APRIL 9th GAMES DUE UP

Expos @ Phillies
Sanderson (0-0, 0.00) vs Ruthven (0-0, 0.00)
Yankees @ White Sox
John (0-0, 0.00) vs Hoyt (0-0, 0.00)
Giants @ Reds
Gale (0-0, 0.00) vs Pastore (0-0, 0.00)
Astros @ Braves
Sutton (0-0, 0.00) vs Boggs (0-0, 0.00)
Brewers @ Blue Jays
Haas (0-0, 0.00) vs Stieb (0-0, 0.00)
Red Sox @ Orioles
Ojeda (0-0, 0.00) vs D. Martinez (1-0, 1.00)
Cubs @ Mets
Noles (0-0, 0.00) vs Zachry (0-0, 0.00)
Tigers @ Royals
Petry (0-0, 0.00) vs Leonard (0-1, 2.84)
Angels @ Twins
Kison (0-0, 0.00) vs Williams (0-0, 0.00)
Mariners @ Athletics
Moore (0-0, 0.00) vs Keough (0-0, 0.00)
Padres @ Dodgers
Lollar (0-0, 0.00) vs Reuss (0-0, 0.00)

APRIL 8th: Update : Foster Corked Bat Incident

NEW YORK (AP) - Baseball commissioner Kuhn spoke out today in New York City, on the recent George Foster corked bat incident which occurred in yesterday's Mets game against the Phillies at Veterans Stadium. "Major League Baseball is currently reviewing the incident. We have seized Mr. Foster's bat, and the rest of his bats from the Mets clubhouse, for examination."

A press conference has been called for tomorrow at 1pm at the league offices in New York.

When asked if there would be punishments handed out for yesterday's bench-clearing brawl at the Giants-Dodgers game, Kuhn curtly dismissed the question, "There will be no suspensions handed out to either Mr. Davis or Mr. Scioscia, or any other members of either organization."

APRIL 8th

Indians (1-0) @ Brewers (0-1)
BARKER DOMINATES BREW CREW
Barker's fastball is unhittable, as he fans 10 Brewers at County Stadium. The Tribe mount 2-run innings in the 2nd and 3rd innings, topped off with a Joe Charboneau 2-run home run. Now everybody's wondering -- is Super Joe back ?

WP - Barker (1-0)
LP - Caldwell (0-1)
Final Score: Indians 4, Brewers 1



Blue Jays (0-1) @ Tigers (1-0)
**GAME RAINED OUT**
Today's game at Tiger Stadium was rained out due to heavy thunderstorms in the Greater Detroit area. The game has been rescheduled for June 10th.


Rangers (0-1) @ Yankees (1-0)
GOSSAGE ENDS GAME WHIFFING 7 CONSECUTIVE BATTERS
Last year's A.L. Rookie of the Year, lefty Dave Righetti takes the mound for the Yanks. Righetti holds off the Rangers for almost 7 innings, and is removed in the 7th with bases loaded and Lamar Johnson at the plate. Goose Gossage makes his first appearance of the season, and puts in a truly magical 2 and 1/3 of work - going on to strike out Johnson to end othe 7th, and then the next six batters (in the 8th and 9th innings) to end the game !!

WP - Righetti (1-0)
SV - Gossage (1)
LP - Hough (0-1)
Final Score: Yankees 2, Rangers 1


Red Sox (0-1) @ White Sox (1-0)
CHISOX WIN ON BAINES BLAST IN 8TH
This one is knotted at 3 runs apiece until Harold Baines 2-run shot off of Torrez in the home half of the 8th inning. Jerry Koosman had come on in relief of Chisox starter Dotson to register the save, and secure the win for the Comiskey faithful

WP - Koosman (1-0)
LP - Torrez (0-1)
Final Score: Chicago 5, Boston 3


Expos (0-1) @ Pirates (1-0)
EXPOS COME FROM BEHIND AGAINST TEKULVE
With a 2-1 lead, the Bucs bring in Tekulve for the last two innings, and the sure save. BUT, in the 8th, "The Thinman" gives up a shocking pair of back-to-back homeruns to Cromartie & Speier that lets Montreal slip back in the lead. Jeff Reardon is brought in for the last of the 9th to shut the door in Pittsburgh's face, and cement Montreal's first victory of the 1982 season

