The San Deigo Padres and the LA Dodgers have both been the bottom feeders of the NL West for many years. 1988 was no different for the two teams, the Friars finished last in the division, with the Dodgers finishing 3rd. But will they stay there forever? Ive already told you of the good young crop of talent the Dodgers have, and the Padres are no different. Will Coach and GM Brian Wholdman lead this team to the promised land or will they forever stay the stepping stone of the Astros and Giants?
--Pitching
This is the problem for the Padres, and something that will have to be addressed before they see the playoffs. For years the Padres have struggled with there starters, 1988 was no different, and 89 is shaping out to look about the same. There one suprising star, SP Bob Tewksbery has been critized constantly, but continues to dish out solid numbers.
Padres Starters - 1988
Bob Tewksbury - 16-10 2.82 ERA
Ross Baumgarten - 11-10 4.11 ERA
Danny Darwin - 12-13 4.03 ERA
Steve Brown - 6-16 4.37 ERA
Sid Fernandez - 4-9 6.12 ERA
The 5th spot of the Padres staff was many different faces throughout the '88 season. Sid Fernandez, a 3rd pick overall for the Padres has yet to adapt to major leauge pitching. The ace of the squad instead is SP Bob Tewksbury, a 2nd round pick who has done wonders for this team. Darwin was aquired from the Giants, and may just be the man this team needs to start winning some games. Baumengarten and Brown are unspectacular, and both need to improve their game if they have any hopes of bringing home a Pennant.
Padres Bullpin - 1988
Eric King - 4-3 5.26 ERA
Craig Lefferts - 6-7 3.66 ERA
Mark Williamson - 5-6 4.69 ERA
Bob Veselic - 2-3 3.10 ERA
Calvin Schiraldi - 2-0 6.67 ERA
CL Jose Alvarez - 5-5 3.52 ERA 34 SV
Where the starting pitching has failed, the bullpin has been solid. With the exception of the sub-par year in '88 the Padres pin has been outstanding. Lefferts has been major contributer of the Padres pin for the last few years, and the addition of Veselic and Alvarez has given the Padres a damn fine bullpin. If King and Shirardi can pull himself together and put up a good year, and the rest of the pin can put up a decent, the bullpin just might be the saving grace for the Friars. There numbers so far though have been less than spectactular, but are much better than the outings the starters have given them.
--Offence and Defence
The San Deigo Offence, like their Pitching has been unsuccessful in the past. But the talent crop is much deeper, and much more reliable than the pitching. Padres fans can only wonder what the '88 season would have been like without the injury to former RoY, and starting SS Barry Larkin. Fortunately for the Padres, OF Ellis Burks made his rookie debut, and had a definate impact on this team. San Deigos major strength, and the key to the success of this team, lies in the future production of the younger members of this offence.
San Deigo Lineup - 1988
1 - 2B Jim Ganter - .252AVG 7HR 54RBI 60R 19SB
2 - SS Hubie Brooks - .284AVG 11HR 63RBI 76R .424SLG
3 - 1B Dave Revering - .284AVG 9HR 43RBI 35R .420SLG
4 - C Don Slaught - .252AVG 18HR 67RBI 76R .426SLG
5 - RF Ellis Burks - .243AVG 20HR 82RBI 81R 22SB
6 - LF Mike Greenwell - .281AVG 6HR 41RBI 52R
7 - 3B Len Sakata - .282AVG 3HR 36RBI 54R .358OBP
8 - CF Gene Richards - .251AVG 0HR 31RBI 61R 52SB
Not in the Lineup, but sure to come back for next year is SS Barry Larkin. A season ending injury in the 1st home game for San Deigo defniately hurt the moral of this offence. For the most part, most of the guys listed are platoon players, with there counterparts having about the same numbers. The star of the Lineup, and likely the star of the future for San Deigo, Ellis Burks, put up some damn fine numbers for a rookie season. Im sure every team out there would love to have Burks placed in the middle of there lineup, well every team but Pittsburg maybee. Jim Gantner, long time Padres 2B is no longer with the team, but his stats show that it was for the best. Any hitter with an OPB of under .300 is not a major leauger in my oppinion. and Gantners was .273. Rookie Chico Lind will be the one replacing Ganter, and i know the Friars are looking forward to adding this young man to the Lineup. He has been tearing it up in AAA and has most definately earned a spot in this lineup. As for the defence, San Deigo had one of the best in the leauge last year and should perform about the same this year. With Larkin back at SS, San Deigo's infeild will be one of the best in the leauge again in '89.
