Cooper...Cooper..Cooper...Cooper....
Great to see the former Giants star take player of the month honours....
May he brings the Cubbies fans as much joy as he did Giants fans...
The Giants Management...
Thursday 4/27/1983 NEW YORK (A) - Ron Blomberg led Texas to a 6-5 win over New York (A) by squeezing four hits out of his bat. That's not the best part, though. He hit for the cycle as well! A single in the 5th off Mike Boddicker
accounted for his 1st hit. His 2nd hit was a RBI double off Mike Boddicker in the 7th inning. His 3rd hit was a triple off Doug Bird in the 9th inning. In the 10th inning he unloaded a solo homerun off Greg a. Harris. That drive completed the cycle, causing a smile on his face! Ron did drive in 2 while scoring 2 runs on his own. This season has been a good one for him so far, as he has 29 hits in 90 at bats, resulting in a .322 batting average. He's now the 10th player in league history to hit for the cycle! Ellis Valentine was the last player to hit for the cycle, doing it 10/7/1982.
Wednesday 4/26/1983 BALTIMORE - Kansas City's players had every reason to congratulate Bill Melton, who reached a milestone today, collecting his 2000th career hit! His hit in the 3rd inning was a single off Charlie Leibrandt. His best year so far was 1973 where he hit .287 with 40 homeruns and 120 RBI. 'Good things happen when you put the bat on the ball.'
Saturday 4/22/1983 HOUSTON - Rick Monday got a standing ovation from 40948 fans in Houston, who witnessed his 2000th career hit. His best year so far was 1971 where he hit .259 with 32 homeruns and 70 RBI. 'Good things happen when you put the bat on the ball.' He hit a single in the 7th off Jerry don Gleaton for number 2000.
Sunday 5/1/1983 :
American League-Pitcher of the Month :
Mark Fidrych (CHI) !!
He had a record of 5-1 in 6 games started, with an ERA of 1.55 and 2 shutouts.
American League-Batter of the Month :
Gary Thomasson (BAL) !!
He batted .354 in 99 AB, with 11 homers and 30 RBI.
National League-Pitcher of the Month :
Jerry Reuss (CIN) !!
He had a record of 4-0 in 5 games started, with an ERA of 1.13 and 3 shutouts.
National League-Batter of the Month :
Cecil Cooper (CHN) !!
He batted .341 in 91 AB, with 11 homers and 20 RBI.
With a busy offseason and a new divisional allignment, the Cleveland Indians are hoping 1983 ends with their first playoff berth since 1975.
The Indians key goals for the offseason were to revamp the bullpen and to add power to the middle of the order. Signing OF George Foster (.250, 22 HR, 65 RBI w/ NYA) to a 2 year contract on the 4th day of free agency as well as filling out their rotation with SP Ron Bryant meant that the Cleveland brass could turn their focus solely to the bullpen. With the loss of CL Al Severinsen to free agency & MR Bob Reed's diminishing skills, the Indians first sought help via free agency. MR Lance Rauthzan (3.06 ERA in 50 IP w/ CAL) & MR Ray Jarvis (1.31 ERA in 34 IP w/ CHA) were signed on back-to-back days. They will be asked to solidify the middle relief role. The Indians then looked to the cost-cutting Twins for additional help. Cleveland dealt their 1st rd draft pick for MR Lou Marone (3.19 ERA in 59 IP) and MR Dyar Miller (2.93 ERA in 98 IP). Miller will be the club's closer & Marone will be the primary set-up man.
The Indians are satisfied with the work they were able to do this offseason but winning the new AL East will still be a major challenge as the defending champion Baltimore Orioles also reside in the East. Being the 1st American League Wild Card winner would suit the Indians just fine!
The Los Angeles Dodgers will reap immediate benefits from this year's draft, with 1B/3B Nick Esasky and SP Matt Young both making the big club. Young will be going into the rotation, and Esasky will see plenty of time switching between first and third.
The Dodgers are still stuck in the CDL's best division, with San Fran, Houston and San Diego. Hopefully these rookies will help the Dodgers contend this year.