WP - Gullickson (1-0)
SV - Reardon (1)
LP - Tekulve (0-1)
BSV - Tekulve (1)
Final Score: Expos 3, Pirates 2


Mariners (0-2) @ Twins (2-0)
BEATTIE QUIETS TWINS BATS
Young Dave Henderson showed why he's the future franchise player of Seattle, blasting a 7th inning grand slam off of Doug Corbett. Manny Castillo had another great game with the bat, knocking in a pair of runs with a 4th inning double off the left-field wall. Mariners starter Jim Beattie pitched very well, allowing only a single run on 4 hits while going the full 9 innings.

WP - Beattie (1-0)
LP - Havens (0-1)
Final Score: Mariners 7, Twins 1


Cardinals (1-1) @ Astros (1-1)
KNEPPER HIT HARD; BAIR COMES IN FOR SAVE
Stros lefty Bob Knepper holds the Cards close, nursing a 2-1 Houston lead, until the 6th when he serves up a 2-run home run off the bat of George Hendrick. St. Louis doesn't look back as they score 4 more runs in the 7th. Doug Bair comes in to put the victory on ice.

WP - Mura (1-0)
SV - Bair (1)
LP - Knepper (0-1)
Final Score: Cardinals 7, Astros 4


Angels (1-1) @ Athletics (1-1)
HENDERSON ROBS BAYLOR OF GAME-WINNING HOME RUN IN 8TH
A tight one at the Mausoleum in Oakland. With the scored tied at a single run apiece in the 8th, Rickey Henderson makes the catch of the day as he climbs the left field wall to haul down a sure Don Baylor 2-run home run ! The home run *would have* proved to be the game-winning knock, as later in the bottom half of the inning, Dwayne Murphy blasts a bases empty shot off of Angels starter Geoff Zahn.

WP - Underwood (1-0)
LP - Witt (0-1)
Final Score: Oakland 2, California 1

TRANSACTIONS :
Frank Taveras (Expos), demoted to AAA Wichita
Woodie Fryman (Expos), activated from injured reserve
Johnnie LeMaster (Giants), placed on 60-day DL, out until mid-June (estimated) with Grade 4 concussion
Bill Laskey (Giants), promoted from AAA Phoenix

APRIL 7th Update : LeMASTER RUSHED TO HOSPITAL

Los Angeles (AP) - Giants shortstop Johnnie LeMaster was rushed to the USC Medical Center this evening, after his collision with teammate Chili Davis while rushing into shallow left field for a fly ball. LeMaster, who lost consciousness after having Davis' knee come crashing down on his head, was stretchered off the field, immediately. Lemaster is in stable condition at the Center and he is currently having tests done to determine the extent of his head injury.

APRIL 7th

Braves (1-0) @ Padres (0-1)
MORE STELLAR BRAVE PITCHING
Braves win this one on the strength of Brett Butler's 3-run shot in the 5th. Atlanta starter Bob Walk manages to shut the Padres out for 8 innings, before a 2-run home run by Ruppert Jones saves face for the Padres

WP - Walk (1-0)
LP - Montefusco (0-1)
Final Score : Braves 4, Padres 2



Royals (0-1) @ Orioles (1-0)
ROYALS ON SINGLES in 9TH, DESPITE O'S LONGBALLS
Rookie Cal Ripken Jr. clubs 470-foot, game-tying home run, but it's in vain as Tippy Martinez blows the win in the 9th giving up RBI singles first to Willie Aikens, and then to Jerry Martin

WP - Castro (1-0)
LP - T. Martinez (0-1)
Final Score : Royals 4, Orioles 2

Cubs (0-1) @ Reds (1-0)
MILNER'S 9TH INNING SHOT WINS FOR CINCY; SOTO FANS 13
Eddie Milner swats a walk-off, 3-run home run in the bottom of the 9th off of Dick Tidrow, while Mario Soto goes the distance and gets the deserved win along with his 13 strikeouts.

