Thanks to St. Louis, Kansas City, Montreal, Los Angeles, San Diego, Cleveland, Houston, San Fran, and New York for their help. 10 points were awarded for a first place vote, 7 for a second place vote, 4 for a third place vote, 2 for a fourth place vote, and 1 for a fifth place vote.
1. Minnesota Twins (42 pts)
2. Montreal Expos (40)
3. Pittsburgh Pirates (37)
4. Toronto Blue Jays (30)
5. Texas Rangers (19)
6. Milwaukee Brewers (18)
7. St. Louis Cardinals (17)
8. San Francisco Giants (15)
9. Los Angeles Dodgers (10)
10. San Diego Padres (4)
I was going to do more, but I ran out of time.
Also receiving votes: Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros.
After making the playoffs for the first time in their CDL history and winning the World Series in 1989, the Cards were looking like a sure bet to return to the playoffs in 1990, as late as the end of June, when they had a commanding lead in NL Central. Then, the team collapsed, losing 11 straight and falling quickly out of contention. The high-profile offense, while leading the league in walks and homeruns, was dead-last in average and strikeouts, leading to a disapointing season. The bullpen, lead by future Hall-of-famer Bruce Sutter, was also one of the problem and was hit hard after the break.
Here's a position-by-position look for 1991 :
MANAGER
After the team implosion last year, the Cards fired longtime manager Whitey Herzog and named recently retired Gary Alexander at his place. Alexander, a journeyman catcher who was part of the championship team of 1989, and with the Cards from 1984 to 1989, was brought back of retirement last year to act as player-manager of the AAA Louisville Redbirds. Alexander is the last among a long line of weak-hitting-catcher-turned-manager, and the cards hope he will bring the team on the right track.
CATCHER
IN : Wilfredo Tejeda (Trade - Mets)
OUT : Ron Karkovice (minors)
Darren Daulton missed 5 weeks last season with a broken hand, and never was the same after the injury. He slumped to a terrible ,217/,336/,312, down from ,282/,373/,378.
Only 29, Daulton could recover, but the nagging injuries worried the Cards so much that they traded a 2nd draft pick for Tejeda, 28, who was buried in the Mets system. He hit ,351 with 12 homeruns in AAA last year. Tejeda will see most of the AB vs LHP, and the two will split th duties vs RHP. If Daulton recovers, one of the two could be traded. Karkovice, a weak-hitting defensve specialist, returns to AAA but could be back as Tejeda and Daulton are not great with the glove.
INFIELD
IN : Omar Vizquel (trade - White Sox)
OUT : Roy Smalley (retirement), John Olerud (trade - White Sox)
3/4 of the infield comes back, with young stars Fred McGriff and Kevin Mitchell in the corners. Both took a little step backward last year, but this could be the year that they move from stars to superstars. Robby Thompson returns at second. A huge failure for the St Louis organization, he hit an anemic ,226/,283/,307. Now almost three years removed from the injury that took most of his 1988 season, the Cards hope that being in his free agency year, Thompson will step up and return to an adequate level. The big change is at short, where Roy Smalley, who was expected to leave as a free agent, decided finally to retire. After a great 1989 season, he slumped last year. Unable to sign a big name free agent to replace him, the Cards traded for youngster Omar Vizquel, who could be a solid player for a long time. For this season, he'll share the duties with Kent Anderson. This duo isn't expected to hit much, but their good D should be appreciated by the pitching staff. Reserve Paul Zuvella returns as a backup at 2nd and short.
OUTFIELD
IN : Herm Winningham (minors)
OUT : Jim Rice (FA - Houston)
The big news is that the big trio is back. Jose Canseco, Chili Davis and Darryl Strawberry will continue to form one of the best outfield in the league. Canseco bounced back from a terrible 1989 to post a good season and collect a big check, while Chili Davis continued to be one of the most underrated player of the league. Strawberry slumped a little last year. He will continue to be spelled vs LHP by Mike Ramsey and/or a veteran to-be-named-later. Winningham is there to provide a good bat off the bench vs RHP.
ROTATION :
IN : Rick Honeycutt (FA - Red Sox)
OUT : Mark Fydrich (FA - Angels)
After the experiment that was the Mark Fydrich chapter last season, the Cards hope that the Honeycutt experiment will work out better. A reliever almost all of his career, the Cards signed him to a one-year deal this season, to improve the bullpen. But after they failed to acquire a quality starter, they convinced themselves and Honeycutt that a move to the rotation was the best for the team. The Cards hope that he can be a better-than-average 3rd starter. At the top of the rotation, the Cards need Doc Gooden (17-7, 2,49) to continue his amazing career and they most hope that Frank Barrios (15-10, 2,82) has another good season in him before gae catches up. Former top prospect Mark Portugal, now 28, is running way short of the greatness that was predicted to him. A took a step backward last year, as his ERA jumped from 3,66 to 4,40. Mike mason will return as 5th starter.
BULLPEN :
IN : Mark Walters (trade - White Sox), Roberto Hernandez (draft)
OUT : Bruce Sutter (FA - Phillies), Rich Rodas (FA - Expos)
Now, that's where the team is most improved. While Sutter had an HOF career, age took so much out of his stuff that the Cards decided to eat the last year of his contract and release him. To replace him, the Cards got Mark Walters, who had three straight fantastic seasons, and is still only 33. His main setup man will be Todd Frohwirth, who had ERAs of 2,80 and 2,97 the last two seasons. 1st round pick Roberto Hernandez will make this pen the deepest the team has had in more than a decade. Solid relievers Terry Felton, Scott Munninghoff and Paul Gibson are all back. Tony Arnold also made the team after a good impression last September.
