The Collegian Thursday, April 6
American
by John Musser
Collegian Staff Writer
The American League-
East Division.
(1) Toronto Blue Jays.
Last Spring, George Bell was
upset when manager Jimy
Williams announced that Bell
wouldn't start in the outfield and
would DH most of the time. This
year it has been serene in the
Blue Jay's camp, and it can only
benefit the team.
Williams had no trouble with
his pitchers last year (3.80 ERA),
thanks to Dave Stieb (16-8),
Duane Ward (9-3, 40 saves),
Jimmy Key (12-5), and Jeff
Musselman (8-5).
Bell (24 homers, 97 ribbies),
Jesse Barfield (18 BR's), Fred
McGriff (34 HEt's, 82 RBl's), and
Kelly Gruber headed a Toronto
club that smashed a league
leading 158 roundtrippers.
The only question right now
is whether Bell's right knee will
hinder his play this season. A
healthy Bell and a team first
attitude should be enough for
Toronto to win this year.
(2) Milwaukee Brewers.
If the Brewers manage to stay
healthy, Tom Tebelhom's troops
may surprise everyone. The
Brewers have consistent pitching
(3.45 ERA) with Ted Higuera
(16-9), Mike Birkbeck, Don
August (13-7), Jaun Nieves and
Bill Wegman.
At the plate, the Brewers are
powered by Rob Deer (23 HR's,
85 RBl's), Robin Yount (.306,
91 RBl's), and Paul Molitor
(.312). After an off year, expect
Greg Brock to produce more this
year.
The Brewers are starting
rookie Gary Sheffield at
shortstop, who must prove that
his four homers and 12 RBl's in
24 games last year was no fluke.
Also, the inury prone Molitor
must stay healthy for the Brewers
to make a run.
(3) Boston Red Sox.
During last summer's revelation
about Margo Adams, Boggs
merely hit .366. Either Boggs
has mastered the powers of
concentration or he should have
been hitting about .450.
The Red Sox must find a way
to replace 18-game winner Bruce
Hurst as Oil Can Boyd will try
to come back from two years of
shoulder problems. Mike
Boddicker, Roger Clemens (18-
12), Wes Gardner, and newcomer
John Dopson are the starters.
Nick Esasky adds righthanded
punch to the Bosox order. Look
for more punch from outfielders
Ellis Burks (18 HR's, 92 RBl's,
.294), Dwight Evans (21 HR's,
111 RBl's, .293), and MVP
runner-up Mike Greenwell (22
HR's, 119 RBl's , .325).
If Boyd can return to the form
he once had and Manager Joe
Morgan can keep the off the field
controversy from tearing the team
apart, the Red Sox just may be
able to repeat last years pennant
winning season.
(4) Detroit Tigers. The
Tigers lacked hitting last season
as Detroit was carried by their
pitching' staff. To rectify the
situation, the Tigers dealt pitcher
Walt Terrell for Chris Brown and
Keith Moreland, who combined
for only 83 RBl's last season.
Alan Tramell (15 BR's) and
Dave Bergman were the only
Tigers to hit above .275 last
year. Chet Lemon (17 HR's)
and Fred Lynn (25 HR's) add
needed power to a weak offensive
team.
Lack of offense and age will
catch up with Detroit, as any
injuries to pitchers will severely
hamper their efforts. However,
it's hard to count out a team with
crafty manager Sparky Anderson
at the helm.
(5) The Cleveland
Indians. Surprised to see the
Tribe this high? If they had a
proven Major League shortstop
and some more hitting, they
might even be contenders.
Bud Black, Tom Candiotti
(14-8), John Farrell (14-10), Greg
Swidell (18-14), and Rich Yett
(9-6) form a solid rotation. In
relief, Doug Jones (37 saves) will
have some help this year from
Orosco.
Joe Carter (27 Hit's, 98
RBl's) and Cory Snyder (26
homers) are the big guns for the
Indians. After two straight 18
homerun seasons, Mel Hall hit
only six last year.
Although the Tribe has good
pitching, it won't be enough with
the lack_ of offense after Carter
and Snyder.
(6) New York Yankees.
How long will Dallas Green last
as manager? As long as Dave
Winfield's (.322, 25 HR's, 107
RBl's) back holds up.
The Yanks have added free
agents Andy Hawkins and Dave
LaPoint, two hurlers who should
give Green both quality and
qunatity, along with newcomer
Jimmy Jones to an aging and
unstable pitching rotation.
With Steve Sax and Rickey
Henderson hitting in front of
him, Don Mattingly will have
many chances to drive in runs
this year. If Winfield is sidelined
by back surgery, Mattingly will
only have Kevin, Phelps to
protect him in the line-up.
(7) Baltimore Orioles.
The O's don't have much, but
what they do have is youth.
The O's have an almost
totally inexperienced pitching
staff, and vet Cal Ripken (23
HR's) is the only major threat
with a bat. Whoever said
rebuilding a ballclub was along a
painful process had Baltimore in
mind.