WP - Soto (1-0)
LP - Tidrow (0-1)
Final Score : Reds 6, Cubs 3


Mets (1-0) @ Phillies (0-1)
PHILS WIN IN WILD ONE AT VET; FOSTER CAUGHT CORKING BAT !
A wild game at the Vet - Christenson is removed in the 6th with shoulder stiffness, and then the game explodes into complete & utter pitching ineptitude with both teams using a combined total of 8 pitchers. The big news happens in the 8th on a broken b at foul ball off the bat of George Foster, when it is discovered that his bat is indeed corked ! Home plate umpire Harry Wendelstedt ejected Foster, immediately. A press release from the office of Major League Baseball, issued minutes after the conclusion of the game, stated that the Foster corked bat incident would be "investigated, and dealt with, accordingly."

WP - Farmer (1-0)
LP - Orosco (0-1)
Final Score : Phillies 10, Mets 7

Cardinals (1-0) @ Astros (0-1)
SUTTER BLOWS WIN IN 9TH
Bruce Sutter does something that he's not at all used to doing when he blows the save and the Cardinals victory in the bottom of the 9th, serving up a walk-off 2-run double to Terry Puhl.

WP - J. Niekro (1-0)
LP - Sutter (0-1)
BSV - Sutter (1)
Final Score : Astros 4, Cardinals 3

Mariners (0-1) @ Twins (1-0)
TWINS COME BACK FROM 9 RUNS BEHIND !
The Twins pull off a tremendous comeback, down 9-0 after the first four innings, their bullpen holds the Ms scoreless for the rest of the game while their own offence scores 10 runs in the last 3 innings. Seattle's Bill Caudill and Larry Andersen are the 9th inning goats.

WP - Davis (1-0)
LP - Caudill (0-1)
BSV - Caudill (1)
Final Score : Twins 10, Mariners 9


Giants (0-1) @ Dodgers (1-0)
BENCH-CLEARING BRAWL !; YEAGER DOUBLE IN 10TH CAPS WIN FOR L.A.
Steve Yeager's pinch-hit RBI-double in the bottom of the 10th, wins it for Lasorda's Dodgers. Earlier in the game, in the third, Chili Davis and Johnnie LeMaster collided horribly on a pop fly to shallow left. LeMaster remained prone on the outfield grass, presumably unconscious, and had to be stretched off the field. After the game it was announced by the Giants' training staff tha LeMaster had suffered a moderate concussion. Later on in the 5th, after a Chili Davis - Mike Scioscia fight at home plate broke out, both benches cleared immediately into a full-scale brawl. After the idiocy calmed down and players from both teams were off the field, Davis and Scioscia were ejected from the game by home plate ump Eric Gregg.

WP - Stewart (1-0)
LP - Schatzeder (0-1)
Final Score : Dodgers 5, Giants 4 (10 innings)

Angels (1-0) @ Athletics (0-1)
BURROUGHS DRIVES IN 5, FUELLING OAKLAND WIN
DeCinces' 3-run home run in the 7th ties it at 6 runs apiece, but Jeff Burroughs strikes back in the bottom of the 7th with the game-winning hit -- an RBI double. (It was Burroughs' grand slam home run that had capped off Oakland's 6-run 2nd inning)

WP - Beard (1-0)
LP - Zahn (0-1)
Final Score : Athletics 7, Angels 6


TRANSACTIONS :
Bill Castro (Royals), promoted from AAA Omaha
Don Hood (Royals), promoted from AAA Omaha

APRIL 6th

Expos (0-0) @ Pirates (0-0)
CANDY MAN WHIFFS 10
If not for Al Oliver's RBI-double in the top of the 9th, this would have been a glittering shutout for Candelaria. Pittsburgh manager Chuck Tanner, who'd stated before the game that he wasn't sure he was going to start his lefty because it was a bit on the cool side, was happy with the outcome. "Whenever you start the season off at home, against a team that should have went to the World Series the year before, you have to be happy."

