Here is the first annual CDL all-rookie team for the 1985 season.
Catcher : Geno Petralli, Braves. 322 PA. ,261/,345/,345. 5 homeruns, 28 RBIs. 2nd round pick, 33rd overall in 1982.
Comment : Petralli was the main part of a pretty succesful platoon with Bruce Benedict. He struggles against lefthanders and was limited to 26 AB versus southpaws. Mike Heath (Phillies) was also a good candidate.
First base : Rex Hudler, Blue Jays. 121 PA. ,301/,333/,347. 2 homeruns, 10 RBIs, 7 SB. 3rd round pick, 57th overall in 1984.
Comment : By far the weakest position, Hudler almost won by default at 1B, even though he played only 9 games there. He hit ,272 with 6 homeruns in AAA.
Second base : Mike Marshall, Expos. 561 PA. ,234/,245/,444. 28 homeruns, 81 RBIs. 2nd round pick, 35th overall in 1981.
Comment : Marshall turned his one skill, power, into a pretty sucessful season, even though he had a 10:97 BB:K ratio and a low average. He was especially good against LHP, hitting 12 homers in 191 PA. Scott Flecther (Cardinals) was runner-up.
Third base : Jim Presley, Pirates. 654 PA. ,286/,309/,494. 23 homeruns, 98 RBIs. 2nd round pick, 27th overall in 1984.
Comment : 3B was the most corwded position, with 5 rookie regulars in the CDL. While Terry Pendleton (Cubs), Garry Gaetti (Orioles), Rick Schu (Phillies) and Brook Jacoby (Braves) all had decent seasons, Presley has the edge with his strong performance. He isn't the most patient hitter, but he has enough success against both LHP and RHP, hitting for power and a decent average, that he is an asset.
Shortstop : Ernest Riles, Mariners. 635 pA. ,250/,304/,329. 3 homeruns, 78 RBIs. 2nd round pick, 30th overall in 1985.
Comment : Riles had a decent season, playing solid defense and being decent offensively. He hit only ,216 versus LHP, but ,260 vs RHP. Spike Owen (Twins) was runner-up.
Outfielders : Oddibe McDowell, White Sox. 476 PA. ,278/,326/,531. 18 homeruns, 71 RBIs, 22 SB. 1st round pick, 13th overall in 1985.
Milt Thompson, Mets. 151 PA. ,307/,361/,401. 1 homerun, 14 RBIs, 10 SB. 1st round pick, 16th overall in 1984.
Sam Mejias, Cubs. 115 PA. ,377/,407/,604. 4 homeruns, 21 RBIs.
Comment : McDowell is the favorite to win the ROY award in the American League with a good all-around season. Thompson and Mejias had great small sample seasons. Thompson has a nice future, but Mejias came out of nowhere, at age 33. He has some talent against LHP, but he helped the Cubs reach the playoffs with an amazing season, against RHP and LHP.
Starting pitchers : Roger Clemens, Pirates. 20-10, 2,42 ERA. 275,1 IP, 55 BB, 255 K. 1st round pick, 2nd overall in 1984.
Charles Hudson, Reds. 12-7, 3,23 ERA. 153,1 IP, 55 BB, 86 K. 1st round pick, 24th overall pick in 1983.
Teddy Higuera, Mariners. 9-9, 3,35 ERA. 161 IP, 56 BB, 83 K. 1st round pick, 4th overall in 1985.
Comment : Clemens had won of the most amazing rookie season for a pitcher, winning 20 games and striking 255 batters. Hudson was solid, helping the Reds reach the playoffs. Higuera was the best rookie in the American league with Oddibe McDowell when he suffered a season ending injury in July.
Relivers : Steve Ontiveros, Giants. 7-0, 7 saves, 1,88 ERA. 100,2 IP, 29 BB, 35 K. 1st round pick, 16th overall in 1985.
Tim Burke, Braves. 4-7, 31 saves, 2,35 ERA. 69 IP, 31 BB, 38 K. 1st round pick, 10th overall in 1985.
