way to get it done.” Harry Kalas would say of “The
Dude” “He was always on base and he was always stirring up trouble.” Dykstra shows that exact attitude
today with first working a walk and then stealing second base in the first inning, then singling and
stealing another base in the third inning. These were the only signs of life from the entire Phillies
offense through the first three innings, without these tough at bats a lesser team would have allowed
Doc Gooden to walk over them for the rest of the game. Dykstra caused trouble and was knocked in
on a Mariano Duncan single to make the score 1-0 Phillies. This would be Dykstra’s 53rd run scored
in 1993 which leads the NL, Dykstra had mentioned in the past week that leading the league in runs
is the only statistic he cares about.
goes on, he gets the job done... He always finds a way to get it done.” Harry Kalas would say of “The
Dude” “He was always on base and he was always stirring up trouble.” Dykstra shows that exact attitude
today with first working a walk and then stealing second base in the first inning, then singling and
stealing another base in the third inning. These were the only signs of life from the entire Phillies
offense through the first three innings, without these tough at bats a lesser team would have allowed
Doc Gooden to walk over them for the rest of the game. Dykstra caused trouble and was knocked in
on a Mariano Duncan single to make the score 1-0 Phillies. This would be Dykstra’s 53rd run scored
in 1993 which leads the NL, Dykstra had mentioned in the past week that leading the league in runs
is the only statistic he cares about.
High- 2 Out Runs
Dykstra had reached base and scored with 2 outs in the third inning and in the fourth inning with 2
outs the Phillies struck again. This time the scoring was set off first by Milt Thompson getting hit by a
pitch, then getting knocked him by uber fill-in Kim Batiste (with assist from Vince Colemans).
The next batter, Mickey Morandini delivers, again with 2 outs, with a triple to score Batiste and make
the lead 3-0 Phillies.
 |
| soooooooooo close |
Low- Mets’ Trades Impacting the Season
Throughout the series, the Phillies broadcast team has mentioned all of the moves the Mets have
been making in an attempt to shake the team out of whatever funk they are in. Most recently, the
Mets have traded future Hall of Famer Tony Fernandez back to his former team the Toronto Blue
Jays for outfielder Darrin Jackson. Jackson would hit a robust .195 for the Mets in 1993, before soon
thereafter exiting the majors for good. Fernandez on the other hand would help solidify an already
completely stacked Toronto Blue Jays line-up, but more importantly when they faced off with the
Phillies in the World Series. Fernandez would bat .333 and hit a then record for shortstops 9 runs in
during the 6 game series. Of course the Mets would find a way to ruin my life.
High- Danny Jackson’s Turn
The biggest difference between the 1992 Phillies and the 1993 version has been the consistency of
the starting pitching. A big part of that has been the addition of Danny Jackson whom Kalas says
“has exceeded all expectations for this year”. With 16 complete games, the Phils' rotation lead the
senior circuit in the category and each of their starters owns an ERA below 4. In today’s game,
Jackson gets himself into early trouble giving up a double to Vince Coleman and then a walk to
Eddie Murray, leaving him runners on the corner with only one out. In what would turn out to be the
biggest jam of his outing, Danny Jackson first got Bobby Bonilla to strike out before getting Darrin
Jackson to ground out to end the inning. For the next 7 innings, Jackson would cruise, scattering 4
hits while handing out no more walks and striking out 5 Mets.
 |
| This is why you keep paying Bobby Bonilla to this day |
Wild Rides
With a 3-0 lead and a pitcher who hasn’t thrown a complete game since 1989 or a shut out since
1988, Fregosi doesn’t think twice before batting Danny Jackson in the 9th and then sending him out
to pitch. In his defense, Jackson was only at 98 pitches going into the last frame, but logically why
risk it? Curt Schilling pitched a complete game the night before giving the bullpen a rest day, and
both Larry Andersen and David West were already warmed up in the bullpen. Jackson proves
Fregosi right, by quickly getting three outs and ending the ball game, becoming the first pitcher to
shut out the Mets in 1993. Phillies win 3-0.
Words of Wisdom from Harry and Whitey (and sometime Wheels)
"Gooden might have more hits than our dear and good friend John Vukovich... It's a slight possibility, I doubt it. Vuk had more than that." Whitey
"Maybe not many more than that."- Wheels. Longtime Phillie Coach John Vukovich was statistically
one of the worst players to ever play baseball, but is one of the most beloved figures in Philadelphia
sports. Doc Gooden had 137 career hits at this point, John Vukovich in his 11 year career collected a
total of 90.
"One of the great minds of baseball, John Vukovich" Whitey making ammends.
In Conclusion
Dykstra scores early, and the Danny Jackson takes it the rest of the way, as the Phillies shut out the
Mets 3-0 to take the series. 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. Though the
Phillies have already won the series, they are forced by the league to play all four games, which we’ll be
back to share with you next time.
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| Don't be like the Mets, keep your head up |
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