Tuesday 4/25/1979
Dick Allen ropes 500th career homerun
CHICAGO (N) - Houston's first baseman Dick Allen was in good mood after the game against Chicago (N), and he had every reason as he made baseball history while collecting his 500th career homerun. His monumental drive, a two-run homerun off Larry Dierker in the 7th inning, cleared the fence in center field. In 16 years of big league action so far, Dick has compiled a batting average of .267, along with 2391 hits and 1469 RBI. Dick has managed to hit 30+ homeruns in a season 9 times, and he topped 40 homeruns 4 times. 'I'm out of words. I'll probably realize it tomorrow, but for now I'm done.' Allen joins Harmon Killebrew (709), Frank Robinson (692), Hank Aaron (688), Willie Mays (626), & Willie McCovey (586) as the only members of the 500 HR club. It's no secret that he will once be in the Hall of Fame!
Wednesday 4/19/1979
Pittsburgh has no chance in a NO-HITTER by Clay Kirby
SAN DIEGO - Great things can happen when you throw strikes. And Clay Kirby did so today, in a no-hit shutout against Pittsburgh. Doug Rau spoiled the bid for a perfect game when he walked with 2 away in the 6th inning. Kirby (3-0) struck out 3 and walked 2, throwing 54 of 82 pitches for strikes. 'I really like to play baseball, and I love the way I was able to play it today. I still cannot believe I did it.' San Diego's second baseman Jim Gantner went 2 for 3. That was enough to support the brilliant performance of Kirby. San Diego scored 1 run on 9 hits.
American League-Pitcher of the Month :
Andy Messersmith (CLE) !!
He had a record of 6-0 in 7 games started, with an ERA of 3.11 and 1 shutouts.
American League-Batter of the Month :
Gary Thomasson (BAL) !!
He batted .382 in 102 AB, with 7 homers and 30 RBI.
National League-Pitcher of the Month :
Wally Bunker (HOU) !!
He had a record of 1-2 in 3 games started, with an ERA of 0.00.
National League-Batter of the Month :
Lee Lacy (PHI) !!
He batted .367 in 98 AB, with 0 homers and 15 RBI.
Steve "Lefty" Carlton told reporters upon learning the news that he is headed to Houston in exchange for SS UL Washington and RF/3B Elliot Maddox that he expects that either his career will be over or have been traded to San Francisco for a bucket of baseballs. (The Astros also received a first round Amateur Draft choice in 1981 and 1B Dave Bergman.) Carlton was dismayed to go to the Astros, who are coming off a losing season and are notorious for blowing out the arms of their aces. "When I was a free agent, I consciously chose to refuse a larger offer from the Astros to head to the Pirates and how do they repay me...by sending me to Houston." Carlton was bothered by the poor treatment of former ace Jim Palmer, who blew his arm out only three years after signing a 6 year $90 million deal, who was never paid the last $30 million by the notoriously cheap Houston management. Carlton said that if he survives a year in Houston that he expects to be traded to San Francisco and go to the World Series. "The hope that Houston will trade me to San Francisco is all that keeps me from retiring at this moment...well, that and the $9 million a year they pay me."
Carlton is expected to make his Houston debut on April 16, though his second start as the Houston ace is in jeopardy if history is any guide.
Fans have been visiting Tiger stadium less and less during the last couple of years. Almost 2.4 million went through the turnstiles last season, compared to over 3.1 million in '76. This tendency, combined with a $21,000,000 increase in the team's payroll during the same two year period, is creating a sense of urgency and lack of patience among the team's top brass.
But team owner Manuel Martínez feels (or perhaps hopes) that the Tigers strong pitching staff can carry the team in '79 and help them make a good showing in the tough AL East division. "We realize there's certain degree of frustration among Tiger fans, but we need them to understand that we are taking slow but sure steps in the right direction towards fielding a strong contender. We are also making it more affordable than ever for our fans to enjoy a quality, major league baseball event in Detroit". The Tigers announced a ticket price reduction for the upcoming season.
Detroit hopes to start the season with a bang, as they go to Boston for the inaugural 3 game series, then to Minnesota for 3 more. They'll finally head home for the opener on April 11, when they start a 3 game series against the Indians, followed by 3 more at home, this time against the Orioles. "We want to focus on our season on a day by day basis. My main goal for the season start is to come home on April 11 with a winning record", said Martinez during the press conference where the team presented their 1979 edition.
Here's our analysis of the Tigers 1979 edition:
Catcher: Thurman Munson and Ted Simmons return to provide a solid duo behind the plate. The two combined for 11 HR and 62 RBI while splitting catching duties. Munson saw the bulk of the action, and we should expect more of the same in '79.
1B: If the Tigers are to have a chance, 24 year old Jason Thompson must start showing his offensive abilities more consistently. Hitting .209 and .230 with a combined 25 HR and 96 RBI the past two years has been a far cry from what everyone expected from him. If Jason reacts, it could provide a much needed punch in the middle of the lineup.
