by Greg Akagi
At 32-28, the Atlanta Braves are off to their best start in their short history. In year three of their five-year plan for playoff contention, the Braves have been getting excellent starting pitching and clutch hitting.
"What people don't realize is that we were a better team than how we played last year," explains captain Charlie Gehringer. "I had a poor season, and played with an injury. Campy also sustained a torn ACL midway through last year."
If you had to pick an ace of the staff, you really couldn't find one. Hoyt is pitching well, along with Mullin and Phoebus. Tom pitched the first no-hitter in Braves history, coming very cloose to a perfect game. One walk ruined that chance.
If the Braves can keep playing .600 ball, their chances at a division title will be good. "It's a tough division, someone's going to be disappointed this year -- even though they had a great season," stated Manager Bobby Cox. Hopefully this season will be the start of a string of dominant teams.
by Charles Hodges
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - After making some bold personnel decisions in the spring - topped off by a blockbuster deal sending legend Joltin' Joe DiMaggio to the Mets - Texas Rangers' GM Charles Hodges says he is disappointed the club has stumbled so badly out of the blocks in its inagural season. As a result, the team has made several trades in the last week that have seen several big-name stars shipped out of Arlington and several new hopefuls - plus two #1 rookie draft picks - brought in.
"Had we stuck to our original plan to draft Joe and build our team around him for 3-4 years down the road, we would understand why we're in the cellar," he said. "However, the trades we made to bring in Berra, Rogell, Baerga, Blue and Marichal, plus our deft drafting of players such as Selkirk, Russo, Lanier and others, gave us and our fans hope that we might be competitive in year one. It simply hasn't worked out that way. If there's anyone to blame for this mess, the buck stops at the GMs office."
One of the biggest disappointments has been starting pitcher Max Lanier selected first in the expansion draft. Despite a 1.90 ERA import season for Lanier, he has continued to underperform in this SIM with a 2-5 record and a 4.25 ERA, proving once and for all why he was left unprotected. The only real bright spots on the pitching staff have been Marichal and Blue, both of whom are sporting ERAs in the 2s, despite a combined 4-7 record. Blue, however, has been shipped back to his old team, the Cubs, along with the scrappy defensive shortstop Billy Rogell. In exchange, the Cubs sent the Rangers the speedy, but error-prone SS Donie Bush and dynamo pitcher Ed Willett (2.33 ERA, 293 innings), who was expendible on a staff that includes such workhorses as Wynn, Carlton, Ruffing and Holtzman. Willett combines with Marichal and Lanier to give the Rangers a solid core of starting pitchers for future seasons. Pitching will be at a premium, because the team's anemic offense has only scored 116 runs (13th in the league) while the defense has allowed 157 runs (10th in the league).
Hodges said two other recent trades may be the sign of more to come as the Rangers look to add depth to its pitching staff, pop to its lineup, and future draft picks. The team just added left-handed power and outfield defense in the form of Reggie Jackson (look out Home Run Porch!), starting, if not stellar, starting pitching in Preacher Roe, and the Cardnals' #1 rookie draft pick. However, the price was high, with reliever Russo, 2nd baseman Baerga and OF Henderson moving to St. Louis.
Another move sent LF/Catcher Yogi Berra, a fan favorite, to the Astros in return for that team's #1 rookie draft pick. Combined with the Rangers' own pick, the team will have three #1s in the upcoming rookie draft. However, it remains to be seen if the two #1s picked up in trade will be worth more than Manager Joe McCarthy's used up chaw at the end of the season.
A summary of the Rangers moves:
GOODBYE:
HELLO:
"We appreciate our fans' support of the team, despite the hard times," Hodges said. "One thing should be clear to the entire league by now: we'll continue to try and make moves that will improve our team now and in the future."
by Terry Pair
ST. LOUIS SHUFFLES CARDS; REGGIE LEAVES CANDY BARS
Determined to make one more run at the championship before seriously rebuilding, Cardinals GM Terry Pair summoned Whitey Herzog into his cubicle, turned up the radio to cover their conversation and gave his manager his marching orders. The team was only three games out of first and the GM felt the time was ripe to go for it.
"Beef up the bullpen. Beef up the infield. Do it now or I'll start trading off your fishing buddies." To which the feisty tow-headed dugout general said, "And what the hell to you think I've been saying to you all year? Huh?"
Within hours, Herzog pulled what may be the first of multiple moves. In a deal with the expansion Texas Rangers, the Cardinals picked up a long sought left handed relief specialist in Marius Russo, a quality second baseman in Carlos Baerga and a solid outfielder in Dave Henderson. In exchange, St. Louis gave up starter Preacher Roe, slugger Reggie Jackson, andtheir first round pick in the next rookie draft.
"This lets me move Dykes back to short every day and it takes all the excuses away from our bullpen." Herzog said in a locker room interview. "You hear that, BIlly?" This was clearly a reference to the fabulously underperforming pitcher BIlly Pierce.
"But I've got to tell you, Henderson is my favorite out of the bunch," he added. Why? "Because I can pronounce his name!"
GM Pair was reportedly shaken by the news, as Reggie has been a personal pal around favorite. Insiders say he gave Jackson a teary farewell. When we walked back to his cubicle, he discovered a whole box full of Reggie candy bars the rightfielder had left for him. Staffers say he was heard sobbing, "I don't care if they're thirty years old, they're from Reggie."
Herzog claims he has tried the old candy bars as fishing bait with good results. "Big mouth especially like 'em," he says.
by Brian Simpson
Mariners got off to a slow start. Willie Mays was in a slump batting second in the lineup and a shakeup was needed. The shakeup took place in the lineup card and not with the team chemistry.
Willie happily moved to fourth in the lineup but the team was still sputtering. In the third week of the season it was time to move Alou to the fifth slot. The switch with Elston Howard in the sixth slot seemed to make a difference.
Howard, now after 50 games is leading the team in RBI with 34 with Alou and Greenberg tied with 29. Mays moving to the cleanup spot has 25 with 11 homers and that is a big improvement for the team.
Now the team has the best record in the league and Mike Cuellar and Nelson Briles are leading the way again in the pitching department after two great years before this season.
The reason the Mariners are winning now is hitting and pitching. Can't ask for more than that. Hits #2, doubles #1, triples #3, home runs #3, rbi #2, batting average #1, and slugging #1.
The biggest challenge in the West will be the Dodgers and Cardinals. The Dodgers have done very well in their division so the Mariners will have to stay sharp for the rest of the season.
Will Joe DiMaggio make a difference in the West? If you ask Seattle manager Sparky Anderson he will tell you how wonderful Joe is and that he will make the difference between winning and losing.