European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 1, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday april 1. 1989 the stars and stripes Page 23 baseball 89 contentious mets should win Battle for repeat Crown Hoji Odonaghy a pm Sehell writer five teams spent Alt Winter try no � catch up 1o new York in the National league East and the acts spent there we rfcs this Spring helping them do it. All is not Well with baseball s most successful earn Over the last five years. In that period the acts have won at least 90 games a year averaging 97. Yet have Only one world series ring to show for it. The mels toughest opponent seems to be themselves. On March 2, in port is. . The uneasy Battle for leadership on the club resulted in an ugly incident on team photo Day when Darryl Strawberry look Aswin Gal Keith Hernandez. The Day resulted in a double negative when Straw Berry walked out of Camp Over a contract dispute. The All Star right fielder came Back but said he would leave new York after his contract expired in 1990. Some mils Are asking to be traded because they Don l play and others arc unhappy because of where they play. I Don t know what to say Catcher Gary Carter said. You Don t want to say . It s like walking on eggshells around the result of the clubhouse tension has been a very lethargic Spring training that has manager Davey Johnson Wor ried. We re making stupid mistakes Johnson said. Our offence is almost tit Mold Are the Best team in he Montreal manager Buck a Odgers Kridl the Oiler clubs just have to stay close and Hope something Hap pens. Something May happen but the mets will probably win anyway. 1. New York mets on offence the mels have very Little Over any team in the no East but hardly any team in baseball can match the Row lion of Dwight Goodwn 18-9, 3.19 Era. Ron Darling 17-9, 3.25david Cone 20-3. 2-22bob Ojida 10-u, 2.88 and Sid Fernandez 1211, -3,03. All five also had 25 starts or More new York led the majors with a team Era of 2.91 and allowed Only 404 walks. Left hander Randy Myers became a dominant Force in the bullpen with 26 saves and a 1.71 Era and right hander. Roger Mcdowell had 16 saves. I Ler hande. Rats cd two months with a Hamsing pull and Carter .242, ii or 46 k11kj Cal 225 at Bals without a Home run. Both Are in the final Cara of their contracts and May not be Back Strawberry f.269. 39 or. 101 this and Kevin no Reynolds 1,288, 27 or 99 Bis earned the offence and will have to again in i9s9. The mils tried to Trade third baseman Howard Johnson .230, 24 or 6� Kwh to make room for Gregg j cil eries at third but were unsuccessful. Jefferies who wants to Plav third will Start the season at second. But where do Tim Teufel Keith Miller and Dave Magadan Plaj neither to Ocie Wilson nor Len d Kitra tikes 10 be Plato Ned in Center and Dijkstra has often asked to be traded. It East preview 2. Montreal expos after challenging the cardinals in 19117. The a ipod slipped last season to 81-81. For a while it seemed they would give the mels a run too but a nine game losing Streak ruined that possibility. Manager Buck Rodgers thinks the addition of right hander Kevin Gross from Philadelphia 12-14 and Slick Fielding Spike Owen at shortstop could make the expos serious contenders again. This team certainty has the Talent and is probably the most balanced club next to new York in the division. Tim Raines .270, ,3.1 stolen Bas Sandres Galarraga c302. 29 or 92 Bis Tim Wallach 12 or 69 Bis and Hubic Brooks .279. 20 or 90 Bis give the Espos a formidable heart of the order. Raines was plagued by injuries and should return to his .330 Pace of 19�7. -. The expos had the third lowest Era in the majors at 3.08 and May be even better this year. Gross joins a rotation of Dennis Martinez 15-13, 2.72hajn Smith 12-10, 3.00. Fi-foot-10 Rookie Randy Johnson 3-0, 2.42 Era and Scott Holman. Pascual Perez 12-8.2.44 is undergoing drug rehab and his playing status is Uncertain. Tim Burke in saves is joined in the bullpen by Joe Hes Kolh and Andy to Gaffigan last season Rodgers got 43 saves from eight different pitchers. 