2B: Willie Randolph is one of the most exciting young players to come through Detroit in a long time. Only 24, but with 4 full seasons under his belt, Randolph should improve all aspects of his game. In addition, Ivan DeJesus should combine with him to form one of the flashiest DP combos in the majors
SS: The team's major acquisition during the offseason brough 26 year old Puerto Rican Ivan DeJesus to Detroit. An exciting player, Ivan will team up with Randolph to give the Tigers a lot of spark in the top of the lineup. DeJesus, although unproven, should be a vast improvement over last year's incumbent Freddie Patek (.145, 4 HR, 45 RBI)
3B: Buddy Bell has been a model of consistency for the past 4 seasons, averaging around 20 HR and 80 RBI. His only weakness has been his BA, coming into '79 as a .215 lifetime hitter. Any improvement in this area should help his all around contribution.
OF: After Bake McBride at CF, the rest of the outfield crop is suspect at best. FA Claudell Washington joins the team and bring with him a .239 lifetime BA in 5 seasons. He's only 24 though, and Detroit hopes he's matured enough to have a breakout seson. Gorman Thomas, a major disappointment last season, has never hit more than .216. His 15 HR last year were a career high though. Heity Cruz and Joel Youngblood round up the OF, and all will share playing time in '79.
Rotation: Tigers management really believes the team's pitching staff could carry them in '79. Overall, Detroit has one of the richest and deepest pitching talent pool in the major leagues. Youngsters Bob Stanly and Jack Morris will be joined by FA additions Mike Wegener and Steve Stone. Veteran Jerry Johnson will round up the top 5. Geoff Zahn will perform spot start and long relief duties. You can't forget the team's strong prospect base in the minor leagues (Moose Haas, Britt Burns, Donnie Moore and Darrell Jackson)
Bullpen: Lefty Tug McGraw has been solid yet unspectacular for several years with the Tigers. Entering his 11th season with Detroit, Tug sports a lifetime 3.15 ERA and 300 career saves, and at only 34 has shown he can still get the job done (9 Wins, 28 SV, 2.82 ERA in '78). His supporting cast includes 29 yr. old righty Dale Murray (1.68 ERA in 53.2 IP), 30 yr. old lefty Dave LaRoche (3.24 ERA) and 29 yr. old righty Doug Bair (2.38 ERA in limited action).
In general, most in Detroit, although excited about the team's progress, feel it's still not enough to post a serious threat in the tough AL East. The team's heading in the right direction, with a solid core of youngsters in many key positions. Tiger management only hopes Detroit fan base, lured by the new faces and lower ticket prices, show up more often and give them one or two more years. Will they be patient?
"With the talent we have now we should be a legitimate contender by the beginning of 1980." says the Cards owner Andrew Rollins.
Pedro Guerrero is the best prospect in the enitre league. He should be ready by next season. With Molitor and Parker the cards should be a force in the East. But this season...well it will be better but I wouldn't expect more than 70 wins. Our young pitching rotation has improved a lot with the addition of Burris and Tudor,but a lack of depth in the pen will really hurt.
Projected opening day line up
1.Molitor 3b
2.Boisclair RF
3.Parker CF
4.Colbert 1b
5.Blackwell C (Platooning with Dyer vs L)
6.Lemon LF
7.Stennet 2b
8.Guerrero SS...not good
Won't be spectacular but is an improvment over last season. I think a 10-15 game improvment over last season's 62-100 record is possible.
The 1978 American League batting champion and stolen base leader, Billy North, doesn't seem that worried these days about his team's current reputation as being the worst in the league.
"We've got a long way to go," he said Wednesday, at the opening day press conference in the newly refurbished locker rooms provided by new owner and GM, Matt Culberson.
"Mr. Culberson has assured us he is commited to winning, and that excites me," North added.
Due to the change in ownership, at a crucial time in the team's offseason development, the Blue Jays were unable to participate in the free agent bidding, and since the previous owner traded away their 1st Round pick, there was very little room for new ownership to make changes.
Culberson did what he could making some immediate changes early on, trading away former 1st round pick, Lou Whitaker, for veteren Bob Watson. He also traded first baseman, Crowley, for power hitting first baseman, Cliff Johnson, who will be taking the field mostly as a catcher for the Blue Jays.
"I wanted to add some pop to the lineup. Whitaker was tough to part with, but our scouts didn't feel as strong about his potential as others, and we were fine letting him go."
Rumor has it that a clash between owner and player had something to do with it. Whitaker and Culberson were rumored to have been on the outs regarding Whitaker's proposed playing time. He was due to platoon with Dave McKay, and Whitaker didn't like it.
"He was good player, and we got a good player in return," was all Culberson would say about the rumor.
It will be a long road to building the Blue Jays to a respectable franchise, but if North's attitude, and the owner's commitement to winning, are any indication of how successful they will be, good things will happen soon for the Blue Jays' franchise.
The league forums will be down for the next few hours as a result of a hard drive failure on the web server. I have been working on the issue in association with my web host, and they expect to have them back up in a few hours.
It is possible that posts from the last 24 hours or possibly back to Sunday night will be lost. They are working to avoid this, but that backup may be the latest one available.
