European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 4, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday april 4, 1991the stars and Stripe baseball 91 cubs to shed some baggage spending aimed at halting 83-year drought by Jim Donaghy a baseball writer just think about All the fascinating possibilities if the Chicago cubs win the world series this year. Ernie Banks Billy Williams and Ron Santo could forget about 1969. Night games at Wrigley Field  seem so bad. The bleacher bums could take Lee Elias advice and get a Job. Why George will might even smile. And Here a Why 7 7 the cubs now have former maps George Bell and Andre Dawson in their Outfield along with flashy Jerome Walton. A is there a sweeter combination at first and second than Mark Grace and Ryne Sandberg last season shortstop Sha Wori Dunston finally showed Why the cubs once picked him ahead of Dwight Gooden. Rookie Gary Scott has won a a East first. Defense May be the Metsy biggest weakness Vince Coleman is being asked to play Center Field and Hubie Brooks has never been a Gold Glove candidate in right Kevin Mcreynolds is one of the Best left fielders around but he can Only cover so much ground on two legs. The infield will also provide More offence than defense with. Dave Magadan at first aging Tom Herr at second Howard Johnson at. Shortstop and Gregg Jefferies Amherd base. The pitchers like Catcher Charlie of Briens defense and he has won the Job but it will be hard not to play Mackey a  a i. J u i Sasser at some Point. Sasser who made a hidm3 a 50 a league leading. 14 errors in 87 games was the Only regular Catcher in the major Hole at third base. But the most amazing part of Sandberg a eight year tenure at second base is his Mere 72 errors in 6,634 chances. The Tribune co. Spent $25 million Over the Winter to sign Bell starter Danny Jackson and reliever Dave Smith to move the cubs closer to their first world series title since 1908. Yes it has been83years. A 1. Chicago cubs a i can to wait a manager Don Zimmer said a they did a lot More than i expected. Its going to give us a lift. We have added three Quality players and did no to have to give anything  about the Only thing that could keep the cubs from the top is injuries to the starting rotation. Going into the season Zimmer has pencilled in Greg Maddux Jackson Rick Sutcliffe Mike Harkey Shawn Boskie and Mike Bielecki As his starters but Jackson Sutcliffe Harkey and Boskie Are coming off injuries. 2. New York mets with the loss of Darryl Strawberry a offence the mets were depending on their starting rotation of Dwight Gooden Frank Viola David Cone Sid Fernandez shapes up As Zane Smith John Smiley and Ron Darling for guidance. So much Bob walk and Randy Tomlin or Neal for those . Smith was Brilliant in septem Fernandez is out until at least late Ber but his career suggests it was just a june with a broken ulna Bone in his left hot Streak. Besides he can to pitch against Arm Viola has a Bone Spur in his left the mets every game. _. Elbow and Darling has been better after a Leyland does no to have a closer he can shaky Start in. Spring training following depend on but there a adequate depth in leagues to top .300 on the negative Side the last Catcher to Lead the no in errors in fewer games was Bob Uecker with 11 miscues in 76 games 24 years ago. 3. Pittsburgh pirates it seems unlikely we have heard the last about the pirates and their finances. A manager Tim Leyland has made it known he Wasny to Happy How the front office let first baseman Sid Bream and some of his role players i.e., Wally Back Man . Reynolds Ted Power get away. A a. A a a a a. A a. A a a a  a Bonds is sulking that he a the map and not making More Money. A Bobby Bonilla lost in arbitration and turned Down a Long term Deal he can become a free agent after the season. A by Young Winner Doug Drabek won his request for $3.4 million in arbitration. But that a for Only one year. What will he want for another 20-win season ? Andy Van Slyke perhaps the Best All around Center fielder in the game is watching and wants his millions too. _ despite All the fiscal discussions the pirates chances of repeating depends on their pitching. After Drabek the rotation Elbow surgery. Wally Whitehurst will probably take Fernandez a spot in the rotation but if Viola and Darling arg ineffective the mets will be in big trouble. 4 scoring runs for the mets was not a problem in 1990. Scoring them at the tight time certainly was. The mets were 59-29 in games decided by three runs or More and 32-42 in games decided by one or. Two runs. New York became the first no team since the 1951 Brooklyn dodgers to outscore its opponents by a margin of at least a run per game and not finish the bullpen with Bill Landrum Stan Belinda Bob Kipper and Bob Patterson. Landrum led the pirates with 13 saves but had Only one after the All Star break. The loss of Bream will Hurt on offence and defense. Carmelo Martinez Gary Redus and Orlando Merced will get a Chance. A. 4. Montreal expos a Ait would take subpar performances by some of the other teams in the East but of the dish or on the bag National league Home run King Ryne Sandberg delivers a the expos could win the division if some of their Rookie pitchers come up winners. They Are definitely the team to watch in the �?T90s. After having their pitching staff decimated by free Agency following the 1989 season Bryn Smith Pascual Perez and Mark Langsto most picked the expos to finish last a year ago. Instead they came up with rookies Delino Delhi ekes second base Marquis Grissom Center Field and Larry Walker right Field and finished third at 85-77 the expos traded Tim Raines Over the Winter to the Chicago White sox for rib Man Ivan Calderon who joins first baseman Andres Galarraga and third baseman Tim Wallach in the Middle of the lineup. A a a. Anchored by Dennis Martinez Oil can Boyd and Rookie Mark Gardner the expos Ted the no with a 3.37 Era. The rest of the rotation is untested a Brian Barnes Chris Nabholz and Howard Farmer. The expos have a deep bullpen with Tim Burke 20 saves Barry Jones 11-4steve Frey 8-2, nine saves Bill Sampen 12-7 and Scott Ruskin. 5. Philadelphia Phillies at least the Phillies were consistent in 1990. Philadelphia finished ninth in pitching 4.07 and batting .255. With Len Dykstra von Hayes Dale Murphy Darren Daulton John Kruk and Ricky Jordan in the lineup the phils will score some runs. The problem for manager Nick Leyva is that the Phillies pitchers will give up even More a Many More. The Phillies failed to improve their shaky pitching staff Over the Winter and  a a aces right hander Ken Howell for much of the season following shoulder surgery. Who will Start for the Phillies on opening Day against new York at Shea stadium probably Terry Mulholland. After that the rotation shapes up As Pat Combs Jose Dejesus Jason Grimsley and Tommy Greene. Get the picture 6. St. Louis cardinals the cardinals finished in last place 70-92 for the first time since 1918 and figure to stay there. _ _ before the exhibition season even got started manager Joe Torre Learned Lethander Joe Magrane would he sidelined the of tire season with an Elbow injury. That leaves Jose Deleon 7-19bryn Smith Bob Tewksbury Ken Hill and. At least there a Lee Smith in the bullpen. The cardinals done to have much Power so Torres will run run run. Bernard Gil key and Ray Lankford Are the new version of Coleman and Mcgee a Todd Zeile who was a disappointment at Catcher lust season will replace Terry Pendleton at third and Tom Pagnozzi moves in behind the plate. The cardinals were 40-58 with Zeile catching last season but 28-31 when Pagnozzi played. What Little Power the cardinals do have will come from Oft injured first baseman Pedro Guerrero and right fielder Felix Jose acquired from Oakland last August for Willie Mcgee. St. In it uis hit a major league Low 73 homers last season Only 22 More than Cecil fielder had for Detroit and 12 More than Roger Marisa single season record. Tomorrow National league West