WP - Candelaria (1-0)
LP - Rogers (0-1)
Final Score : Pirates 3, Expos 1

Indians (0-0) @ Brewers (0-0)
TRIBE HAMMERS BREWER HURLERS
Cleveland mounted a dramatic 6th inning comeback, scoring 6 runs thanks in large part to Brewer starter Pete Vuckovich's 4 consecutive walks surrendered. Indians starting pitcher, Bert Blyleven, left the with stiffness in his throwing elbow, an injury he picked up this past off-season, and it was announced after the game that he would miss his next start. Rick Sutcliffe's 4 and 1/3 innings of superlative relief shows that he belongs in the Cleveland rotation, not in long relief like manager Dave Garcia thinks. A surprise start for the Tribe in right field was super-prospect Von Hayes, a forgotten man this past spring and it *was* said that Bake McBride would be the starter.

WP - Sutcliffe (1-0)
LP - Vuckovich (0-1)
Final Score : Cleveland 10, Brewers 6

Blue Jays (0-0) @ Tigers (0-0)
MORRIS STRONG IN SEASON DEBUT
Braving near zero degrees celsius temperatures, both teams shivered their way to a super ballgame. Jim Clancy showed that he continues to be vulnerable to the longball, surrendering two of them in the 2nd inning to Hebner and Brookens. Tiger ace, Jack Morris, was strong, going the distance and showing the Jay lineup just how this new split-finger pitch of his works.

WP - Morris (1-0)
LP - Clancy (0-1)
Final Score : Detroit 4, Blue Jays 1


Rangers (0-0) @ Yankees (0-0)
WINFIELD BLASTS PROVIDE FUEL FOR WIN
It was thanks, in large part, to Dave Winfield's pair of home runs (and four RBIs), that New York wins their home opener. The Big Man himself, Mr. George, was very happy after the game, "I really like the feel of this team. The addition of Griffey and Collins is going to put this lineup over the top." On the other hand, it is going to be a very long season for Don Zimmer's Rangers, who's pitching staff and lineup is patchwork.

WP - Guidry (1-0)
LP - Honeycutt (0-1)
Final Score : Yankees 7, Rangers 2

Red Sox (0-0) @ White Sox (0-0)
ECKERSLEY NOT SHARP IN COMISKEY OPENER
It's said that this season is the season that Eckersley gets back to his pre-1980 form, now that his sore back is a thing of the past. But, today's game didn't give too many Boston Red Sox fans positive feelings. Eckersley, was hit hard today serving up 5 earned runs on 9 hits over 4 and 2/3 innings of work. One of the finest young lefthanders in the game today, Britt Burns, put in some solid moundwork lasting almost 8 full innings and allowing only a pair of earned runs. A very concerning situation for the Chisox occurred in the 8th inning. With Dave Stapleton at the plate, little Salome Barojas was brought in by manager LaRussa to secure the win. On Barojas' 2nd pitch to Stapleton, the tiny Mexican reliever winced in pain and hopped down off the mound, holding his throwing arm. Chicago trainers came out and he was immediately removed from the game, replaced by Chico Escarrega. After the game, it was announced that White Sox trainers are still looking at the current state of Barojas' arm and are trying to determine if this is going to be a long-term injury that is in need of further investigation.

WP - Burns (1-0)
SV - Escarrega (1)
LP - Eckersley (0-1)
Final Score : White Sox 6, Red Sox 4


New York (0-0) @ Philadelphia (0-0)
SWAN OUTDUELS CARLTON
Lefty Carlton was quite hittable today, giving up 12 hits, yet still fanning 8 batters while walking none. But, this wasn't enough as the recently re-tooled Philadelphia lineup couldn't get it done against Mets starter Craig Swan. Neil Allen was brought in to the game in the 9th inning to secure the win with runners on first and second, getting DeJesus and then pinch-hitter George Vukovich to fly out.