I apologise for the inconvenience.
The 1978 Cleveland Indians had a successful season under first-year GM Jeff St. Pierre. Their 80-82 record was an 8 game improvement from the previous season despite a concerted effort to rebuild the minor league system. The biggest move was the trading of All-Star 2B Joe Morgan to the Boston Red Sox for SP Alan Wirth & Boston's 1st round pick in last week's rookie draft. Great seasons from 1B Mike Hargrove and first-year closer Al Severinsen highlighted the year.
The 1979 campaign promises to bring more success to the Indians. This year's roster will be devoid of any April & May free agent pickups fighting for starting positions. Instead, a combination of veterans (aging, yes!) & young future stars have been assembled. The following is a position-by-position breakdown including projections (or hopes...). Last season's statistics in ( ):
Catcher:
A platoon is in place for the beginning of the season. Bill Buckner (.262, 17 HRs, 74 RBIs), will be behind the plate against righties & John Harrell (.234, 2 HRs, 41 RBIs) will call the games against left-handed starting pitchers. Buckner was the DH last season in his first year as an Indian. An original Indian & the better defensive catcher, Harrell hit almost .300 against lefties.
Projection: .270, 15 HRs, 65-75 RBIs
First Base:
No platoon here. Mike Hargrove (.314, 9 HRs, 91 RBIs) has become one of the best at his position. He was rewared with his first All-Star team selection. The numbers may have been better if he had better protection in the lineup (111 BBs), a need addressed in the offseason. Hargrove will be in the 3rd slot virtually every night.
Projection: .320, 12 HRs, 100 RBIs
Second Base:
Free agent pickup Dick Green (.254, 66 RBIs, 27 2Bs) will be the man at 2B this season. His numbers earned him a spot on his second straight All-Star team in 1978 for the World Champion Cubs. At 37, the signing was a gamble but with only one middle infielder on the Indians roster after the season Green was the best available player.
Projection: .250, 50-60 RBIs, 25 2Bs
Shortstop:
Ted Sizemore (.225, 45 RBIs, 10 2Bs) was a huge disappointment in his first season in Cleveland. The major problem was his defense. Without any help in free agency, the job is once again Sizemore's. Reportedly, the Indians have been working with first round draft pick, Tom Brookens, at shortstop.
Projection: .250, 50 RBIs, 20 2Bs
Thirdbase:
The time is now for 1978 first round pick Carney Lansford. He'll take over the position from Roy Howell (.235, 49 RBIs, 24 2Bs). Lansford is expected to have an immediate impact hitting out of the #2 slot. Tom Brookens, the 19th selection in this year's draft will work at 2B & learning SS.
Projection: .290, 15 HRs, 70 RBIs
Leftfield:
Al Woods (.253, 12 HRs, 56 RBIs) had a very inconsistent first full year. He won the Batter of the Month award for May with 7 HRs but only had 5 the rest of the year. Still, at 25, he is one of the players the Indians are building around & will be in leftfield versus righties. Last year's centerfielder, Marty Martinez (.242, 49 RBIs), will play leftfield against lefties. Clearly on the downside, Martinez will also be asked to back up at CF, RF and SS.
Projection: .275, 18 HRs, 85 RBIs
Centerfield:
Free agent acquisition Pat Kelly (.221, 63 RBIs, 53 SBs) will be the team's centerfielder & lead-off hitter. He has the speed that the Indians coveted in their offseason search & his walks should offset a poor average. Leon Roberts (.213, 58 RBIs), last year's rightfielder, will back up at all three OF positions.
Projection: .245, 50 RBIs, 60 SBs, 100 Runs
Rightfield:
Feisty Lou Piniella (.244, 11 HRs, 69 RBIs) will be chasing down balls in RF. The free agent pickup will be counted on to provide protection for Hargrove & should be hitting with men on base often.
Projection: .255, 15 HRs, 95 RBIs
Designated Hitter:
The Indians were shocked to get a player like Lynn Jones with their 3rd round pick in this year's draft. His talent is not very good but if his current ratings hold he will be a welcome addition to the club & drive in a lot of runs. He will hit in the 5th & 6th spots in the lineup.
Projection: .275, 12 HRs, 80 RBIs
Starting Rotation:
Last year's prize free agent acquisition Andy Messersmith (13-15, 3.48 ERA, 222 Ks) had an up & down season. He will anchor the staff yet again this season. The rest of the rotation includes Dave Hamilton (11-15, 4.76 ERA, 120 Ks), free agent pickup Mel Queen (1-2, 3.82 ERA), Ron Bryant (9-9, 3.08 ERA) & Paul Edmondson (13-16, 4.03 ERA, 120 Ks). It is an aging rotation but there are 4 SPs in AAA that are only 1-2 years away including the Indians first round selection Dave Righetti.
Bullpen:
Al Severinsen (5-4, 37 Saves, 2.70 ERA) had a very successful first season as a closer. He will be the one the holds the bullpen together. Free agent pickup Bob Reed (2-12, 27 Saves, 4.62 ERA) will be the primary set-up man. Joining Severinsen & Reed in the bullpen will be Dave Heaverlo (8-7, 5 Saves, 3.07 ERA), Steve Foucault (6-1, 4.35 ERA), Jim York (4-0, 6.07 ERA) & John Cumberland (2-0, 3.60 ERA).
