European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 7, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday april 7,1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 23 baseball �?T90 Ian a outrun a Well armed Bunch by Ben Walker a baseball writer finally after All those years of wondering whether the american league West would catch up with the East there is no More debate. The West by far is the Best. Look at the hitters a Ruben Sierra Kirby Puckett Jose Canseco and Alvin Davis. Younger stronger and faster than anyone anywhere. Look at the pitchers a Dave Stewart Bret Saberhagen Dennis Eckersley and Nolan Ryan. And now Mark Langston and Mark Davis too. Look at the teams a Oakland California and Kansas City. Each won at least 90 times More than any East club. Combined the West teams won 587 Jmmes last season the divisions Best showing since Oakland dominated the Early 1970s. Last year also represented an Overall 22-game improvement by the West a trend that was in the making for years. Can it continue maybe. Can Oakland become the first team to win three straight division titles since Kansas City the new York Yankees and Philadelphia each did it from 1976-78? probably. The athletics have the Talent certainly. They also have the attitude. Starting in Spring training the players wore to shirts reminding themselves a Contentment stinks. Stay  chances Are  do it with Kansas City California Minnesota Texas Seattle and Chicago chasing until they drop one by one. 1. Oakland athletics the a sled the majors with 99 victories and they re better this season even with storm Davis Dave Parker and Tony Phillips gone. Why because the three free agents they lost can be replaced. And because Oakland can pitch. And most importantly because the athletics have Rickey Henderson and Jose Canseco from the Start. Al West preview 1989 record 99-63,1st Outlook Dave Parker s presence in the clubhouse will be missed. But Jose Canseco will be in the lineup from opening Day and a healthy Scott Sanderson should make up most of storm Davis wins. Key Stab the a s were the first team to Lead the Al in Era in successive seasons since Baltimore 1972-73. Key arrivals Pitcher Scott Sanderson infielder Jamie quirk. Key departures pitchers Davis and Matt Young do Dave Parker infielder Tony Phillips. Any doubts about Hen Dersons ability a did anyone Ever really wonder a were answered in the postseason. He a that great especially at Home in Oakland. Only one question this year for the Man with the Green glow batting gloves will he get the 68 stolen bases he needs to break Lou Brocks All time record of 938? Canseco 17 Home runs 57 Bis in 65 games predicts he might someday become a 50-50 Man. If he a healthy and he is now he might be. Carney Lansford .336mark Mcgwire 33 or 95 Bis and Dave Henderson 80 Bis provide punch. So can designated hitter Ken Phelps who will try to duplicate Parker a 97 Bis. Oakland a 3.09 earned run average was the Best in the Al since new Yorkus 2.90 in stake split 1981. The Ace is world series map Dave Stewart 21-9trying to become the first Pitcher to win 20 games in four straight years since Jim Palmer in 1975-78. Mike Moore 19-11 finally was rewarded for All those Tough times in Seattle. Bob Welch 17-8, 3.00 Era did no to even get to pitch in the world series. Dennis Eckersley a 1.56 Era and 33 saves were excellent his 55 strikeouts with Only three walks might be the Best a a ratio Ever. 2. Kansas City royals the royals bought every free agent named Davis too bad Kansas City can to buy runs when it needs them. I Jan a Davis 44 saves ,1.85 Era in san Diego joins Bret Saberhagen 236, 2.16 Era to make the royals the first team Ever 1� season with both by Young winners. Storm Davis will miss Oakland a offence particularly if the royals again 1989 record 92-70,2nd Outlook of the royals can pitch. But they still Don t score. Kansas City s 690 runs ranked 11th in the league and Gerald Perry was the Only Winter addition who might help. Key Stab the royals were shut out a major league High 18 times last season. Key arrivals reliever Mark Davis Pitcher storm Davis Pitcher Richard Dotson first Aseman Gerald Perry. Key departure Pitcher Floyd Bannister Japan Pitcher Charlie Leibrandt. Are shut out a major league leading 18 times. Mark non 1cla/. I 4 Era could be sued for non sup Mth stretch e to a Gordon i7"9�?T 3 64 Era fade it i can Patch. But they still done to score Kansas City s 690 runs ranked 11th in the league. A a full season of Rickey Henderson should Point world series Champion Oakland in the right direction again. George Brett .282, 12 or 80 Bis turns 37 in May. To Jackson 32 or 105 rib 26 so slumped after his Mammoth Home run in the All Star game and struck out 172 times. Jim Eisenreich .293kevin Seitzer .281danny Tartabull 18 hrs and ageless Bob Boone .274 can hit although not nearly like Oakland a lineup. Gerald Perry acquired from Atlanta for Charlie Leibrandt hit .300 two years ago but went 120 at bats without an rib last season. 