European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 3, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 the stars and stripes Friday april 3. 1987 baseball 87 mets pitching Means Only race is for 2nd place b Ben  Al  the Only Nice in the National league East this season is fur second place. If any world series Champion is Cap a he of broking us repeat Jinx and win Nin Guoin. It s the no York mets. They is ill have the Busl pitching even minus Wight Gooden drugs and Roger Mcdowell surgery in the majors. Thai is where you have id look when you talk about winning pennants manager Darcy Johnson says. And they have added Kevin Mcreynolds to the most Oieni offence in the league. The mets also possess something that often escapes world series winners the following Mason a hunger 10 keep winning the mils arc inc most hated team in baseball. Their Confidence and cockiness produce an endless Stream of curtain Calls High fives and scrapes All glorified on highlight videos flashed across the Shea stadium scoreboard Between innings. It also produced a team hat took Over first place on april 21. Went on to win ids ones and ten Lii rest of the no East behind in a Cloud of dust Back 21 games inc largest margin since divisional play started in l%9. The Philadelphia chillies improved finally signing free Anent Catcher Lance Parrish and so did the St. Louis Cardi nals acquiring Catcher Tony Pena. But the Phillies Lite inc cardinals who we no fall after winning the world series must rely on shaky pitching. There will be one other race in the no Easl this season the race for last place. The candidates Are Montreal Chicago and Pittsburgh. In i. It looks like new York Phila Delphia. Is. Louis. Montreal Pittsburgh Chicago. New York mets the mets continue to have More Trou ble off the Field than on prompting Gen eral manager Frank Cashen to write his players during inc Winter and Tell them la Cool it go Odin. Involved in a scuffle with Tampa police in december is being Irea cd Tor cocaine use Ron Darling Ana Tim Teufel were placed on one year s probation for their pan in a fight with Houston police Gary Carter s name was connected to an alleged Vitamin scheme and Parry Strawberry s marital prob lems hit the papers. How will this affect the mets it might reinforce their us is. Everyone else syndrome and make them even better. The Meis big four of Bobby Ojeda 18-5. 1.57 earned rim average Goodwn 17-6, 2.84 in an inconsistent season. Darling Li-6, 2.si and Sid Fernandez 16-6. 3.52 Are Buck although it s too soon to Tell How serious Gooden s drug problem is. Rick Aguilera Mil Siep into the rotation and Mcdowell 14-9. 22 saves and Jesse Orozco 8-6, 2 saves form a righty lefty bullpen least although Mcdowell May be out until june because of a hernia pc noun. In avid Cone obtained from Kansas City or Doug silk May fill in fur Mcdowell and the mels acquired inc Waller St games for Middle Relief. Keith  .310. S3 Rol spark plugs Wall Dackman and Lenny Dykstra the to called Wanny Back no East preview How Mav to finish Sirn combination batted Over .300 with 44 stolen bases. Carter 24 hrs. Ids Rols and Strawberry 27 hrs 93 Rols Power the offence. Philadelphia Phillies Mike Schmidt the 1986 no most valuable player says the Phillies have five map candidates this season himself Parrish von Hayes Juan Samuel and Glenn Wilson. Unfortunately for Phila Delphia none of them is a Pitcher. Give the Phillies credit. When most earns were avoiding High priced free agents Philadelphia identified its biggest need and signed Parrish 22 hrs 62 Rols with Detroit. Hell help Cut the Phillies league leading 23 passed bails and inability to Slop runners from stealing. Schmidt 31 age 37 .290, 37 hrs 119 Roshad acc a saying this would be his final season but now says he won t de cide until sept. I. The decision will de Pend on How Well his Knees and the Phil lies do. Hayes .305, 19 hrs 98 Rols Wil son 15 hrs 84 Rols and Samuel 16 hrs 7s Rols 42 stolen bases can hit and so can Mike easier a .300 Hitler. The Phillies got do easier from the new York Yankees for Charles Hudson and Hope he can get More balls in left Field than gel him. A but pitching. The Phillies ranked seventh in the league and even invited former Ace Steve Carlton to Camp hop ing he could help. He could t. St. Louis cardinals in 1985, St. Louis streaked around the bases bragging that Speed never  last season the cards discovered that you can t steal first base. Willie Mcgee Tommy Herr vines Coltman and Jack Clark struggled As St Louis Sank to 79412, my acc the 1985 no map when he balled .353 with 56 stolen bases faded to .256 with 19 steals. Herr declined from .302 and 110 Rols 10 .252 with 61 Rojs Coltman dipped from .267 to .232, and Clark was injured for More than half the season. John Tudor 13-7, 2.92 did not get run support Danny co 12-13 needs Marc consistency and 6-foot-6 Rookie Joe Magrane May make the lefty Doni inhaled rotation. Todd Worrell 36 saves. 2.08 was no Rookie of the year but Jeff Lahler pan of St. Louis bullpen by com Mittee in 19b5, has not recovered from Arm problems thai limited him 10 four appearances. Montreal expos the expos once projected a the team of the 1 osos could become the club of the 90s As in 90 or More losses. Andre Dawson and Jeff Reardon Are gone and Tim Raines May leave. The pitching staff is in shambles injuries May Ket a Bryn Smith Charlie Lea heart of the world champions baseball s Best suiting rotation anchors lie mets chances to become the first team to repeal As world series champions since be 1977-78 Yankees. Clockwise from upper led the mels can brow Ron Darling Dob Ojida Sid Fernandez and Dpi fit Goodwn against the rest of the National league and Joe hcs Kolh out of action. Floyd Youmans 13-12 and Cal healon 7. 15acquired from Minnesota for rear Don arc the Only two sure starters Tim Burke 9-7 will iry to make up some of Reardon s 35 saves. Montreal cannot replace free agents Pawson .284, 20 hrs 78 Rol who signed with the cubs and Raines .332, 70 stolen base who is unsigned and said he would not return a stance he has softened. Pittsburgh pirates last season under enthusiastic new manager Jim Leyland. Pittsburgh com piled the Best record in Spring training fueling misguided optimism. When the season started the Arak a int 64-ws, the worst in the majors Pittsburgh May he gelling younger but nol necessarily better. Ace Rick Rhodon 15-12, 2.64 was traded to the Yankees for Brian Fisher Doug Drabick and Logan Easley a Irio of Young pitchers for a Patchwork pitching Shaft anchored by soon to be 38-Ycar-Otd Rickie Richei 9-l6. Chicago cubs since winning the East in i9b4. The cubs have added Dawson and Shawum Dunston to their lineup. So Why is Chi Cago so bad Rick Sut Difate 5-14. Dennis Eckersley 6-11store Trout i-7 and Scott Sand Erson 9-11 were signed to big Money multiyear contracts after 1984. General manager Dallas Green admits that has a mistake. Age has taught up with the cubs run Cey was traded away. And Chicago is looking 10 Deal Gary Matthews 21 mrs. Tomorrow no West