Team Projection:
The Indians brass would be thrilled with another 8 game improvement. An 88-74 record with continued dedication to rebuilding the minor leagues would be outstanding.
The Reds, four time second place finishers in the league’s ten-year history, have never come closer to a NL West pennant than they did in ’78, finishing seven games behind the defending champion San Francisco Giants. Cincinnati didn’t let the Bay Area team’s sizzling hot start to the season get into their heads, and instead played with them the rest of the way and hoped for a collapse of the juggernaut. Unfortunately for the Reds there was no collapse in store for the Giants until the NLCS, that of course being against a talented upstart club from the windy city who eventually went on to be crowned champions.
Coming out of spring training the Reds will return practically the entire squad from last year and expectations after a 100 win season will be of colossal proportions in Riverfront. The starting staff is an obvious strength, with the trio of Reuss, Swan, and Gentry combining together for a 54-23 record, all three with sub-three earned run averages. The depth of the Reds staff is considerable and the fourth rotation spot could be anyone of Taylor, Koosman, Johnson, Andujar, or a Langford at any given point of the season, depending on who is brandishing the hottest hand. At this time there is rumor that it is Chucky Taylor’s to lose. The bullpen is a band that are unsure of their roles from one day to the next, thriving on the clashing competition for a larger slice of the manager’s favor come next decision time. Sparky Lyle will be given his customary closing role to start the season, but if he finds himself struggling he may find that reduced to situational appearances.
The unsung offense of the Red Stockings finished second in the National League in runs, finishing only eight runs behind the more touted bats of the Giants. With the arrival of Rader from north of the border in a pre-season trade, the Reds were able to endure Richie Hebner’s first poor season with the lumber in a five years time span. A Hebner comeback season could spell big trouble for the rest of the NL if he can ever rebound to numbers similar to his ’73 batting crown title, six years his past. Leftfielder Jay Johnstone had one of his finer campaigns in recent seasons, hitting over the .290 mark for just the second time in his career and driving over 80 runners. There is nothing the big man would want more than a taste of some extended play and an eventual triumph in the October showcase. The under-30 crowd of Bosley, Yount, Fahey, and Chiles come to play with grit and workman like resolution that never gave out during times when the team was looking up at double-digit deficits in the West. The last of those four, Richie Chiles, comes off the worst season of his career to this point, but he’s looking fit as a fiddle this spring and there is something in his determined eyes that makes you believe he may yet have a .300 season stored away for when it matters most.
Outfielder Ellis Valentine has been the talk of the system and well he should be for the numbers he amassed in AAA last year. At 24, Cincinnati talent evaluations have projected the nimble and projected power-hitter as near ready, and posit to say, it may just be a matter of time now before he makes a permanent claim on the rightfield post at Riverfront Stadium for years to come.
The Cubs start the 1979 season with the entire league trying to take them down. That's alot of pressure for a young team which was dead last in the CDL after the 75 and 76 seasons. The youngesters are up to the challenge though, and look to start what could be one of the best dynasties in league history, but the team's success lies in the pitching staff, specifically the starters, which is the focus of today's article.
The Cubs are not all kids, in fact the pitching staff is almost all vets, with the average age of opening day pitchers being 32 years and 4 months old. They are anchored by SP Larry "Glass" Dierker, who dispite being one of the most consistant pitchers in the league, is also one of the most prone to injury. His 2.88 career ERA is overshadowed by the fact that he has been able to start over 30 games only 4 times in his 8 seasons with the Cubs, and only 2 of those seasons were completely injury free. He is coming off a season where he was day-to-day for much of the season and this has lead GM Chris Hansen to give Larry the nickname of "Glass".
But the Cubs don't have to rely just on "Glass" Dierker for wins. They get to enjoy the services of SP Denny McClain for an entire season, or at least as long as he stays healthy. The 35 year old was injured for two four-week periods last season after coming over to Chicago via trade with San Diego in April. Denny did manage a 9-8 record in an injury shortened season, but looks to be a solid #2 behind Dierker.
Taking the ball as the #3 man in the rotation is one of only two men to throw a perfect game in CDL history, that man being 31 year old Jim Barr. Barr has had win totals in the double didgets in 5 of his 8 seasons in the CDL and posts a career 3.56 ERA. He's pitched over 200 innings in each of his 8 seasons and won Game 6 of the 1978 World Series for the Cubs.
Taking the role as the 4 slot man is 2nd year man Jim Wright. Jim's rookie season saw him go 9-10 in 26 starts despite putting up a 2.54 era. Drafting Jim was a bit of a suprise for the Cubs in 78. He was a 27 year old rookie who was overlooked by most teams because of his age, but the Cubs needed someone cheap (they only had 500k to spend on another player and needed another SP) so they took a chance and it seems to have paid off. Jim will be a solid #4 man who will be a good addition to the team.