--Farm System
Well, the Padres still have alot of room for improvement, the biggest thing that needs to be improved as i said before is the Starters. Unfortunately for San Deigo, they have no solid young starters in their farm system at all. MR Jeff Pico and LF Kevin Reimer are the only 2 names that stand out in the Padres minors. Pico is still young, and definately has the talent to be a monster out of the bullpin, Reimer has a decent bat, but his defence will get him nowhere in the National Leauge. If Reimers D doesnt improve, the best he can hope for is a trade. A deep draft this year, with San Deigo having a fairly low pick should improve this farm system, but they need either a few great pickups in Free Agency, or alot more production out of their Minors to compete with teams like the Giants and the Astros.
--Problems for the Friars
-The starting pitching must start producing. Tewksberry has been a godsend to the rotation, but you need more than 1 solid starter to compete in the toughest division in baseball. Danny Darwin was a fine pickup, but he is aging, and wont be around when the stars of San Deigo are in their prime.
-Padres have a great collection of hitters, but some of them arnt performing up to their potential. Guys like Greenwell, Brooks, O'Brian, and Slaught need to have better years than they did in '88
-Financially, the team needs to start winning. They have the talent, and to be honest, they have one of the better offences of the NL West. But the fans are losing intrest, and the Padres have been feeling it financially. The '88 year was a great improvement, but the improvement needs to continue.
--Future Predictions
This is one of the toughest teams to predict. San Diego has been one of the most unluky teams in the CDL for many many years. Players like Sid Fernandez and Shawn Dunston that were supposed to be the saviors of the team, instead performed horribly in the majors and have been nothing more but a waste of a draft pick. Nearly every trade the Padres have made has come back to haunt them. If the team continues its luck streak, San Deigo will remain at the bottom of the NL West. If the talent the Padres get in future drafts start to perform, or if they can pick up a few All Star pitchers, without sacrificing their offence, this team just might be just as competitive as the rest of the NL West.
Now that 1988 is over and done with for the Toronto nine, it is imperitave that the Scoop runs its Canadian Propaganda offseason pieces, because the offseason is the only time in which Toronto ever has any hope for anything.
Part 1 will look at the team pre-free agency and pre-draft day, as well as take a gander at the few players that can expect to be around past 1990.
So here it is, the 1988 report. The 1988 Blue Jays were a sorry bunch, losing a remarkable 49 games, finishing 8 games above their Pythagorean record of 41-121, which would have set the all time record for losses in a season. The CDL record of 117 losses remained safe, and the Pirates will live on in history as this association's mark of futility.
Surprises included Glenn Braggs, who hit .289 and hit 19 doubles, 11 triples, and 13 home runs, showing remarkable power for what was expected. Braggs should prove useful in a fourth-or-fifth outfielder in the future. The other product of the Bonds deal (aside from of course Ken Hill) was Kirt Manwaring, who hit .280 in AAA and proceeded to hit a robust .309 in 81 at bats. Manwaring and Braggs are quite servicable defensive players and should play key roles on the Blue Jays teams of the 1990s. Joe Johnson may have finished 8-24, but with a 4.31 ERA he was the most consistent starter all year long, and should prove to be a decent bottom-of-the-rotation starter.
As for the class of 1988, the rookies to pro ball, they were nothing short of outstanding. Gary Sheffield, the league's top prospect, may have stunk up AAA with his .235 average, but in AA with a .302 clip, he was phenomonal, and is expected in the bigs by late 1990, when he will still be in his early 20s. Greg Harris moved up the prospect radar, the 21st pick overall surpassed Ken Hill (#8) by improving his control and punching out many batters en route to winning a player of the week award and throwing two complete game shutouts in the majors at the tender age of 24. Ken Hill impressed with a 10-8 record and a miniscule 2.70 ERA. The sentimental favorite Hill, who hails from Lynn, MA, close to the GM's hometown, should be the #2 starter by late 1989 if not earlier.
Later round picks Lance Blankenship and Craig Worthington both improved steadily. Blankenship posted a .488 OBP in class A, and Worthington also improved his eye. The two of them should be in the bigs by the 1990 season, posting 100s of walks each year from the bottom of the order. With 7 picks projected in the top 50 this year, the top-notch farm system should only get better.
The future is bright, and the 1990s may bring on incredible fortune for the Canadian teams -- the Expos are already looking up...
Here's an outside look at the playoff hopefuls in this the 20th season of the Cdl:
Minnesota vs Boston: Both clubs lost their aces with newly acquired John Fulgham going down for the Sox and John Candelaria out for the Twins. Both clubs have a good deal of depth, however, and should be able to make up for the losses. The Twins have the edge in the bullpen with closer Tom Henke.
On the field, the Sox had great years from Cecil Fielder (25 homers and 105 ribbies) and Presley (.337/23/119). The loss of Andy Van Slyke was a huge blow. The Twins had a little bit more of a balanced attack with Kal Daniels (.302/24/100) and Bosley (.283/32/124).