WP - Swan (1-0)
SV - Allen (1)
LP - Carlton (0-1)
Final Score : New York 3, Phillies 2

Cardinals (0-0) @ Astros (0-0)
HOUSTON BLOW GAME IN 7TH
Astro reliever Dave Smith, normally one of the best arms on this Houston staff, let this win get away from him today, serving up an ill-timed 3-run home run to George Hendrick. This iced the 6-5 win for St. Louis, capping off a strange game that saw Nolan Ryan walk 10 batters and fan 8, yet still be in a position to get the win.

WP - B. Forsch (1-0)
SV - Sutter (1)
LP - Smith (0-1)
Final Score : Cardinals 6, Astros 5

Mariners (0-0) @ Twins (0-0)
TWINS WIN IN METRODOME OPENER
All of the officials from the City of Minneapolis/St. Paul were on hand to open the brand new Hubert H. Humphery Metrodome. The Twins jumped out to the early lead on Floyd Bannister, and never surrendered it. Gary Gaetti opened the scoring with solo shot in the 2nd, and then added another solo shot later in the 6th inning. Meanwhile, Twins starter Roger Erickson was his usual efficient self allowing only 2 earned runs on 7 hits, while striking out 3 and walking none.

WP - Erickson (1-0)
LP - Bannister (0-1)
Final Score : Twins 3, Mariners 2


San Francisco (0-0) @ Dodgers (0-0)
VALENZUELA WHIFFS 11 IN 4-HIT SHUTOUT
Fernandomania continues !
Baseball's rookie phenom picked up where he left off last season, even despite the scare he put into all Dodger fans with his very recent off-season holdout. He was absolutely dominating against a Giant lineup that looked like schoolboys trying to catch up with his screwball today.

WP - Valenzuela (1-0)
LP - Holland (0-1)
Final Score : Dodgers 3, Giants 0

Braves (0-0) @ Padres (0-0)
MAHLER TWIRLS SHUT-OUT IN PADRES HOME OPENER
Junk-balling Rick Mahler, arguably the National League's ugliest man, surprised the heck out of everyone throwing a handy shutout over the hometown Padres.

WP - Mahler (1-0)
LP - Eichelberger (0-1)
Final Score : Braves 2, Padres 0

Angels (0-0) @ Athletics(0-0)
GRICH 3-RUN HOME PROVES TO BE WINNING BLOW
A 3-run Bobby Grich home run is the difference-maker in California's spoiling of Billyball's '82 opening. It all came down to Oakland bats sputtering out with men on base and/or in scoring position.

WP - K. Forsch (1-0)
SV - Sanchez (1)
LP - Langford (0-1)
Final Score : Angels 4, Athletics 3

Opening Day - APRIL 5th

Cubs (0-0) @ Reds (0-0)
REDS WIN ON CEDENO DOUBLE
Cesar Cedeno's 2-run double in the bottom of the 7th inning off of Chicago starter Ferguson Jenkins, caps a Cincy comeback in the 1982 home opener at Riverfront Stadium.

WP - Hume (1-0)
LP - Jenkins (0-1)
Final Score : Reds 6, Cubs 5



Royals (0-0) @ Orioles (0-0)
MARTINEZ QUIETS ROYALS BATS
Baltimore starter, Dennis Martinez, kept the 1980 champs in check today, holding them to only a single run on 9 hits. Martinez, who's suffered through some injuries the past season or so, is said to have the most talent on this O's pitching staff. Can he continue to shine ?

WP - D. Martinez (1-0)
LP - Leonard (0-1)
Final Score : Orioles 2, Royals 1

Injury Report

Beginning the 1982 regular season, the following players were missing for most, if not all, of spring training for their corresponding teams :

ATLANTA :
Longtime Brave ace Phil Niekro will be out until the end of April with what is said to be "family troubles".

PHILADELPHIA :
Pete Rose is missing thanks to a bad back. (I can't say that I'm disappointed seeing as I despised Rose as a player. The way he would bounce the ball as high as he could on the turf after he made the third out of an inning, drove me nuts.)