Rounding out the SP's will be newly aquired Joe Moeller. The 36 year old Moeller comes to Chicago after spending two seasons in Minnesota where he was converted from a MR back to a SP. Moeller came into the league as a starter but was moved to the pen while in Boston, but now he's back as a SP and will be the fifth man in a solid pitching staff.
Despite the fact that the entire starting five of the Cubs are RHP's, the Cubs feel as if they can win alot of games and have a successful defense of their title. It won't be hard and the SP's will need some help from the MR's and some run support from the hitters, which will be the focus of my next article : Young Batsmen of the Cubs
The Fourth Dynasty is Upon Us
With the advent of divisional play (and the CDL for that matter) in 1969, the National League West has been a series of dynasties. The Los Angeles Dodgers opened strong winning the NL West in 1969, 1970 and 1971. The Dodgers were unable to capitalize on their dynasty, losing the 1969 World Series to the Washington Senators (Now the Texas Rangers) and failing to even make the World Series in 1970 and 1971. The Houston Astros burst onto the scene in 1972 after nearly becoming the perennial bridesmaids (though the Astros amazing fade down the stretch in 1970 is one for the ages…as was the one in 1974. No team chokes like the Astros.) The Astros did manage to win the NL West in 1972 and 1973, winning the 1973 World Series in the only sweep in CDL History. (1972 on the other hand, was Claude Osteen’s coming out party where he won three games against Astros Ace Jim Palmer, securing Minnesota their first World Championship.) Finally, the San Francisco Giants began the third dynasty by winning a one game playoff against the Houston Astros in 1974. Since then, the Giants have had a death grip on the division, winning five straight division titles, appearing in three World Series and being the only team to have won back to back World Series in 1976 and 1977. But it appears that the Giants dynasty is going to end in 1979 and a fourth dynasty will emerge…the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds, coming off a 100 win season, but finishing seven games behind the Giants will rise up and claim their first divisional title.
Below is a list of team previews in order of expected finish.
1. Cincinnati Reds – The Reds have to be the preseason favorite to win the World Series. A team with no real weakness, but no superstar offensive player, the Reds have the depth and balance to win what might be the toughest battle in the entire CDL. Ace Jerry Reuss anchors an excellent pitching staff which also features top closer Sparky Lyle, who is currently third all-time on the career Saves list. If this were not enough, the Reds wisely used their two first round draft choices on Catcher Brian Harper and Second Baseman Tony Bernazard, who provide important youth to keep the Reds on top.
2. San Francisco Giants – It’s hard to pick the Giants to finish in second place, but currently, they only have three starting pitchers on their roster. Using one of their relievers as a starter will weaken their bullpen. The Giants will retain their incredible offense, which is anchored by stars 1B Cecil Cooper and 3B George Brett, but against the deep and talented Reds, the Giants will come up just short of their sixth straight NL West Crown.
3. Houston Astros – A team on the rebound. The Astros have struggled mightily to replace fallen aces Jim Palmer and Bert Blyleven. The Astros have once again attempted to address this problem by adding a group of talented arms, but the problem is that none of them are legitimate aces. The Astros offense will improve as the Astros Kiddie Corps led by Ozzie Smith continues to develop.
4. San Diego Padres – The Padres are in-between competing and rebuilding. A weak bullpen will doom the Padres to the second division this season, but a solid rotation and stars like Cedeno and Murcer give the Padres an excellent shot at playing over .500 ball.
5. Atlanta Braves – The fifth dynasty begins its ascent. Adding Gibson AND Raines almost certainly gave the Braves the best draft in 1979. With those two top notch outfielders added to young stars Garry Templeton and Rowland Office, the Braves should become the next team to lead the National League West, once the Braves find a staff ace.
6. Los Angeles Dodgers – You can only go up from here…at least until expansion in 14 seasons. The Dodgers still have superstar Ace Bill Singer, but perhaps with the Dodgers limited playoff prospects, he could be someone else’s ace by the end of the season. Dave Stieb will soon replace Stieb, but the Dodgers need to replace some other important players from their glory days for the Dodgers to be a legitimate contender again.
In the first of what we hope will be many additions of the CDL News power poll, I will take a close look at how each team stacks up before the start of the 1979 regular season! I encourage all owners to submit their own power polls during the upcoming season and would love to see a new addition at least weekly. Well, here goes and I hope to not hurt anyone's feelings! :) (Last seasons record in parenthesis)
26. Toronto Blue Jays (63-99) - The Blue Jays have many holes to fill to put it simply. One has to wonder why they would trade future star Lou Whitaker for an aging Bob Watson who doesn't play defense at all! Staff ace Doyle Alexander was a huge bust last year losing 13 of 22 decisions with a 4.46 ERA. Merritt, Dobson, & Holtzman make up the rest of the homeliest rotation in the CDL.
25. Oakland A's (52-110) - With an overall weak free agency group this year, there was really no way Oakland could've made a key signing to make much of a difference. Oakland has some good young pitching in Sota, Reuschel, Candelaria, Darwin, & the first overall pick in the '79 draft, John Fulgham but their offense will struggle with Bill Madlock and Oscar Brown being the anchors of a weak lineup.