Too many major losses for the Sox and the Twins balanced attack and league leading era pitching staff lead to a quick series....Twins in four.
California vs Texas: The Angels are back led by pitching ace and one of the best, Don Robinson (22-6, 1.62). They also have Brizzolara (15-7, 2.97) and Barrios to take into the playoffs. The pen features two superstar relievers in McCullers and Sutter. The Rangers counter with their ace, Bob Stanley (14-8, 3.41) Closer A. Pena is one of the best in the league. The Angels have depth in pitching and certainly have the edge in this department.
The Angels hitting is led by Rupert Jones (.301/24/83) and Jack Clark (24/83). While fairly well balanced, they finished 8th in the league in batting average and only 13th in homers. This compared with the Rangers league leading average of .291. Texas is as well balanced with Tony Armas leading the way at .272/27/103. Give the edge here to the Rangers.
Pitching usually wins in a short series so give the edge to the Angels in five.
Phillies vs Pirates: In perhaps their first playoff series against the Pirates(I may be corrected on this), the Phillies go against one of the best young teams in the cdl. Cdl legend, Bart Johnson (14-9, 3.98) and super rookie, David Cone (3.66) go head to head against the Pirates super ace, Roger Clemens (24-2,2.22) and a staff that finished second in era in the entire league. The Pirates also add super relievers Mark Eichhorn and Tom Niedenfuer against the Phillies more modest Assenmacher (32 saves, 1.84 era). And lest we forget, this will be the Quiz's last year in a Pirates uniform if he indeed does not resign with the club. How will that effect the clubhouse moral.
On the field, the Phillies put a team that finished 24th in home runs overall and 14th in average. No one hit more than 20 homer runs or 100 ribbies. Kirby Puckett is the star of the field batting a team high .327. The Pirates, on the other hand, lead the league in homers and runs scored and finished third in average. They are led by Wallach ( .353/26/99) Baines (.348/38/139) Dawson (.298/27/98) Murphy (.275/33/118) and Gwynn (.357). This may be the best hitting club in cdl history.
If Sam's Pirates don't win this one in three, the team needs to give its collective heads a shake.
Houston vs Atlanta: Atlanta's got Fernando, the great one, who finished at (20-9, 2.16). If they had three guys like this, they would take the Pirates. They do come close in star players Steve Ontiverous ( 13-11, 3.69) and Ramirez (15-7, 2.79). The Astros counter with very old doyle Alexander (17-8, 3.51) Mike Scott ( 17-10, 3.42)and Mike Witt (13-7, 2.70). Unfortunately Scott is hampered with injuries which leaves Brian in a position where he is counting on Ed Lynch or Marty Bystrom to pick up the slack...not a pretty picture for Houston. The ace of Houstons pen, Mike Henneman enters the playoffs injured but should return before its all over. The rest of the Astros staff is pretty average at best. Atlanta's pen doesn't fare much better with Barry Jones being the best of the lot. Give the edge to Atlanta.
On the field, Atlanta enters the playoffs with the third most home runs in the league. They are lead by Eric Davis (.285/35/108) and Kirk Gibson (.292/28/106). Houston counters with a club that finished 21st in home runs, not having one player that passed the 16 home run mark. First baseman, Bergman (.285/15/72) led the way with rookie Gerald Young batting .285 with 47 steals and Wade Boggs hitting .322.
Atlanta in three
Good luck to all 8 clubs...
chuck groening...
Baltimore's Rafael Palmeiro was named the rookie of the month for September. Palmeiro had an impressive month hitting .402 with 8 doubles, 5 HRs, and 20 RBI. For the season Palmeiro hit .285 with 16 HRs and 69 RBI. He is also a finalist for a gold glove with an outstanding .994 fielding percentage at 1B.
Also considered were Cleveland's Joey Cora (.357, 11 doubles, 10 RBI), Baltimore's Jeff Blauser (.297, 2 HRs, 14 RBI), Kansas City's Glenn Davis (.252, 10 HRs, 34 RBI) and Milwuakee's Jack McDowell (3-2, 2.78 ERA).
In the NL, Los Angeles' Stan Javier took home the hardware with a .393 average, 44 hits, 8 doubles, and 13 RBI. The former 2nd round pick of the '84 draft for Toronto, Javier enjoyed a fine rookie campaign hitting .329 with 94 stolen bases.
Also considered were St. Louis' Kevin Mitchell (.283, 6 HRs, 22 RBI), Philadelphia's John Rabb (.283), San Francisco's Bob Sebra (2-3, 3.26 ERA), and Montreal's Kevin Brown (3-1, 3.57 ERA)
There is no worse feeling than knowing you have but one day before the regular season ends and there are still trades to be analyzed. Like last time, less introduction, more trade analysis.
