The Mets played some good baseball for much of last year, and tried to improve a shellshocked bullpen in a questionable trade with the Cubs. The additions of LHPs Al Leiter (4.34) and Dennis Cook (both courtesy Marlins) and RHPs John Hudek and Masato Yoshii this offseason give them some needed pitching depth, but they’re still lacking a bonafide ace. C Todd Hundley and RHP Jason Isringhausen are likely out for the season, and LHP Bill Pulsipher and RHP Paul Wilson battle to overcome injuries. The infield is intact, with 1B John Olerud (22/102/.294), 3B Edgardo Alfonzo (10/72/.315), 2B Carlos Baerga (.281), and SS Rey Ordonez all returning. The outfield is LF Bernard Gilkey (18/78/.249), CF Brian McRae (.248), and RF Butch Huskey (24/81/.287). If Gilkey returns to his ‘96 numbers and Huskey steps it up, this team can overcome the loss of Hundley. Manager Bobby Valentine would like to have this team competing for a wild card slot, but injuries may determine the fate of the Mets in 1998.
Florida Marlins: I’m not going to waste your time here. There are still some good ballplayers on this “club”, but who the hell cares?
THE AL EAST
The defending champion Baltimore Orioles dumped manager Davey Johnson and lost LHP Randy Myers to the Toronto Blue Jays, but acquired DH Joe Carter and 2B Ozzie Guillen.
The wildcard Yanks got 2B Chuck Knoblauch and DH Chili Davis, said goodbye to 1B Cecil Fielder, RHP Doc Gooden (Cleveland), and 3B Wade Boggs (Tampa Bay Devil Rays). The lineup, especially 1-5, will be explosive, but the pitching has some question marks. Can RHP David Cone rebound from injury to join Andy Pettitte as another ace? Will the acquisitions of Hideki Irabu and "El Duque" Hernandez, once considered to be Cuba's finest pitcher, pan out? Doesn't really matter, I suppose . . . Big Stein has a fat wallet and isn't afraid to use it.
And the Red Sox, re-entering the Big Market Arena, tie up NL Cy Young winner RHP Pedro Martinez to lead their staff for 6-7 years, and RHP Dennis Eckersley to shore up the bullpen for 1-2. LF Wil Cordero’s been banished. 2B Jeff Frye, the starting second baseman is out for the season with a knee injury. There are many questions, though. Will 1B Mo Vaughn sign? Will RHP Bret Saberhagen and/or RHP Steve Avery pitch? Will highly touted rookie RHP Brian Rose live up to his promise? The bullpen is much stronger, and they have an ace pitcher, so there is some hope in Beantown.
Toronto Blue Jays: RHPs Roger Clemens and
(July 6, 1998, Boston) Well folks, here we are at the All-Star break, the historical halfway point in the baseball season. Each team has played in the vicinity of 86-88 long games (actually they’ve been a tad shorter this year) and now look forward to charging toward the playoffs or dumping salaries. The defending champion Florida Marlins will be doing neither ... but on to the upside ...
(July 6, 1998, Boston) The best records at this point are the Yankees (on a record pace with a 61-20 record, a blistering .753 winning percentage), the Braves (.670), the surprising (?) San Diego Padres (.648), the Red Sox (.612), the Houston Astros (.609), the Indians (leading the Central division with .588), the SF Giants (at .584), and the Anaheim Angels (.570).
The AL fared better quite a bit better in interleague competition
this year, going 114-110 (last year the Senior Circuit dominated 117-97).
(July 6, 1998, Boston) As many predicted, the Roger Maris single season homerun record is indeed in jeopardy. A half dozen others hit the break in the mid-twenties, so we are indeed playing rabbit-ball this year as the pitching is further diluted due to expansion. Leading the assault are:
Other records are being threatened as well ... Earl (the Pearl) Webb’s record of 67 doubles in 1931 could fall to Brad Fullmer of the Expos (who has 34) or Cleveland’s Jim Thome (with 29).
Juan Gonzalez has an incredible 101 RBI at the break, and Mark McGwire has 87 - the major league record of 190 belongs to Hack Wilson and the AL record of 184 belongs to Lou (the Iron Horse) Gehrig.