OVERVIEW
The 1983 Expo's will face stiff competition in a tough NL Division, but they have the horses to surprise and nab their first divisional title since 1969. They finished 1982 with a lackluster 78-84 but made a few changes this offseason, giving journeyman reliever Dale Murray the big bucks as a free agent, and dealing reliever Gary Lucas and RF Gary Matthews to Oakland for 1B Keith Hernandez and prospect SP Steve Baker. Much will depend on what the team decides to do at secondbase, and the clubs plans for near-ready AAA prospects Lloyd Moseby and Doug Sisk. The franchise also needs to have some comeback years from underachieving talents like catcher Lance Parrish, CF Tony Armas, LF Willie Crawford, and starter Lynn McGlothen
POSITIONAL REVIEW
Starting Pitching
Projected Rotation:
1. Sorensen
2. Falcone
3. Hall
4. McGlothen
5. Palmer
Among the best starting 5 in the CDL with Larry Sorensen, Pete Falcone, veteran Tom "T-Bone" Hall, Lynn McGlothen, and the up and coming David Palmer. Sorensen (13-8, 2.18 ERA) is a true ace and among the leagues elite starters - he could have won 20 with more run support last year. Falcone (17-8, 2.64 ERA) had a career year in 1982 and the Expo's would be thrilled if he can match his totals this year. Hall (15-14, 3.75 ERA) is a dependable #3 starter who is not showing any signs of slowing down at age 35. McGlothen had a terrible 1982 campaign, going 6-13 with a 4.56 ERA, but he can be brilliant and expectations are high for a return to form. Palmer (4-14) struggled in 1982 but he will be great soon, maybe not in 1983, but very soon.
Age is not a concern with the starting 5 - many good years left here as only 2 players over 33. For depth there is AAA help in Steve Baker, a prospect young enough to still become a dependable starter. Baker could be brought up if there are injuries, he is nearly ready to play in the CDL.
Bullpen
Long: Jerry Cram
Setup: Dale Murray
Close: Lee Smith
Not among the best pens in the league but that may change soon as Lee Smith's (3.39 ERA) reputation rises during the season - he has tremendous potential. Assuming he does not start, Jerry Cram (2.77 ERA, 22 Saves) will be the anchor here. He should get a lot of action as he is head and shoulders above the rest of the pen. If he stays in the Pen all season (he started several games last year), he should get into 80+ games and will be a major force. Free agent Dale Murray (4.41 ERA) has spent his entire career in the AL with Detroit, that may give him an early season advantage against NL batters. He has had very good success in the past, but he also can break your heart - witness his 5.88 ERA in 1981. Murray will be trying to replace Gary Lucas as the club's top setup man, and he should do okay in that role. Lee Smith is the probable closer after a solid rookie year in '82. He was mostly used in long relief last season but he is likely ready for the prime time pressure of #1 pen stopper. Behind Cram in the #2-3-4 Middle Relief spots are Mac Scarce (7.38 ERA), Scott Holman (4.31 ERA), and Pete Broberg (5.03 ERA), or "the wild bunch" as the Montreal media calls them. They are capable arms, but they are also the biggest pen weakness due to the amount of walks these guys give up. That will mean many smoke-em-if-you-got-em tense game endings for Expo fans. Holman is only 24 and did well in a limited role last year, look for him to get the most work of these 3. Another option for the club is AAA prospect Doug Sisk - he is almost ready to bring up now, and likely will be even more ready early in the year - he looks like a solid reliever.
Catcher
The club is set with Lance Parrish (14 HR, 73 RBI) - great defense, nice contract and he is still young, his only weakness is poor OBP. The 'Spos need a comeback year from Parrish - he hit .271 with 23 HR and 90 RBI in an All-Star 1981 season. Earl Williams is a backup to be used for dire emergencies only.
First Base
Keith Hernandez (.315, .395 OBP with Oakland). He should play all the time, even in rained out games. Barring new acquisitions, Corcoran or Williams will back up.
Second Base
Alan Bannister (.269) is the guy right now but his abilities are probably best suited for a utility player that can play part time all year plus spell anyone that is injured. This is a pretty major weakness for the club, as is the backup 2B - currently there is not a backup at 2nd.
Third Base
Mike Schmidt (35 HR. 91 RBI) is a dependable low BA slugger that should have several good years left. Unfortunately the awful BA means he should probably not bat higher than #5 in the order. Earl Williams is the only guy that can back up right now.
Shortstop
Chris Speier's (.250, 11 HR) glove is a key part of this infield. He is solid on defense and a pretty good OBP player for the #8 slot. Bannister can back him up, but no good platooning them though since both of them are best versus LHP.
Left Field
Willie Crawford should play everyday and return to his old form after a disasterous 1982 (.255, 14 HR, 70 RBI). The only concern is that he is at the age when players can start to deteriate very quickly (knock on wood). If he does start losing skills maybe Lloyd Moseby or even Kevin McReynolds would be ready by that time. Currently Alan Bannister is the backup.
Center Field
CF is set with Tony Armas who plays everyday. A big comeback is expected after a .258 season last year. Currently Alan Bannister is the backup.
