European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 30, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday March 30, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 19 baseball 69 Mph jays for in hot race Down division Ben Walker a baseball Wriler the american league East in t so hot anymore. Gone arc the great teams Boston won last year with Only 89 victories the fewest Ever in a full season for an Aleal arc same big names too. Eddie Murray. Bruce Hurst. Julio Franco Jack Clark Wall Terrell Claudel Washington and Willie Randolph All left weakening what once was far and away baseball s Best division. It used lobe that you went into inc season knowing it would take 100 Milwaukee s Paul Monitor said. A was t fair when you saw what it look to we other divisions. Now you know if you win 90 games you be got a .-.-. .".-.". If the Al East in t As Strong Overall parity has made the Pennant race even better no team has repealed As Champion since the Yankees in 19so-Bi. Not a bad Trade off. -. V Boston. Detroit. Milwaukee Toronto and new York each had a Chance to win last year. The Yankees wound up in fifth place Only 3 i games behind the red Sot. The same five teams should be bunched again. This time a series of injuries to other clubs should put Toronto in position to win. The tigers will find another Way to stay close Fol Lowed by Milwaukee Boston new York Cleveland and Baltimore. 1. Toronto big Ejdys general manager Pat Gilck nicknamed stand has not made a major Trade since getting Mike Flanagan on aug. 31,1987. If the Blue jays Don t go far this season it will be the last time the learn stays intact Ilasi Cally. It s the same Bunch thai has won Al least 86 games for six straight years Only Detroit new York m Els have Wii More. Manager Jimy Williams won last Spring s Power struggle with George Bell but Bell s production dropped .269, 24 Home runs 97 runs balled i Jesse Barfield 15 or and new Mcadoff hitter Lloyd mos by 31 stolen bases will join Bell in the Outfield each is 29, born within two weeks of each other. Tony pc Mandy .287,4l doubles is a three time Gold Glove Winner at shortstop and Fred Mcgriffe 34 Home runs established him Al arc Basc. Kelly Grubor 8l Rols is solid Ai third base but second base remains weak. Free agent Bob Brenly will platoon with Pat Borders f.273 at Catcher. The Bench needs improvement. Toronto Pinch hitters balled a franchise Low ,202 last year the Blue jays led the league with 17 shutouts and pitching As usual will determine what happens. Dave slice 16-8 came within one strike of no hit lers in his final two starts. Left handers Jimmy key 12-5 despite Elbow trouble Flanagan 13-13 and Jeff Mussel Nian 4-1 also arc in the rotation. John cd Ami 0.98 earned run average after the All Star break May fill in for departed free agent Jim Clancy. Tom Hon pc converted 25 of 29 save opportunities. Duane Ward 9-3. 15 saves and inconsistent Mark Eichhorn 0-3j Are the Middle inning relievers. Toronto won 22 of its final 29 games and finished two games behind Stolon. This year the Blue jays Hope the old gang in a new location the skip orc opens june 5 can bring the first world series to Canada 2. Detroit tigers Sparky Anderson is a great manager. How else can he keep inc tigers close with Patchwork lineups Detroit was in first Pacela Raugust bul injuries to atan Trammll Lou Owhi Laker and Jeff Robinson led to a 4-19 skid that ended its Chance of win Ning Trammel .31.1 and who talc .275 again Are in the Middle i seems like they be been there forever but both Are Only 31. Keith Moreland and Chris Brown acquired from san Diego for Terrell should help with offence at the Corners. Robinson held opponents to a il97 batting average lowest among Al starters and was i3-6, he seems to have recovered from circulation problems that finished him six weeks Early Jack Morris 15-13 is still1. The lop Winner of inc decade and Frank Talaria and. Doyle Alexander each won 14 games. Mike Hunneman 9-6,22 saves 1.98 is the Best m the bullpen Fred Lynn 25 or at age 36gold Glove Winner Gary fetus and Chet lemon64, Rols form Alt out Field comprised of three Center fielders. 3. Milwaukee Brewers everyone was picking the Brewers this year until injuries to Ted Higuera and Juan Nieves wrecked a pitching staff thai lost the league s Era title to Oak Al East preview land on the Una Day of the season. Bill Wegman 13-13mike Birkbeck 10-8 and Don August 13-7 must like Over while Tigu Cra 16-8, 2.45 and Nievew 7- heal. ,. The Brewers bullpen was the most effective in the majors converting 51 of 58 saves opportunities. Dan Plesac 30 saves Chuck Crim Al Hidi 70 games and Paul Mirabella 1.65 Era stranding 35 of 42 inherited runners were the reasons for the Strong Relief show no. Robin Vount .306, 91 Bis 22 so at age 33 is on track for 3,000 career hits and possible election to the Hall of Fame. Molitor .312 and Rob Deer 21h r might get help from Rookie shortstop Gary Sheffield 28 us 119 Rols in the minors. Sheffield a Nephew of Dwight Guclen is the Best product of a minor to ague system that had a cumulative .553 winning percentage second Best in the majors to los Angelewis i. 4, Boston red sox sure manager Joe Myrtan and Boston overcame a nine game deficit at the All slur break and Wun the Impi Sion. But the red so a Cal 27-30 after aug. 4, got swept by Oakland in inc playoffs and lost Hurst to free Agency. Therefore Morgan s Miracle might be Hurd to duplicate especially with the off Lac Field problems thai As sure to linger All season. " Roger Clemens is-12. 2.93 Era decided to Itury for three More years but ups l fans with remarks Hal May have been misconstrued. Mike Bod Dieker l3-t5oil can Boyd 9-7 with Arm trouble and newly at quire John Dopson 3-11. 3.04 Era with Montreal must make up for Hurst s 18"victories. 29 saves will Benefit from inc addition of Rob Murph 76 games 3.08 Era acquired with Nick Esasky from Cincinnati for Todd and Jeff Sellers. The red sox led the majors with a .283 batting average and 813 runs but were 1 ply with Only. 124 Home runs even while playing half their games Al Friendly Yuwa Park. Batting coach Walt Contact has been replaced by Power oriented Richie 1 Lebner. Wade Boggs .356 lifetime won his fifth batting title including four straight and led the majors with a ,47d on base average he swung at 1.032 pitches and missed Only 32 he also batted .520 when lilt1 count reached 3-1. Boggs can somehow Block out distractions bul the rest of the team cannot avoid the Margo Adams mess. Mike Greenwell .325,22 or 119 Rols. Dwight Evans .293. 21 or 111 rats and Elk bunks .294, a hr.92 Bis make the most offensive us Ifield in baseball and Jim Rice 72 Rols was a productive do Al 36. 5. New York Yankees will big changes at Yankee stadium bring b in Success probably not because the new pitching staff in l any. Better than the old one that ranked 12lh with a 4.24 Era and allowed a major league High 157 Home runs. Under new manager Dallas Green and an All new coaching staff pitchers Andy Hawkins 14-11 and " have lat Pink 14-13 were signed As free agents Pili ers Jimmy Jones 9-14 and Lance Mccullers 10 saves were acquired from san Diego for Clark Rick Rhoden is gone John c Andelaria is Hurt and Oren is starting 46-year-old Tommy John on opening Day free agent Steve Sas 277, 42 so and Rickey Hen Derson Jos 93 so Gyc Green league slyly players he likes but without dark 27 or
