Atlantic City Press - April 5, 1980

Phils Make Cuts, 4 Veterans Gone

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies made it official Friday, paring the squad to the 25-man opening day limit by dropping four veterans — pitchers Rawly Eastwick and Doug Bird, outfielder Mike Anderson and infielder Bud Harrelson. 

Club personnel director Paul Owens said Harrelson had been released outright, but that Eastwick, Bird and Anderson were in limbo. He explained that he was trying to make a deal for the three. 

In addition, reliever Warren Brusstar, suffering for the second straight year with a shoulder injury, was placed on the disabled list. Pitcher Nino Espinosa, also sidelined by a shoulder problem, was placed there Thursday. 

The moves made room on the roster for five rookies — catcher Keith Moreland, infielder Luis Aguayo, outfielders Lonnie Smith and George Vukovich and pitcher Scott Munninghoff. 

Munninghoff, who pitched in Double A ball at Reading last season, made the staff with a spring ERA of 100 in four exhibition appearances. He could be used as a starter or reliever, depending on the health of manager Dallas Green's staff. 

“He (Munninghoff) has gotta be one of my guys,” said Green. “He just throws too well. It might seem like a big jump, but it’s not as big as it once was… I wouldn't take him if I didn’t feel he was ready.” 

Vukovich also is jumping from Reading in the Eastern League, because he demonstrated an ability to hit to all fields and played competently in left and right fields before the Players Association strike ended the exhibition season. Aguayo played well at short, second and third this spring. 

Smith and Moreland had excellent springs hitting. Smith will mostly pinch hit, but could see some action in right field and as one of the best young base stealers in baseball should be valuable as a pinch runner. Moreland will be the backup catcher to All-Star Bob Boone. The young catcher has shown he can hit and has been working all spring on his defense under the coaching of former major league receiver Mike Ryan. 

When the Phillies come home Thursday the opening roster will look like this: 

—Pitchers: Steve Carlton, Larry Christenson, Dick Ruthven, Randy Lerch, Tug McGraw, Ron Reed, Lerrin LaGrow, Dickie Noles, Kevin Saucier and Munninghoff.

—Catchers: Boone and Moreland.

—Infielders: Pete Rose, Manny Trillo, Larry Bowa, Mike Schmidt, Aguayo and John Vukovich.

—Outfielders: Greg Luzinski, Garry Maddox, Bake McBride, Greg Gross, Del Unser, Smith and G Vukovich.