1992_04 The Daily Collegian April 1992

              Viewpoint
Stuart A Rosenberg
Guest columnist
Faster than you can say Jellobiafra
,this is how I feel the A.L. East and
West will be won.
AX. West
1. Chicago White Sox
The ChiSox are loaded with good
young talent mat has already
produced at the big league level.
Chicago starters all-star Jack
McDowell, Alex Fernandez and
Wilson Alvarez (no-hitter in 1991)
average 23 years of age. Chicago's
bullpen, deep as any in baseball, is
anchored by record holder Bobby
Thigpen who will be setup by Scott
Radinsky, Wayne Edwards and
Donn Pall. Ozzie Guillen at short and
Robin Ventura at third give Chicago
a great left side defensively and
offensively, speedsters Tim Raines
and Lance Johnson patrol the
outfield as well as anyone this side of
Van Slyke, and George Bell (25
homers) is the bomber the ChiSox
were looking for. Frank Thomas (32
homers, 109 RBI's, 318 avg.) is a
legitimate triple crown and MVP
contender. There's no satisfaction in
finishing second every year.
2. Oakland As
Oakland faces an uncertain future
with many of its star players eligible
for free agency at season's end, but
for ndw they are still one of
baseball's best teams. The A's
outfield of Rickey Henderson (105
runs), Dave Henderson (25 homers)
and Jose Canseco (44 homers, 122
RBI's, 115 runs) is the best in
baseball. Harold Baines is the A.L.'s
best designated hitter and first
baseman Mark McGwire took a pay
cut and has worked hard to regain
his stroke. Closer Dennis Eckersley is
still a hitter's nightmare but if the A's
are to seriously compete with
Chicago, Dave Stewart and Bob
Welch must return to dominance.
Tfce A's will give the Sox a run for
their money.
3. Seattle Mar mere
The Mariners are playing with a
stacked deck and finally in front of a
packed house. Erik Hanson, Randy
Johnson and Brian Holman are the
core of one of the league's best
rotations and closer Mike Schooler is
back after an injury-plagued
1991 season. Seattle's offense is potent
with outfielders Ken Griffey Jr. (22
homers, i00 RBI's), Kevin Mitchell
(27 homers), and Jay Buhner (^
Edgar Martinez (98 runs, 307 avg.)
and leadoff man and gold glove
second baseman Harold Reynolds
(95 runs, 25 stolen bases). Big things
are expected of rookie first baseman
Tino Martinez. The Mariners are
serious contenders (really).
4. Texas Rangers
Texas has the most explosive     ^
lineup in baseball. A lineup with
Outfielders Ruben Sierra (25 homers,
116 RBI's, 94 runs, 307 avg.) and
Juan Gonzalez (27 homers, 102
RBI's), first baseman Rafcal Palmeiro
(26 homers, 115 runs, 322 avg.),
second baseman Julio Franco (106
runs, 36 stolen bases, 210 hits, 341
avg.) and designated hitter Kevin
Reimer (20 homers, 69 RBI's) in it can
match up with anybody. Watch for
rookie Monty Fariss and catcher Ivan
Rodriguez to make an impact. A
starting rotation of Nolan Ryan (12
wins, 291 ERA), Jose Guzman (13
wins), Kevin Brown and Bobby Witt
is not too bad when healthy and
closer Jeff Russell is in his prime.
Texas has the guns to take the West.
5. Minnesota Twins
The Twins are famous ibr
winning big and them coming back
the next season and losing big—and
it's a trend that will continue in 1992.
Minnesota has ajp-eat group of
starting pitchers in Scott Erickson (20
wins, 3.18 ERA), John Smiley (20
wins, 3.08 ERA) and Kevin Tapani
(16 wins, 2.99 ERA) and doser Rick
Aguilera (42 saves) is awesome.
Designated hitter Chili Davis (29
homers, 93 RBI's) and outfielders
Kirby Puckett (92 runs, 310 avg.) and
Shane Mack (17 rimers, 74 RBI's,
310 avg.) swing big bats. Kent Hrbek
is out the first month of the season
with an injury and will be sorely
missed. No World Series in 1992.
6. Kansas City Royals
There are a lot of new faces in
Kansas City and a lot of long faces
after the trade of fan favorite Bret
Saberhagen, but the Royals still have
plenty of talent that will allow them
to compete down to the wire. Ex-
Angel Wally Joyner (21 homers, 96
RBI's) is the new first baseman and
ex-Mets Gregg Jefferies and Kevin
McReynolds are the new third
baseman and left fielder,
respectively. George Brett is 38 but
can still pound the ball. Kevin
Appier, Mike Boddicker, Tom
Gordon and Mark Gubicza give the
Royals a stellar rotation. Jeff
Montgomery (33 saves) is a good
doser and as long as Mark Davis
isn't allowed to throw, the Royals
wiU have a strong pen. However, it
won't be enough.