24. Atlanta Braves (59-103) - Atlanta had a very good rookie draft getting Kirk Gibson, Tim Raines, & Gary Ward however none of these players will help much this year. It's most certainly a step in the right direction however. The major problem this year is pitching. May in the only solid SP with Trout, Garvin, & Sutton rounding out one of the weaker rotations in the league.
23. Seattle Mariners (57-105) - Seattle made the biggest splash in free agency signing John (7-13, 4.06 ERA), Renko (12-11, 2.81 ERA), Patterson (1-2, 1.54 ERA in 73 games), Milbourne (.200 average), & Baylor (.198 average, 18 HRs). Combine these additions to young superstars in the making like SP Welch, CF Wilson, 1B Murray, & '79 1st round pick Rickey Henderson and the future is bright in Seattle. Just not this year. Watch out in a couple of years though!
22. St. Louis Cardinals (60-102) - The Cardinals, like the Mariners, have some great young talent in Pedro Guerrero, who is possibly the best prospect in the league right now, Molitor, and 1st round pick John Tudor. Combine that with some younger veterens like Parker, Ruhle, & Knepper and fans have something to look forward to in St. Louis. It's still just a bit early however.
21. Los Angeles Dodgers (74-88) - This is an old team headed toward a major rebuilding. What was once the best rotation in the league now has 4 pitchers 34 or older. Noticing that they did however grab future star Dave Stieb in the rookie draft. You may see veteren pitchers Wilson, Sadecki, Nyman, & Singer shopped during the season to help build up a rather weak farm system.
20. Cleveland Indians (80-82) - Cleveland made some very nice moves this offseason by signing Queen, Green, & Kelly and drafting Dave Righetti, another future star. They are getting older however and only have one legitimate bat in the lineup in Mike Hargrove. Rebuilding mode will be coming soon.
19. Kansas City Royals (76-86) - Kansas City also has some great young players like Dawson, Harrah, Aikens, Norris, Sanderson, and Gullett. Now they added Whitaker and Thon to form what will be one of the best double play combos in the league in future seasons. This is another team that has to be patient with their prospects before considering contending for a championship.
18. Philadelphia Phillies (78-84) - What a great young pitching staff the Phillies have built with Guidry, Martinez, & Stewart. They will be anchors of this team for years. Offense is the major problem in Philadelphia where the highest batting average for a starter was LF Lee Lacy and his mediocre .255.
17. New York Mets (75-87) - The Mets have done the exact opposite of the Phillies by building up a very young, good hitting linuep featuring Lynn, Bostock & Griffey. They also have a decent pitching staff anchored by Seaver, Boswell, Denny, & Downing. They draft one of the best closers in a closer rich rookie draft in Jeff Reardon. Watch out, this team could surprise this year but have a better shot in 3-4 of becoming a legitimate contender.
16. Montreal Expos (83-79) - Montreal continues to have a solid pitching staff with the likes of Hall, Mcqueen, Broberg, & Sorenson always posting solid numbers. The offense is solid with Matthews, Crawford, Conigliaro, & Corcoran coming off solid years. Montreal also drafted 2B Danny Ainge who doesn't hit worth a darn but is said to have a heck of a jumpshot!
15. Baltimore Orioles (86-76) - Baltimore is a solid team but look for them not to reach their record of '78. The AL east is getting stronger and the O's may be a player or two from competing. Rogers and Eckersly are a great 1-2 punch in the starting rotation however the offense is missing that spark. Charlie Leibrandt was drafted in the rookie draft and look for him to be a solid pitcher in the future.
14. Detroit Tigers (78-84) - Detroit is another team that worked hard this offseason and their efforts should be fruitful. Ivan Dejesus may be one of the more unheralded pickups and should contribute right away. The pitching staff is extremely deep with young talent like Haas, Morris & Moore just to mention a few. The only thing hurting the Tigers is that they play in the toughest division with the Yankees, Brewers, & Red Sox all looking for big seasons.
13. Houston Astros (78-84) - Houston is the highest ranking team that had a losing record last year due in large part to their fine work in the offseason. They have good young players anchoring their lineup in Maddox, Ozzie Smith, Oberkfell, & Hairston and their pitching staff has been rebuilt with such pickups as Bunker, Hardin, Stone, & Barrios all probably penciled in as starters. A great draft brought the Astros two more great pitchers and future stars in Mike Scott and Caudill. I still think they are a hitter or two away from contending but headed in the right direction.
12. San Diego Padres (85-77) - San Diego was a bit of a surprise team last year with a solid record in a great division. They have a good foundation of young talent in Gantner, Cedeno, Richard, & Bannister. They also have a very fine mix of veterens with superstars like Grant Jackson & Randy Jones anchoring a solid staff. They have a chance this year but not a great one.
11. Texas Rangers (86-76) - Texas was quiet this offseason as they didn't make any major trades or free agent acquisitions. They still have a very solid team. The pitching staff is anchored by Kline, Nelson, Briles, & Nolan who are all very solid. Offensively Johnny Bench & Ben Oglivie carry the big burden. Texas needs more offense to contend.