American League-
Division.
(1) Oakland Athletics.
The A's have made few changes
League Preview
President George Bush throws out the ceremonial first pitch to mark the start of the 1989 baseball
season at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium Monday. The Orioles faced the Boston Red Sox in the
season opener. AP Sports Photo
since last season, and when you Carlton Fisk, Daryl Boston,
win 104 games, why should you? Ron Kittle, and Dan Pasqua all
One change for the A's is the hit at least 15 homeruns last
signing of free-agent Mi,kg : lvropt - e year; with Kittle hitting his in
(3.78 ERA) of Seattle, as if Cleveland.
Oakland didn't have enough With the inexperienced staff
pitching ahead with Storm Davis and few quality players after the
(16-7), Dave Stewart (21-12), top six or seven, the Chisox
Bob Welch (17-9), and Curt could plummet even further.
Young. Manager Tony Laßussa
has a strong closer in Dennis
Eckersley (45 saves).
Another change was Dave
Parker replading the departed Don
Baylor at DH. Even if Parker
doesn't produce, 40-40 man Jose
Canseco, Mark McGwire (32
HR's, 99 RBl's), and Dave
Henderson (24 HR's) will.
Combine the talent with the
embarassment of the World
Series loss as motivation and the
A's are a lock.
(2) Kansas City Royals.
Last season, racial tensions
caused a split in the team.
Manager John Wathan is hoping
his charges have matured and will
concentrate their energies to
matters on the field.
Mark Gubicza (20-8), Charlie
Leibrandt (3.19 ERA), Floyd
Bannister, and Bret Saberhagen
(3.80 ERA) give the Royals
quality starters.
The offense is in good hands
with George Brett (.306, 24
HR's, 103 RBl's), Kevin Seitzer
(.304), Bo Jackson (25 HR's),
and Danny Tartabull (26 HR's,
102 RBl's).
If the relief pitching develops
into what the Royals think it
will, look for a possible upset.
3) Minnesota Twins. •
Once again manager Tom Kelly
has assembled a talented group in
the Homer Dome.
West
Kelly has some fine pitchers,
including Cy Young winner
Frank Viola (24-7), Allan
Anderson (16-9), Shane Rawley,
Fred Toliver and Charlie Lea. Jeff
I.eardon (42 saves) is the stopper:
Kirby Puckett (24 HR's, 121
RBl's, .356), Jim Dwyer (.293),
Gary Gaetti (.301, 28 HR's), and
Kent Hrbek (.312, 25 HR's) give
the Twins power and timely
hitting. They have also added
some speed with former Met
Wally Backman (.303).
Lea and Toliver are question
marks, and there is a need for
more power in the outfield other
than Puckett.
(4) Texas Rangers.
Manager Bobby Valentine has
Texas thinking pennant this year,
but it is still to soon.
Valentine has two fastballers
in Nolan Ryan (3.52 ERA, 228
strikeouts) and Bobby Witt (3.92
ERA). He compliments them
with knuckler Charlie Hough
(3.32 ERA 174 K's) and
junkballer Jamie Moyer.
The Rangers have some
impressive batters with Pete
Incaviglia, Ruben Sierra (23
HR's, 91 RBl's), Buddy Bell, and
former Indian Julio Franco
(.303).
While the Rangers have spent
time solidifying the infield, they
have not filled the gaps in
centerfield or at catcher.
(5) Chicago White Sox.
Skipper Jeff Torborg has a group
of young pitchers to develop, but
has little else to work with.
The young starters include
Jack McDowell, Melido Perez,
and Shawn Hillegas. Jerry Reuss
won 13 games last year, but his
age (40) will start catching up to
him this year. Bobby Thigpen
(34 saves) is another good young
arm who developed as the stopper
last year.
Page 12
(6) California Angels.
The Angels have added some
veteran players this year with
Bert Blyleven, Lance Parrish, and
Claudell Washington.
Byleven joins 'Mike Witt (12
complete games), Dan Petry,
Kirk McCaskill, and Chuck
Finley. Unless some of the '
Angels young farmhands develop,
or the front office cuts some
deals, this aging rotation will fall
apart by mid-season. One bright
spot is second-year man Bryan
Harvey, who had 17 saves with a
2.13 ERA.
Brian Downing (25 HR's),
Chili Davis (21 HR's), and Tony
Arenas (13 HR's) provide what
little punch there is to the Angel
order. Lance Parrish, who returns
to the AL after two seasons with
Philly, should add to that power.
(7) Seattle Mariners. The
joke on the coast, with new
manager Jim Lefebvre, has little
to offer to baseball this year.
Mark Langston (235
strikeouts) was the only Mariner
to crack the ten win, plataeu last
year. The only other bright spot
is free-agent reliever Tom
Niedenfuer, who comes from
Baltimore with 18 saves.
A good example of how low
the Mariners have gone is there
high hopes for Darnell Coles,
who they think will have a 90-rbi
season. While this may be
possible, it will be difficult
without any runners on base.