New York (A) receives P Bob Woodward.
San Diego receives SS Hubie Brooks and New York (A)’s third round Amateur draft choice in 1990.
Even with the addition of Danny Darwin (reviewed next time), the Padres were in need of more pitching. Bob Woodward, despite his lack of a household name, is a quality arm and should be for years to come. And Brian was right to wince as he agreed to this trade for he not only hurt his team, but knew that the ATR would take him to the task.
Now, there are times you might want to give up a scarce resource, like a talented young pitcher, even if you have a need for pitching. But if you do, is Hubie Brooks really what you want to get in return for that scarce resource? No.
Hubie is a decent hitter, but one that is overpaid for his skill set. I assume once Larkin returns from injury next season, Brooks will move to third base and Sakata to the bench. So, basically, the Padres traded a young, cheap, talented pitcher for a marginal, expensive upgrade at the hot corner. That won’t get these Padres out of the basement, that’s for certain.
Winner: New York (A)
Boston receives P Jim Fulgham
San Francisco receives OF Dan Ford, C Jamie Nelson and Boston’s first, second and third round Amateur draft choices in 1990.
So, this and $17,000,000 a year is the cost of an ace. Fulgham is one of the best pitchers in the league, behind only such pitchers as Don Robinson and Fernando Valenzuela. Roger Clemens as well. For the next two seasons, the Red Sox will spend $33,000,000 a season on the top two pitchers in their rotation. So, basically, the Red Sox win the World Series this year or not for a while, as these giant contracts will hamstring the Red Sox ability to put the rest of a competitive team on the field.
The Giants seemed to have folded, but still remain in the Wild Card race. Without Fulgham, the Giants are a three and out in the playoffs, but still made a shrewd move in dealing Fulgham for some youth and the finances to fill in the rest of their team with quality players. Dan Ford is just salary that will be shed at season’s end and Jamie Nelson is a warm body that you hope never plays.
Nonetheless, the Giants seem to be taking one step backwards and four steps forward in the offseason. I full well expect the Giants to win the World Series in 1989, because they chose to let Fulgham walk and take the financial flexibility instead. Well, the flexibility and the picks.
Winner: San Francisco
St. Louis receives RF Darryl Strawberry and 2B Danny Tartabull.
Kansas City receives 2B Ron Gant.
You know, sometimes we forget that these strapping real life power hitters started their careers as middle infielders.
Anyway, I would like to get Darryl Strawberry for a slight drop off in defense of one of my players. That is what this deal boils down to. Gant is basically a slick fielding Tartabull. Look at them and you will find the resemblance is uncanny. Just a little defense off the top.
And for that, the Cardinals get Darryl Strawberry. He’s expensive, but he is the best left handed hitter in the CDL, aside from his weakness against southpaws, which is just short of legendary. Still, wouldn’t you like to have Strawberry on your team? I know I would.
Winner: St. Louis
Los Angeles receives Ps Floyd Youmans and Jose Bautista and C Mike Stanley.
St. Louis receives OF Darryl Hamilton, P Randy Bockus and Los Angeles’s first round Amateur draft choice.
A real headscratcher of a deal. The Cardinals appear to have given up on talented Floyd Youmans for nothing of consequence in return. Granted, Youmans has had great difficulty turning his talent into production, but at 24, he is a worthy gamble for any team in need of pitching.
Not only did the Cardinals give up Youmans, but they sent Mike Stanley packing as well. He is a young and talented catcher, though the Cardinals have Darren Daulton anchored behind the plate for years to come. Bautista is just a reliever that you use when all else fails.
In exchange for these fine young players, the Cardinals received a mid first round pick in Los Angeles, which is the best that came back to St. Louis. Additionally, the Cards received Darryl Hamilton, who is a fine outfielder, but the best he can hope for in his career is a trade or being the lesser half of a platoon with Darryl Strawberry. Bockus cancels out Bautista. So, I think this trade makes no sense for the Cardinals. And I’m sure the rest of you, Christian excluded, agree with me.
Cleveland receives 1B Greg Walker.
St. Louis receives Cleveland’s second round Amateur draft choice in 1989.
The Cardinals were busier than a one-armed paperhanger near the deadline. This deal is more in line with the Strawberry trade. The Cardinals received something of value for basically nothing, as they seemed poised to let Walker, well walk to the FA pool.
Walker is a decent 1B and one of the better hitters on the Indians roster. However, they probably could have kept their draft pick and paid Walker less by letting him become a free agent. But, what’s done is done.
Winner: St. Louis