(Boston, August 28, 1998) As the record-smashing 1998 season blows by the 140 game mark, the Houston Astros and their acquisition of Randy (The Big Unit) Johnson have put a shine on the playoff picture and respect (read FEAR) in the hearts of their opponents. Johnson is now 7-1 with a 1.00 ERA, 85 strikeouts (giving him 298 for the year) and four straight shutouts at the Dome.
“See You in September” is playing on the radio. But for many major league ballclubs (about 90 at last count), it is a bittersweet melody. The Dog Days done come and gone, and
the NL Wildcard and AL West are the only bones of contention.
The New York Yankees, who clinched a playoff birth about April 25th, received a wakeup call from Jim Edmunds and the Anaheim Angels, who became the only club to take the season series from these record chasing bastids. The Angels threw some good arms at the Boston Red Sox early on, so must be taken seriously in the Tournament. The Texas Rangers, stumbling of late, are also in the hunt. The defending Cleveland Indians are the Central entry, and round out a talented playoff contingent.
As for the Senior Circuit, the Atlanta Braves (natch), are the favorites, Randy Johnson’s Houston Astros are perhaps the most intriguing, and the San Diego Padres the most consistant. And the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants battle for the Wildcard. All NL enties have an Achilles’ Heel, even the mighty Braves, with a suspect bullpen. But, as we’ve seen time and again, hot bats, possessed pitchers, and big balls win championships.
Mark McGwire lumbers on, Sammy Sosa earns his big paycheck . . . anything else you’re not aware of?
NL: Maddux (#5 - ‘nuff said) Teammates Tom Glavine and John Smoltz are almost within striking distance, as is Padre master Kevin Brown.
The Junior Circuit player of the year (again, with a month remaining) is A - Rod, Alex Rodriguez, the next (?) 40-40 stud, leader in half a dozen offensive catagories, and shortstop extraordinaire. An MVP list would have to include Juan Gonzalez and Junior Griffey, but where would the Red Sox be without Nomar Garciaparra or Mo Vaughn? Or the Yanks minus Derek Jeter or Bernie Williams? Well, we saw the Yankees experience those injuries and much more, and continue to prevail. Nomar's got my early ballot. You make the call!
(Boston, September 8, 1998) Mark McGwire has done it. A linedrive rocket over the leftfield fence (at 341 feet his shortest of the season) puts him in the record books. The classic and classy McGwire, who almost missed first in the excitement, celebrated his achievement by climbing into the stands and paying tribute to the kin of Roger Maris.
World Champions: New York Yankees (AL, 125 total wins, Championship #24 and counting)
NL BATTING: Larry Walker (.363)
NL HR: Mark McGwire (70)
NL MVP: Sammy Sosa (66/158/.308/416 total bases)
NL CY YOUNG: Tom Glavine (Cy #2 for the Pride of Billerica)
NL ROOKIE: Kerry Wood (13-6/ 3.40/ 233 k)
At the All-Star Break
Roger Maris . . . Hack Wilson . . . . . Earl Webb???
Shortstop Phenom Roundup
(July 6, 1998, Boston) Omar Vizquel and Barry Larkin are probably the best right now, but not for long. In 10 years we may talk of sending any or all of these hombres to the Hall of Fame.
hr rbi ave.
Alex Rodriguez 27 70 .310
Nomar Garciaparra 13 56 .318
Derek Jeter 10 42 .316
The Final Stretch
Cy Young Chase Preview
(Boston, August 28, 1998) Defender Rocket Roger Clemens (going for #5) is battling last years NL Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez, with Yankee aces David Cone and David Wells a stones throw behind (going into September).
MVP Preview
(Boston, August 28, 1998) Too close to call - if McGwire gets the record, does he get it? Sosa is the one keeping his team in the race . . . and where would the Padres be without (Mo’s cousin) Greg Vaughn? And there’s no doubt in my mind that the emergence of Kerry Wood has put the Cubbies into contention. I suppose it depends on your interpretation. The player of the year (with a month remaining) is Sammy Sosa.
1998: The Final Tally
NL Champs: San Diego Padres (gutsy playoff performance vs. both the Astros and Braves, but spanked by the Yanks.)
AL BATTING: Bernie Williams (.339)
AL HR: Junior Griffey (56) (again...)
AL MVP: Juan Gonzalez (45/157/.318)
AL CY YOUNG: Roger Clemens (Cy #5 and pitching's triple crown for the second straight year)
AL ROOKIE: Ben Grieve (18/89/.288)
