Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site 3comvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!hplabs!oliveb!3comvax!mykes From: mykes@3comvax.UUCP (Mike Schwartz) Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball Subject: Re: Orphaned Response [good starting rotations] Message-ID: <450@3comvax.UUCP> Date: Thu, 13-Mar-86 12:42:28 EST Article-I.D.: 3comvax.450 Posted: Thu Mar 13 12:42:28 1986 Date-Received: Sat, 15-Mar-86 03:57:05 EST References: <1320@decwrl.UUCP> <50300030@hpfclo.UUCP> <1396@fisher.UUCP> <530@watdragon.UUCP> <684@ihlpl.UUCP> Reply-To: mykes@3comvax.UUCP (Mike Schwartz) Organization: 3Com Corp; Mountain View, CA Lines: 72 For my money, the starting rotation of the Chicago Cubs is the best in baseball, when not injured. Sutcliffe, Eckersly, Trout, Sanderson, and Fontenot. Sutcliffe & Eckersly are certainly capable of being 20 game winners, and Trout has become good enough to be #1 or #2 on quite a few teams. Sanderson has been very good when he has pitched. And Fontenot is a lefty, is young, and has showed a lot of potential. Lee Smith is proven as a finisher. The Cubs' starting 8 might be the best all-around in either league, too. Other teams that look strong are the Dodgers, Yankees (Britt Burns is a high quality pitcher), and KC (although they have a limited track record). The Tigers have some questionable guys who came through last year, so they might be tough, too. And it is awful hard to believe that the Orioles got so bad so quick. Real early predictions: N.L. East Cubs All they need to be dominant (as in '84) is a long reliever or two Mets Gary Carter's teams never finish first Cards Only 'cause the next 3 are so bad Phils Youngsters are comin' along Expos Lots of Shortstops and 3rd Basemen, no Bryn Smith, Raines & Dawson Pirates Not much of anything N.L. West Reds Much improved at 3rd and at C, maybe a dynasty in the making Dodgers Best organization in N.L. / if Reds don't, LA will Padres Lamarr Hoyt's situation is sad, sniff :) Braves Bad trades ruined a team with a chance (where are you Brett Butler) Astros Jose Cruz is good, but one good player is not enough Giants They're not even playing for the fun of it A.L. East Yankees Guidry, Burns, Winfield, Mattingly, Henderson, Baylor, Righetti ... Jays They are as good as last years team Tigers Sparky will always be a winner Indians Quietly have become a real talented young team. Need pitching. Orioles A strong club if the pitching rebounds, Murray, Ripkin, Young ... Red Sox They'll bounce a few off the monster, need better D, more P Brewers Never have had a pitching staff, the bats died in '83 A.L. West Royals "Show Me" that pitching staff again for another year A's Andujar, Lansford, Murphy, Griffin, Kingman, Canaseco ... Twins could win the division with strong showing from the pitchers Angels hitters on the decline, pitchers on the rise, senior citizens Mariners building a strong future Chi Sox blew it by giving back Hassey & Burns Rangers weakest team in weakest division The N.L. is hurting folks - not a single quality team last year. The NL East has 3 decent teams, and the west has 2. The AL East is the strongest division, with 6 quality teams, while the West has maybe 1 (K.C.). My rankings are based on the theory that strength up the middle wins ball games. That means strength at Catcher, Shortstop, 2nd Base, and Center Field. Pitching is a major factor. It is my opinion that this theory is quite accurate and reflects why teams like the Expos of recent years or the current Mets look real good on paper but fail to win. For example, the Mets have some great stars like Hernandez, Foster (the last player to hit 50+ homers), Carter, and Strawberry. Only Carter plays one of the "middle" positions. With players like Backman, Wilson, and whoever (at shortstop), it is tough to win. The Royals had guys like White, Sundberg, Wilson up the middle. The Cards were strong last year, too. The Cubs have Jody Davis, Ryne Sandberg, Bob Dernier, and Shawon Dunston. When the Sporting News prints the club rosters, I will provide more analysis.