Right Field
Currently a problem. Corcoran/Asselstine versus RHP and Alan Bannister versus LHP? This is not nearly good enough production at a power position, they need a big bat added here and help may come from the farm in Lloyd Moseby. No word yet whether Moseby will start the year in Montreal but big things are expected from him. Hosken Powell can also hit RHP a little bit but is another guy that should not be playing everyday.
Fielding
Mostly very good all over, 2B defense looks like the only obvious weakness.
Projected 1983 Batting Order
Bannister (2B)
Hernandez (1B)
Crawford (LF)
Armas (CF)
Moseby? (RF)
Schmidt (3B)
Parrish (C)
Speier (SS)
On The Farm
- SP Steve Baker might be ready this year, even if he does not improve he is playable now as a #5-#6/spot starter if there are injuries.
- MR Doug Sisk may be ready too. He may be part of the answer to the pen's control problems and he might even be a guy to bring up to start the season, those wild relievers scare me.
- SP/MR Garrelts is likely 2 or so years away.
- CL Jeff Russell is likely another year away.
- SP Owchinko is not bad enough to release, but it's safe to say he did not make it as a CDL contributor.
- 1B Chris Smith looks like he will only be a backup player - he might make the 25 man squad now as Hernandez's backup or be left in AAA on the outside chance he improves a bit more.
- OF Mike Marshall is only 23 but there are serious concerns about his batting eye. The club will likely wait another year or 2 and hope that improvement is shown.
- OF Lloyd Moseby will be ready this year, whether he starts in AAA or the big club is the question.
- OF Kevin McReynolds will likely not be ready this year, it may take a year or two for him to fill out.
- DH Ron D. Jackson is not playable even as a backup, so barring a surge in batting ability he will likely stay in AAA until he retires.
- LF Mark Funderburk is what online league geeks usually call a "quasi-prospect". Still has an outside chance to make it.
DISCLAIMER: This team review is only a projection by an outside party. What Montreal's management decides to do with the club may not match these predictions at all.
Jorge Orta, Philadelphia's new keystone slugger, had a short press conference this morning to say a fond farewell to loyal Twins fans in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Although the Q&A was mostly upbeat, he did have some words of caution. "The game has changed," said Orta "It used to be more about the tradition, the fans, and loyalty. How fair is this trade and all the other trades we had this winter - how fair are these trades to the fans?" When asked whether he'd rather have stayed in Minnesota Orta was diplomatic. "Yes and no. Philadelphia has a great young club that could challenge this year or next so obviously I'm happy to be going there, but we really thought we had the pieces to repeat this year in Minnesota. The speed and scale of the trading shocked me a bit, but there's no way I was going down with a sinking ship."
A 4 time AL All-Star, Orta was drafted #1 by the Twins back in 1972 and had played his entire career in Minnesota. He settled down in the area and even took a pay cut to remain with the club in 1980, his MVP season.
Below is the first power poll of 1983.
The real question is can anyone over take the defending champion Baltimore Orioles.
Here is the Power Poll. The number of first place votes is in parentheses and the team's vote total is listed afterward.
1. Baltimore (7) 102 - The Orioles didn't make any noise this offseason, but with the powerhouse team they have assembled, were any moves necessary?
2. Milwaukee (1) 90 - While the Brewers were not considered the best team by many voters, they were consistantly listed in the top three. The question is whether the Brewers can justify this lofty ranking on the field.
3. Cincinnati (1) 81 - The Reds are the cream of the NL. They are moving into a division with the team that represented the National League in the World Series this season and might need the wild card to reach the playoffs.
4. Chicago (N) (3) 80 - While second amongst the teams in First Place votes, the Cubs could only muster a fourth place showing. Still, the Cubs are definitely a contender this season and anything can happen in the playoffs.
5. San Francisco 55 - While the Giants made some overtures towards rebuilding, they are the early favorite to return to the lofty perch atop the NL West that they once held in an ironlike grasp.
6. Houston 49 - If the chips fall like this, the Astros hardluck should continue. The NL West race should be a tight one this year.
7. New York (N) 44 - The Mets fell just short of winning the NL East this year. The team that beat them out, the Cubs has moved to the NL Central, so the Mets are the odds on favorites to win the NL East this year and make their return to the playoffs after ten seasons on the outside looking in.
8. California 33 - The Angels were another team that came remarkably close to the playoffs last season. Like the Mets, the team that beat them out moved to another division, placing the Angels in the driver's seat to make the playoffs.