3. Pittsburgh pirates it seems like inc second place pirates arc coming off a super season finished in games behind the mels in their had to head Competition with new York last season the pirates lost 12of 1 beanies. Former. Pm Syd Thrift though the reason was inc Bench so he went out and got outfielders Gary Redus and Glenn Wilion and Tufic Lucr Ken Oberkfell. Management thought he was spending too much and let Thrift go. Thrift will be remembered for making some great deals though. He got outfielder Andy Van Sake .288, 25 or 100 Bis and Catcher Mike Lavasii arc .261,47 Bis from St. Louis and pitchers Doug Drabick 15-7 and Brian Fisher 8-10 from the new York Yankees. Drabick is the no. I starter followed by Bob walk 12-10, 2.711, John Smiley 3-11mike Dunne 7-11 and Fisher. The bucs May have the Best bullpen in the division with Jim got 34 saves Jet Robinson Bob Kipper and neat Heairn. The key to the pirates attack is Barry Bonds .283, 24 or 58 Bis at the top of the order. He gels it going for Van Slyke and third baseman Bobby. Bon Ilia .274.24hr, Loq bus. 4. St. Louis cardinals the cardinals finished 25 games be Hind new York last season but they arc still the team the mets fear most. Per haps with Good reason. Three limes in the 1980s the cards Wen from no champions 10sub .500 the Ocul season. So last year s 76-86 finish must mean big things for St. Louis in 1989 right Well maybe. The cards started 1988 with an obvious Power shortage and. Helped that Ai thi1 Center Nothe Milf Stormy clubhouse is Power source Darryl Straw Hern. Problem Ruby trading for Tom Brunansky 22 or 7v Khz and 1 Edro Guerrero 10 or 65 Bis. Giitl inc cards finished last in the majors in homers with Only 71. Oakland Jose Canseco and Mark Mcgwire combined for 74 homers the top of the cardinals order will have Vinee Coltman is stolen bases Ozie Smith 57 stolen bases and Willie Mcgee 41 stolen bases. Last Wason. Ilic cards stole 234 bases to become the first team since Detroit 1909-15 to steal 200-plus bases in seven consecutive seasons. Third baseman Terry Pendleton .253, 6 or 53.rbis is coming off an injury plagued season and got a late Start in Spring training and Catcher Tony Pena a slipped Quimen Sevdy. The cards everyday lineup compares favourably with but they lose out on the Mound particularly now that Danny con is out season Elbow the rotation figures to have Jose de Leon 13-10, j.47 Kha Greg male cos 4-6joe Magrane 5-9, 2,18 Eraclis Carpenter and Scott Terry. The Relief is Strong with Odd Worrell 32 saves Ken Daulcy and contract Heads a starting rotation of Greg Maddux 18-8, 3.isand the left handed Kilitis. Last year the cubs had 27 blown save opportunities. Williams had 18 saves for Texas but he allowed 6.2 walks per nine innings. Calvin Schiraldi a hard thrower made 27 starts last Seniw Ivul will pitch in Short Relief this year. 6. Philadelphia Phillies at 35, Nick inc y6.ungrst manager in baseball. It s a , because he will need lots of time to build this team into a Winner. In 1988, the Phillies Ink i a last at1 65-96 Bee aus the Pilchik was horrible 10th or worse in Era walks strikeouts saves and Complete games and. With. Out traded top starters Shane raw Ley and Kevin grow the numbers might he even worse this year. The rotation shapes up As in Ruck Ruf Fin Fil i Don Carman 10-141 and new Comers Floyd Youmans 3-6ken How Ell and Steve Untiveros. Pultin who is considered the Ace is having control problems and you mans and Howell arrived at Camp overweight. To make mailers worse Youmans is 1-6 lifetime in april with a 6.30 Era. The bullpen of Steve Bedrosion 28 save Jeff Parrel 12-4 with Montreal und Greg Harris will get Lotsof Woik. Tilt Phillies will have Juan Samuel ,2 8, 12 or 67 Bis new second baseman Tommy Herr and von Hayes at the top of the order followed Mike Schmidt and Ricky Jordan. Jordan came up from the minors at mid season and hit Jos with ii homers and 43 k Bis i n Only i73ai-Bats.Schmidt, coming off rotator cuff sur Gery in t certain he can play third. Dickie Thon ,264 takes Oier for Steve Jeltz at shortstop. The Phil traded Catcher Lance Par Rish and will go with Steve Lake and Darren Daul Toni two Bright prospects Chris Jame 19 or 66 Bis and Ron Jones .290will share time in the Outfield Tomorrah no West