7. California Angels .. .n y.y.y. ,y
The Angels have cornered the
market in lefthanded starters with
Jim Abbott (18 wins, 2.89 ERA),
Chuck Finley (18 wins) and Mark
Langston (19 wins, 3O0 BRA) but it
won't be enough to win the division
because beyond doser Bryan Harvey
(46 saves) there isn't much else. The
offense is old and players like Lance
Parrish, Hubie Brooks, Von Hayes,
Alvin Davis and Gary Gaetti have all
seen better days. Lee Stevens could
be a bright spot at first in place of the
departed Wally Joyner and Felix Jose
is an up and coming star in right If
the Armies are to win this season the
big three starters must stay healthy
and the 30-something crowd must
come up big at the plate. Don't count
onit
AJfeEaet
1. Toronto Blue Jays
In the immortal words of Spinal
Tap guitarist Nigel Tufnel, the Blue
Jays couldn't be none more better.
The Jays' roster is an all-star bonanza
and thafs why they are my pick to
bring Canada its first World Series
championship. Bobby Alomar (88
runs, 53 stolen bases) is good beyond
words, Outfielders Devon White (17
homers, 110 runs) and Joe Carter (33
homers, 106 RBI's) are MVP material
and third baseman Kelly Gruber (20
homers) is dynamite at the plate and
at the hot corner. John Olerud and
Derrick Bell will be fixtures in
Toronto for years to come. Jack
Morris joins the impressive quartet of
Jimmy Key, Dave Steib (when
healthy), Juan Guzman and Todd
Stottlemyre in a rotation that will
antagonize A.L. hitters. Closer Tom
Henke is great, setup men Duane
Ward and David Wells are great, the
Jays are great. Everyone else wi) 1 be
looking up at Toronto in the East.
2. Boston Red Sox
A starting rotation of Roger
Clemens (18 wins, 2.62 ERA and a Cy
Young award in 1991), Frank Viola
and Larry, Moe and Curly will not be
enough to take Toronto. Manager
Butch Hobson has an impressive cast
of hitters on his roster with
outfielders E His Burks and Mike
Greenwell, young sluggers Mo
Vaughn and Phil Planner, and old-
timers Jack Clyk (28 homers, 87
RBI's) and Wade Boggs (93 runs, 332
avg.). aoser-extraordinaire Jeff
Reardon (40 saves) will save another
40 games, but it won't be enough for
the BoSox because where they are
weak Toronto is loaded. As long as
Clemens throws there is always hope
in Boston.
Nobody hits the ball with more
authority than Detroi t Cecil Fielder
(44 homers, 133 RBI's, 102 runs),
Mickey Tettieton (31 homers, 8v
RBI's), Travis Fryman (21 hornets, 91
RBI's), Tony Phillips (17 homers, 72
RBI's), LouWhitaker23 homers, 94
runs), and a healthy Alan Trammell
gives Detroit a potent attack. On the
mound, Bill Gulhckson (20 wins),
Frank Tanana and Walt Terrell have
been around since the paleozoic era
but again will give Mgr. Sparky
Anderson lots of innings. Mike
Hennen*an is a good closer and in
1992 should become a great one. The
Motor City Kitties could sneak into a
division title if Toronto and Boston
wear each other out.
4. Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee has the bats to win but
not enough healthy pitchers.      ^
Outfielders Robin Yount, Dante
Bichette and Greg Vaughn (27
homers, 96 RBI's) will put up good
numbers, catcher B.J. Surhoff is solid
and designated hitter Paul Motitor
(133 runs, 325 avg.) was bom with a
bat in his hands. In the pitching
department, Bill Wegman (15 wins,
2M ERA), Chris Bosio (14 wins), and
Jaimie Navarro (15 wins) are the
heart of a good rotation and Dan
Plesac is a better than average doser.
But starters Teddy Higuera and Ron
Robinson are made of glass and
likely to spend half the season on the
disabled list If either Higuera or
Robinson can return to form
Milwaukee has a shot to win the
East. V
5. Baltimore Orioles
There are a lot of "what ifs" but
the O^ are my sleeper special. Short
stop, no, resident baseball God Cal
Ripken Jr. (210 hits, 25 homers, 97
RBI's, 86 runs, 323 avg.) and first
baseman Glenn Davis are
surrounded by the limitless potential
of catcher Chris Hoiles, outfielders
Chi to Martinez, Mike Devereaux (19
homers) and Luis Mercedes and
third baseman Leo Gomez (16
homers). Deignated hitters Sam Horn
(23 homers) and Randy Milligan (70
RBI's) aren't too shabby either/There
isn't a staff with more potential than
the O's with starters Ben McDonald,
Mike Mussina, Bob Milacki and Jose
Mesa and closer Gregg Olson is a
gem. The Orioles could come of age
in'92 and take the East by surprise.
6. Cleveland Indians
Perennial doormats in the East
the Indians are, yet again,
rebuilding—but what a load of talent
to build on. Outfielders Albert Belle
(23 homers, 95 RBI's) Glenallen Hill,
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