Marty Bystrom is recovering from off-season shoulder surgery and is not slated to return until, at the earliest, mid-August. Screwballing/screwball lefty reliever Tug McGraw is still recovering from off-season elbow surgery.

PITTSBURGH :
Right-hander Jim Bibby has pitched very little this past Spring because of a sore shoulder. John Candelaria, who suffered nerve damage in his left bicep in a cold, rainy game in St. Louis last May, will not be risked in cold games this season, stated manager Chuck Tanner.

LOS ANGELES :
Jerry Reuss has bone chips in his foot, but club trainers have stated that the chips will not bother his pitching at all.
And, everybody in Dodgertown is breathing a monumental sigh of relief now that Fernando has ended his holdout and signed a new contract.

SAN DIEGO :
Chris Welsh suffered a fracture of his left foot on March 22nd, and is out until mid to late April.

HOUSTON :
The only question mark for Al Rosen's Astros, coming out of spring training, is Mike Ivie. Ivie, who is still trying to deal with yet more emotional problems, all stemming from his recuperation two years ago after a hunting knife accident, is now firmly entrenched behind starter Art Howe. While the Houston lineup could really use Ivie's power, his whining they don't need. All despite the fact that Ivie had a very strong spring.

BALTIMORE :
Ken Singleton is battling a strained Achilles tendon, resulting in Gary Roenicke possibly seeing more playing time in right field with Singleton being played at DH, more and more.

BOSTON :
Chuck Rainey will miss his first few starts, returning probably by mid-April, because of a cut suffered on his right-index finger when a toilet door slammed on his pitching hand in the clubhouse at Winter Haven.

CLEVELAND :
Bert Blyleven has arrived to camp with a sore elbow, something he's picked up in an off-season snowball fight with his kids (?!?!). Blyleven has stated that despite the elbow, he will start the opening game in Milwaukee against the Brewers. How effective he will be, remains to be seen. As well recent acquisition Bake McBride, counted on to start in right field for the Tribe, is battling sore knees.

Many observers are confused as to how Von Hayes is being handled in Cleveland's spring training. Being called the Tribe's best prospect in 10 years, manager Dave Garcia has refused to start Hayes in right field, instead opting for sore-kneed Bake McBride on a regular basis.

TEXAS :
Mickey Rivers will be out until the end of April / beginning of May, recovering from off-season knee surgery. Johnny Grubb, as well, is nursing the pulled hamstring he suffered during a Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. Billy Sample's pulled groin muscle is healed to the point where it is expected he will start in left for manager Don Zimmer, in the opening game at Yankee Stadium.

Memories Are Made Of This

The Summer of 1981 was about many things for me. My Dad was a salesman at the time, and his runs took him all over Eastern Ontario (here in Canada). All during that summer I was allowed to accompany him on his sales runs, boy, did I feel important.

That summer was also about the strike in baseball. Talk about weird. How could there be no baseball during the summer months ? When there *was* baseball, that summer was also about Fernando Valenzuela. A guy that sure didn't look like a great pitcher, he had one doozy of a rookie season for the Dodgers. I still have an old dog-eared July '82 issue of Baseball Digest with him on the front cover.


And most of all, that summer was about what happened in the autumn. Montreal made it to the National League Championship Series and were a game away from making it to the World Series against the Yankees. Until Jim Fanning made that goofy move of bringing in Steve Rogers to face Rick Monday.

Watching the clip on YouTube, years later, the same sad emotions come back. I feel like I'm an 11-year old boy, all over again. I can almost feel myself sitting on the couch in my parents' living room, having rushed home early from school to see the last half of the ballgame.

Well, all past nostalgia aside, this project is all about erasing and obliterating that home run, at least in my own mind. The 1982 season was a season of great, great expectations for Les Expos. The All-Star Game was going to be in Montreal, and heck, the Expos even had AL OLIVER starting at first base ! Having come as close as they did, and having the talent that they did, they were expected to make yet another run for it all, and this time they were supposed to pull it off. But, they didn't.

This is my chance to brush Jim Fanning aside, and to make it right.