OVERALL :
Many players slumped pretty badly in 1990, but did they overachieve in 1989 or did they all played poorly in 1989? The answer could come this season. Certainly, more is expected from Robby Thompson, the catching duo should be better, the rotation could be a lot better if Honeycutt picthes as well as expected and the pen is termendously improved. However, close to no offense is expected from short, and an injury to a key player, or an age-related decline for Barrios could mean a lot of trouble, as there are no good replacements in-house.
The talented offense must absolutely perform better this year, and improve on its Rob Deer-like performance of 1990.
With McGriff and Mitchell hitting free agency after 1992, this season is crucial, as the performance of the team could determine the direction the team will take next offseason.
If you're still there reading, good season to all, and play ball!
Right now all the teams of the league are looking to improve for the upcoming season, and several GMs heading both north and south are either looking to dump veterans, field cheaper teams, and acquire prospects or grab some aging talent for a run at the title. This edition of the scoop will take you inside the trade blocks, looking at the players that the league’s finest General Managers have placed in the hands of the public within the past few days leading up to opening day.
First off is the perennial powerhouse from San Francisco, Chuck Groening’s Giants. Each season the Giants post a trade block, often ditching most of the players on the block and reloading for another shot at the NL West crown that they have won oh-so-many times. Right after the season began, San Fran started shopping powerful catcher Terry Steinbach, right now the best catcher in the National League with his two consecutive All-Star game selections. More recently, the Giants have placed a bunch of pitchers and Mike Blowers, a decent 3B/DH prospect, on the blocks. As with most Giant pitchers, those on the blocks have plenty of talent. Scott Bankhead is a starter with youth and great control, despite a penchant for the long ball. Jeff Twitty is the old and Eric Plunk is the new, but both of these star middle relievers are on San Francisco’s trading list. Rounding out Chuck’s list is his top prospect, closer Mel Rojas, a definite lock for the major leagues.
Staying in the NL West, we look at Houston, a confusing team. Rather than looking to build up a team for a run at the title in 1991, the Astros, after failing to move up in the draft, have started shopping the recently drafted but already almost elderly Jeff Fassero, who should post high numbers right away but might not continue at such a solid pace for his entire career. Also on the blocks is their current fourth starter, dependable Marty Bystrom.
After failing to swing a deal for an all-star caliber player last season, the Los Angeles Dodgers are once again looking to boost their anemic offense with a huge talent, although they seem reluctant to trade up to the full value of their desire, with many stipulations as to which players will leave town.
Finally leaving the NL West and entering the central, the Scoop is turning its eyes to the St. Louis Cardinals. After winning the 1989 World Series, the Cardinals failed to make the playoffs the following year, much like the California Angels and San Francisco Giants before them. They are looking to deal Robby Thompson, a player with outstanding ratings who may have lost his chance at stardom with a season-ending injury in 1988. Sil Campusano and Leo Gomez have all stars in front of them and likely could be thrown in. Alan Benes and John Olerud have already been traded, but the chance that Christian Trudeau will stop there is not necessarily probable. Right now they are looking for veterans with a year left and should make another deal to get a spare part. Recently acquired closer Roberto Hernandez also has made St. Louis’ list.
The American League’s blocks aren’t quite as deep as those in the NL, but some quality can be had. The Minnesota Twins have a lengthy block, including starting pitcher Rich Yett, who has 4 more cheap years, and platoon players Bob Dernier and Pat Sheridan. The big guns available in Minnesota remain Thad Bosley, who had a breakout season last year and definitely remains one of the best cheap options in the league, and Randy Johnson, who can’t play in the field (not that that has ever stopped the Twins from acquiring a player) but can hit and reach base with the best of them. Paul has graciously provided prospective buyers with a price list for each of his players, making for easy shopping if you’re in the market.
The Milwaukee Brewers are looking for a young, cheap starting pitcher (who isn’t?) and are willing to part with some draft picks to acquire him.
In the west, two-time champion Texas has placed their slick-fielding veteran shortstop Robin Yount on the blocks, but little else is known about the potential here for a deal as Gabe has failed to provide an estimate of the cost.
The one truly rebuilding team in the league, the Seattle Mariners, once everyone’s pick to be the first expansion team to make the playoffs and now the second-worst team in a division with the worst team in the league, have placed everyone on the trading blocks and should be a fairly noncompetitive team in the upcoming year, although they have not made any trades yet to dismantle the team that came in second place a year ago. Depending on which direction they move, the Mariners could truly go either way this season and in the future.
I’ll let you guys look at my block for yourselves, but there’s talent there and it can be had. Trust me.
Well not long ago the Cleveland Indians were one of the CDL's franchises heading south and way south. On this day how ever Fans of the Tribe are happy. The Indians management has just traded for "possably" one of the best Pitchers in the CDL and he is only 24. In a deal that will shake the AL East down the Indians have traded for Curt Schilling. Curt who had problems with Kansas City ownership was happy to get from KC. While Curt would not go into details he did say that he hopes Randy can have a easier time in Kansas City. The cost of getting Curt was a costly one. Going to Kansas City was Randy Johnson, Manny Lee, and just drafted Pat Hentgen. The Indians also traded away 3 draft choices in the future.