10. Boston Red Sox (89-73) - Having already said that Pittsburgh got the better of the Schmidt/Hooton deal I need to backtrack a bit. This is a great trade for Boston as well as Pittsburgh. To have an ace like Hooton in your rotation will help the Red Sox out alot. The lineup is still very strong with Morgan, Easler, Chambliss, & Petrocelli the main stars. It hurts to give up Schmidt but Boston will love Hooton who is every bit as good as Milwaukee's Steve Busby. Boston also signed ex-Minnesota Twin Claude Osteen who happens to be the best pitcher in CDL history. We'll see if he has one more playoff run in him.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates (81-81) - Pittsburgh did the unthinkable when they dealt Burt Hooton to the Red Sox in return for Mike Schmidt and Jon Matlack. I think it was a great deal though as it is easier to get a good SP than a hitter like Schmidt. He will be surrounded by one of the best hitting teams in the league with guys like Reggie Jackson & Reggie Smith. They still have a solid rotation with Carlton, Rau, Gale, & Kison all coming off good years. I look for Pittsburgh to push the defending champion Cubs right into the last couple weeks of the year.
8. Chicago White Sox (97-66) - The White Sox had a great year last year finally supplanting the Twins as division champs. They come back in '79 with a solid pitching staff as always. Fidrych is becoming the staff ace with the always dependable Fritz Peterson and Bart Johnson forming a very good starting 3. May, Zisk, Baker, Sudakis, and a very good FA signing in Blair form a formidable lineup however it probably won't scare too many pitchers. This team will go as far as their pitching takes them.
7. Minnesota Twins (96-67) - Minnesota made alot of changes this offseason signing 9 FAs. Their pitching staff has some question marks which I'm sure will be answered. The lineup is always solid with Burleson, Orta, Garr, & May always posting very impressive numbers. You keep waiting for this team to enter the rebuilding mode but they always seem to find a way to win.
6. Milwaukee Brewers (82-80) - OK, maybe I'm a little biased here but I'm telling everyone to watch out for my Brewers this year!! Milwaukee finally has a great #2 SP behind Busby in Grimsley (20-8, 2.96 ERA). Combine them with Forsch and you have the best top 3 SPs in the CDL. The lineup has many stars in the making like Ramirez, Hendrick, Winfield, Soderholm, Stanton, & Mayberry. Eventually these guys are going to mature into superstars.
5. California Angels (93-69) - The Angels have been a very good team for very long and may be ready to make the jump into contention this year. They have some very good hitters like Howard, Dwyer, May, Concepcion, Moreno, & Foy plus a good pitching staff anchored by Nolan Ryan, Montefusco, Odom, & Rozema. Picking up Gossage and Leon in a trade with Milwaukee was a good one as the Goose probably just needs a change of scenary to get back to his old self. Barring any unfortunate injuries, this teams should compete this year.
4. New York Yankees (100-62) - The Yankees are solid all around again this year with almost everyone returning from last year. Tanana, Chance, & Coleman make up a solid top of rotation. Pete Rose seems to be getting better with age as is Jim Spencer. Scott, Auerbach, Knight, & Foster all carry big bats. The Yanks will be tough to beat in the AL east.
3. San Francisco Giants (107-55) - San Francisco had the best record in the league last year. The only person gone from that time is their old ace Ross Grimsley. Cecil Cooper, who may be the best hitter in the league right now, just missed a triple crown in '78. George Brett & Rod Carew are both the best players at their respective positions. The question for the Giants this year is pitching, they don't have much. Murphy, Bosman, & House are solid. I assume Flanagan will be penciled in as the #4 starter. If the pitching pans out, watch out!
2. Cincinnati Reds (100-62) - The Reds have been one of the best teams in the league for a very long time. It's just noone has noticed because the Giants have always taken the division. Reuss, Swan, Gentry, & Taylor make up a very good rotation with Rader, Johnstone, Fahey, Yount, & Trillo making a solid lineup. Also keep your eye on future star Ellis Valentine who may get a shot this year. He could be a great one.
1. Chicago Cubs (92-70) - The defending champs have done nothing to deserve getting pulled out of the top spot. The defending champs kept their roster virtually intact. Carter, Murphy, Anderson, Ford, Evans, Trammell, & Garvey form a very good lineup with Dierker, Mclain, Wright, Barr, & Moeller solidifying the pitching staff. They have a very legitimate chance at repeating!
You could call it impatience or aggressiveness or a little bit of both. But Mariners owner, Tim Culberson, sent a clear message to the fans of Seattle that he wants to win.
"When I saw the talent in this year's free agent pool, I knew this was a window of opportunity we could not pass up," stated Mr. Culberson. Many critics feel the Mariners are taking a huge risk and mortgaging the future by spending big bucks on veterans such as Tommy John, Steve Renko, and Daryl Patterson. "I realize we almost tripled our payroll with these aquisitions, but look at how much better our pitching staff is!" exclaimed Tim.