3. California Angels a lot like Kansas City California has plenty of arms. The Angels pitching kept them ahead of Oakland until late August. Mark Langston 16-14 should fit Well in Anaheim. Bert Blyleven 175,2.73 is Strong at 39 and Kirk Mccaskill 15-10, 2.93 bounced Back. Rookie Chuck Finley 16-9 made the All Star team and then got Hurt. Jim Abbott was one of baseball a Bright spots in a dark season. His stats were average a 12-12, 3.92 Era 1989 record 91 -71.3rd Outlook the Angels pitching is the Best in the Al. But the age Factor could be a problem. Key Stab Catcher Lance Parrish threw out Only 28 of 102 would be base steamers. Key arrival pitchers Mark Langston. Mike Smithson. Scott Bailes. Kay departure none. 1989 record 80-02, 5th Outlook while the twins should score runs their pitching Statt does t really have a stopper in the starting rotation or bullpen key Stab the twins ranked last in the Al West with a 4 23 Era key arrivals Pitcher Rich Yett do Jim Dwyer. Key departures infielder Wally Backman reliever Jeff Reardon. Line drive hitter and Brian Downing .283jack How ii 20 hrs and Claudell Washington .273 help some. But the Angels ranked right below Kansas City in scoring even though they led the league with 145 Home runs. 4. Minnesota twins the twins slipped Back below .500 and might stay there no matter How great Kirby Puckett plays. Puckett .339, 85 Bis 45 doubles became the alas first right handed batting Champion in a full season since Alex Johnson in 1970. Hometown hero Kent Hrbek 25 hrs got even More popular when he turned Down More Money from other teams to stay at Home. Rick Aguilera David West and Kevin Tapani join a rotation where Only Allan Anderson 17-10 is established. With Jeff Reardon gone Juan Berenguer a three saves were the most of anyone left. Gary Gaetti 19 hrs is a Gold Glove third baseman shortstop Greg Gagne .272 is smooth and Brian Harper .325, 57 Bis excelled As a platoon Catcher. Dan Gladden hit .295, but does no to walk enough 23 in 461 at bats for a Ica Doft Man. 5. Texas rangers 1989 record 83-79 Outlook the rangers will be hard pressed to stay with the a a royals and Angels. Their Only Chance is to come up with some unexpected pitching. Key Stab the rangers made 136 errors last season and turned the fewest double plays in the Al 137. Key arrivals outfielder Gary Pettis. Key departures none with 5.5 strikeouts per game. Bryan Harvey got 25 saves despite a 3.44 Era. And Bob Mcclure 6-1, 1.55 Era was a pleasant Surprise. Scott Bailes 5-9 in Cleveland and Mike Smithson 7-14 in Boston Are newcomers. Chili Davis 22 or 90 Bis led the Angels in both categories. Wally Joyner .282, 16 or is a consistent Ruben Sierra .306, 29 hrs league leading 119 Bis is the Best and the brightest and Only 24 because the stable of Young pitchers Texas was raising has not developed As Well As expected. Kevin Brown 12-9, 3.35 is the Best. Still the main Man is Nolan Ryan 16-10, 3.20 Era. At age 42, he moved 11 victories away from no. 300, reached 5,000 career strikeouts and became the first Al Pitcher to fan 300 batters in a season since he did it in 1977. He held opponents to a. 187 batting average lowest in the majors. Julio Franco .316, 92 Bis Harold Baines .309 with Texas and Chicago and Rafael Palmeiro .275, 64 Bis added offence last year. Nothing new this season. 6. Seattle mariners the biggest changes in the Winter came at the Homer Haven kingdom where the fences were moved Back a few feet in left Field and pulled in a bit in right. On the Field Seattle surprisingly outbid several teams for free agent Pete of Brien .259, 12 hrs first baseman with Little Power. Rookie Ken Griffey or. .264, 16 hrs 61 Bis played Well and Harold Reynolds hit .300. Again Alv n Davis was Superb .305, 21 hrs 95 Bis 101 walks. 7. Chicago White sox the White sox won Only 69 games their fewest since 1976, and without any new blood their last season at Comiskey Park May not show much improvement. Melido Perez 11-14, 5.01 Era was the Ace. Bobby Thigpen 34 saves preserved nearly half of Chicago a victories. The offence got a lot better under hitting coach Walt Hriniak. The White sox jumped from .244 and 631 runs in 1988 to .271 and 693 runs last season. Carlton Fisk led the regulars at .293, and Ron Kittle Carlos Martinez and Lance Johnson each hit .300. Ivan Calderon hit 14 of the teams league Low 94 homers. 1989 record 73-89. 6th Outlook Seattle did improve live games in manager Jim Lefebvre s first year to 73-89. That though made it 13 straight losing seasons since expansion. Key Stab the mariners were 47-47 on july 20 and 26-42 Tho rest of the season including a 12-Qamo losing Streak key arrivals first baseman Pete o Brien Pitcher Matt Young. Key departures third baseman Jim Presley 1989 record 69-92. 7th out took the White sox won Only 69 games their fewest since 19/6. And without any new blood their last season at Comiskey Park May not show much improvement. Rookie Robin Ventura an All America hitter in College might make his Mark this year in his second pro season. Key Stab of the 30 teams in baseball history that had a one season batting average in crease at least As Large As Chicago s 27 Points Only tour others had a decline in Home runs. Key arrivals infielder Tracy Woodson. Key departure Pitcher Richard Dotson