9. Minnesota 30 - A high ranking based on the past, but if anyone is going to take a ragtag group to the playoffs, it would be the Twins owner, Paul Groening. Most likely, this team will be ranked number one from 1985 to 1990 after this massive rebuilding begins to bear fruit.
10. Los Angeles 19 - The NL West might be the most competative division post realignment. Three teams in the top ten and only one wild card. Not to mention the fact that there are two other divisions which could produce the Wild Card for the NL. Regardless, this division knows how to play good baseball.
Other teams receiving votes - Oakland 17, Boston 12, Cleveland 7, Detroit 4, Chicago (A) 3, Philadelphia 3, Texas 3, Kansas City 2, New York (A) 1, Seattle 1.
It is the same thing every year, a promising team with a psyched up GM enter the season. Boasting stars such as Schmidt, Horner, Crawford, Morgan, Parrish, Fisk. Except every year the Expos find themselves in the middle of the pack fighting to stay around .500. And what reward do they get from that, a middle of the order draft pick. The situation Montreal is in is somewhat catastrophic, they are a team that won't gel together and show that they have enough talent to play with the CDl's best, but at the same time, they won't suck bad enough to drop to be able to pick up some future stars. Montreal is a youngsters worst nightmare, it is a franchise that is in a stall as a middle of the pack team that isn't moving up or down. "Frankily it is hard to come to work everyday." GM Mcfall said. "I bust my butt for this club and I believe I have put together a winning team only to have it shoved back up my #$@."
The fans here in Montreal have the same attitude as interest continues to fall. Nobody wants to watch a team going nowhere. This is a dilemma that ownership has been dealing with since the change was made back in '76. The fact of the matter is Montreal is presently a place where good players die. McFall will continue to try to change that. For now, everybody hope and pray for some kind of change.
With one of the busiest off seasons in recent memory, lets take a look at which teams are on their way up and which are on their way down. I have not done exhaustive research, as most teams have made at least some changes, but hopefully this will be an interesting little exercise to see what may happen in the upcoming season...
Teams on their way up..(in no particular order)
1. Atlanta..long been an after thought in a division dominated by the Giants,Reds and Astros, the Braves look to better their record with newly acquired pitching ace, Dave Stewart and up and coming young players, Kent Hrbek, Kirk Gibson and Templeton. The Braves look to be a force for many years to come.
2. Boston...With superstar pitcher, Burt Hooten, and young stars like Tim Wallach, Harold Baines and Ryan Sandberg, the Sox look to be much better this year.
3. Cleveland...The Indians gave up some youth in a trade with the twins but it may translate into a run at the title. Their pitching staff includes stars Dravecky and Marone and hitting stars such as Hargrove.
4. Oakland...Despite some negative press regarding recent trades, the A's look to have one of the more potent offences in the American league. Lead by George Brett and Wade Boggs, the big question is whether they can score enough runs to stay in the game.
5. Cubs...Yeh, I know they finished with 92 wins last year...they will have more this year. With perhaps the best offence in the National league despite finishing in the middle of the pack last year in batting average, the Cubs look to only improve with the addition of superstar Cecil Cooper. The Coop had an off year last year and is set to make up for past mistakes and demonstrate to the fools in San Fransisco that he is not washed up. The only question remains whether they can score enough runs to make up for pitching losses.
Teams on their way down:
1. Minnesota...I am sorry Paul, but you already know the mighty twins are no longer that mighty. With the trading away of a number of their big, older stars, the Twins are looking to regroup...look for this team to get a nice draft pick next year...
2. Baltimore...The Orioles have the best pitching in the American league, perhaps the best in the majors but their lack of hitting is catching up on them. In the more offensive minded American league, they will have to do more than just remain idle in the off season to stay on top....
3. New York Mets...Did the Mets play over their heads last year...With 90 wins last year, the Mets looked to be on the way up, however, with little off season action and the Phillies, Braves and Expos all making changes, look for them to slip a little...
4. Pittsburgh...With only 72 wins last year by this once mightly club, the question is whether they can get any worse...the answer is yes...despite having a young Tony Gymnn, the Pirates will struggle in a division dominated by the Cubs and the Reds..Sam can at least look forward to a great draft pick next year and more insults about the Quiz..
5. San Fransisco..Yeh, I know..one should have more confidence in ones own team but the Giants lost their back bone in trades over the off season. In losing Brett and Cooper, the Giants offense relies on aging Joe Lahoud and a bunch of new comers who will be better in a few years than they are now...While the Giants picked up two solid starters, their relief corp, so good over the years, is shown major signs of age..expect Hedlund and Lersch to be in triple a before the season ends...
I welcome feedback or corrections..