Todd Worrell, Yankees. 4-9, 41 saves, 3,65 ERA. 88,2 IP, 36 BB, 67 K. 1st round pick, 6th overall in 1985.
Comment : There was a lot of candidates here, including Roger McDowell (Orioles), Dave Shipanoff (Cubs), Lance McCullers (Angels), Paul Boris (Mets) and Brian Fischer (Cubs). While Burke and Worrell immediately became solid closers, Ontiveros was a key part of the Giants' amazing season. Those who believe in Voros McCraquen's DIPS theory might think he'll come back to earth next year, after giving up only 60 hits in 100,2 IP.
In short, here's the 1985 All-rookie team
C : Geno Petralli, Braves
1b : Rex Hudler, Blue Jays
2b : Mike Marshall, Expos
3B : Jim Presley, Pirates
SS : Ernest Riles, Mariners
OF : Oddibe McDowell, White Sox
OF : Milt Thompson, Mets
OF : Sam Mejias, Cubs
SP : Roger Clemens, Pirates
SP : Charles Hudson, Reds
SP : Teddy Higuera, Mariners
RP : Steve Ontiveros, Giants
RP : Tim Burke, Braves
RP : Todd Worrell, Yankees
Battles for Rookies of the Month awards were much more heated in September, as there was four serious candidates in each league.
In the American League, the honor went to Brewers' starter Rick Aguilera. He helped the Brewers win the AL central pennant by going 5-1 in September with a 3,40 ERA in 53 innings. He gave up 48 hits, 18 walks and struck out 24 batters.
Aguilera, 23, was the 12th player selected in the last Amateur Draft. He started the year in AAA, then went 0-2 with a 9,69 ERA in 5 starts in May before being demoted to AAA. He was 11-2 with a 3,29 ERA in AAA.
White Sox outfielder Oddibe McDowell didn't win the Rookie of the Month award, but he is the favorite to win the Rookie of the year award. He had a ,313-2-12 line in September and for the season he is ,278-18-71.
Rex Hudler of the Blue Jays (,324-2-10) and Todd Worrell of the Yankees (1-1, 7 saves, 2,22) also had good months.
In the National League, Roger Clemens of the Pirates won another award, by going 4-1 with a 1,57 ERA in 46 innings. He gave up only 31 walks and 7 walks, whle striking out 40 batters.
He finishes his season with a 20-10 record, a 2,42 ERA and 255 strikeouts in 275,1 innings. He set the CDL record for wins by a rookie.
Reds' starter Charles Hudson (3-1 3,68), Pirates' thirdbaseman Jim Presley (,294-4-16) and Braves' closer Tim Burke (0-1, 6 saves, 0,66) were also good candidates.
Next up : the All-rookie team for 1985
With tonights sim being the final 15 games of the season, here's a quick look ahead to the playoffs with a brief analysis of all teams involved...
Boston against either Milwakee, Minnisota or Oakland: With a playoff berth already wrapped up, the Red Sox will enter the playoffs with their number one starter, Dave Rozema, in the injury column. Depending on his health, he should be back for the american league final. Still, Boston brings a solid core of starters to the field with veteran Burt Hooten and Ross Baumgarten. Where Boston's strength lies, however, is in their league leading hitting. Superstars Tim Wallach and Harold Baines lead a great young group of guys into the post season.
The Brewers bring a couple of veteran pitchers into the playoffs which may give them an advantage over the more underdog A's and Twins. All three teams bring more age to the ballpark and that can sometimes work to their favor come playoff time.
But..this is Boston's year and unless Busby in Beertown decides to pitch every game, look for the Red Sox in the American league final....
California against Detriot: The Angels bring 2 solid starters into the postseason in Robinson and Brizzolara and the American Leagues top overall pitching staff. Detroit relies heavily on its hitting, particularly the long ball. In Dave Henderson, they possess one of the leagues top rbi men. The Angels got too much pitching for Detroit to handle but this one may go the full five games...I will give the nod to the Angels 'cause good pitching always beats good hitting.
California against the Red Sox: Rozema should be back for this one and with their overall hitting and pitching should take this one in five.
then on to the National league..
Catfish Groening