The Mariners have raised the expectation level exponentially this season. They now have a good blend of youth and age that hopefully will mesh. It appears the strenghth of this team will be the pitching. If the offense can hold its own with Wilson, Henderson, Murray and Baylor leading the way, this team could make a huge, record breaking turn around.
At least that is what Mariners' owner, Tim Culberson is banking on.
It's hard to believe that we are going into the 1979 season, 10 years have past and still no Championship trophy in the Angels corporate office.
From that initial draft in 1969 only two players have managed to play in all 10 Major League seasons with the club. Middle reliever Marcelino Lopez just traded to the Brewers in the off season was a 12th round pick in 1969. His career numbers, 33-29 in 459 games. He had 6 seasons with a ERA under 3.00, with his best year in 1970 when in 52 games his ERA was 1.30. The other player was, if you can believe it, drafted in the 4th round, his name, Nolan Ryan. Ryan is one of only 4 pitchers to strikeout 17 batters in a game. His career numbers, 159-106 with 2602 K's in 2598.2 IP and an ERA of 3.00. In those almost 2600 innings Nolan has given up only 1731 hits!
Team peformance over the years has had its up and downs. 1969 produced 85 wins and the next season came close, blowing a 5 game lead in September and finishing 3rd with 94 wins, 4 games back. After a dismal 71 showing finishing 25 games behind with 77 wins, the next 3 years win totals 88-80-88 were good, but not good enough in a division dominated by the mighty Twins. After finishing 3rd or 4th the first 7 seasons, the Angels finished only 2 games back in 1975 with their only 2nd place finish. With the good comes the bad, the next 2 years were the franchises worst, with 75 then 70 wins and their only time finishing lower than 4th, a 6th place finish. Last year 1978 proved to be a good one finishing at 93-69, 3.5 games back, to give hope for the future.
This year hopes are high, the Twins are aging, but still strong. The rest of the division headed by the White Sox seem to be making it more unpredidtable as to who is the team to beat.
Pitching has always been a focal point for the organization and with a staff mixed with veterans and youngsters it should be solid once again. John Montefusco having just signed a 5 year, $9 million dollar deal is now the ace. Two super veterans Ryan and Blue Moon Odom form a trio that kept right-handed hitters batting less than .188.
Two youngsters, 22 year old Dave Rozema (3.02) and promising rookie Don Robinson only 21, can make the difference between good rotation and possibly the best in the CDL. The strong bullpen changes a bit, with Lopez and Roric Harrison gone, the Angels turn to younsters, Lee (2.79), Rautzhan (2.70) and Lamp (Rookie) to join veterans Sisk (2.36) and Rodriguez (2.64). The projected closer "Goose" Gossage, 9.27 ERA in 18 games last year hopes to regain the form of his first 4 years as a pro when his ERA was under 2. If he struggles the Angels always have aging veteran and last year (42) and All-Time CDL save leader (411), Wibur Wood. Wood at 37 had a strong season with the team last year and he could be a major factor in the teams success.
Hitting has been a nightmare for the Angels during the last 10 years. With periods of power and defense, the team had good success last season with speed and contact hitters. Rookie of the year, CF, Omar Moreno supplied plenty of excitement with a .279 avg. and 63 stolen bases. Free agent acquisition 3B, Joe Foy also came through with a career year at .270 and 45 steals. Speed continued with SS Dave Concepcion stealing 57 bases to go along with his .280 batting average. As a team last year the Angels stole 240 bases and for the first time in team history had 6 regulars with battings averages over .270 and OBP over .350. Rounding out the infield the team traded Cliff Johnson's power for 1B Terry Crowley's average and OBP. Crowley hit .284 with a .392 OBP with Toronto last season. At 2nd base Bobby Grich was a disappointment hitting only .218, down from .284 the previous year. The OF is still in question, Wilbur Howard was a huge surprise leading the team in hitting at .316, but his future depends on the development of top prospect Ruppert Jones. Jones was handed the job in his rookie season, but failed by hitting only .222 in 374 AB's. Jim Dwyer should be solid in right, he hit .285, lead the team in RBI's (81) and OBP (.391). Catcher Milt May lost 4 weeks to injury last year but still is tough in the clutch hitting a career high .282 last year. The bench was helped with the addition of Eddie Leon, 18 HR's and 82 RBI's. This is a team that will not hit a lot a balls over the fence, but should provide lots of excitement.
The Angels future looks to be good, along with young pitchers, Robinson and Rozema the Angels drafted pitchers Lamaar Hoyt (24) and Tony Brizzolara (22). With 10 pitchers in the organization under 25 it seems in good shape. At first look, hitting seems to be lacking , but most of the young players are already making a name for themselves in the bigs. Foy, Etheridge, Crowley and Leon are the only players over 30 and eleven of the players on the ML roster are making the league minimum of $100K.
How long will it be before the Angels capture their first division title? Well it seems every year you get a few owners picking them to win it, but always seem to come up a little short. With a great starting rotation anything is possible, add speed, good OBP and a little luck and this may be the year that the California Angels corporate office displays that trophy in the case.