Virtually all the pieces remain intact from the 1984 division championship team for National League Manager of the Year Jim Frey. General manager Dallas Green re-signed free agents Rick Sutcliffe (16-1), Steve Trout (13-7) and Dennis Eckersley (10-8). Left-hander Ray Fontenot, who figures to work mainly out of the bullpen, was acquired in a trade with the Yankees. The Cubs also landed outfielder-third baseman Brian Dayett in that deal, which sent pitcher Rich Bordi, catcher Ron Hassey and outfielder Henry Cotto to New York.
The health of starter Scott Sanderson, who had back problems last year and a groin pull this spring, could be a major factor in the staff`s effectiveness. Dick Ruthven is poised to move into the four-man rotation if Sanderson is not available.
Rookie Shawon Dunston won the starting nod over Larry Bowa at shortstop in the most controversial position battle of the spring. Dunston`s track record indictates Cub fans can expect both spectacular and erratic fielding, daring baserunning and an aggressive bat.
The most potent offensive club in the league last season, the Cubs boast a lineup that includes Gold Glove center-fielder Bob Dernier (.278, 45 steals), NL Most Valuable Player second baseman Ryne Sandberg (.314, 19 home runs, 19 triples, 36 doubles), left-fielder Gary Matthews (.291, 14 HR, 103 walks), first baseman Leon Durham (.279, 23 HR, 96 RBIs), right-fielder Keith Moreland (.279, 16 HR), third baseman Ron Cey (25 HR, 97 RBIs) and catcher Jody Davis (.256, 19 HR, 94 RBIs).
Lee Smith was 9-7 with 33 saves last season, despite a sore knee. George Frazier (6-3, 4.10 ERA) had a good spring and will be the principal set-up man for Smith.
NEW YORK METS
Manager Davey Johnson`s players are prepared to talk a good game even if they don`t perform well on the field this season. Several young Mets took lessons from an ”interview coach” this spring on how to answer tough questions from probing reporters.
The battle for leadership on the ballclub could become more intriguing than the battle for first in the NL East. Most Valuable Player runner-up Keith Hernandez (.311, 15 HR and 94 RBIs) has not been a fan of catcher Gary Carter (.294, 27 HR, 106 RBIs) in the past. Hernandez has said Carter talks too much. But, lo and behold, they are teammates following the biggest trade of the winter, which brought the former Expo catcher to the Big Apple for Hubie Brooks and a couple of talented minor leaguers.
Darryl Strawberry hit 26 homers and drove in 97 runs last season, but Hernandez accused him of quitting on himself and the Mets late in the season. Fleet center-fielder Mookie Wilson and left-fielder George Foster are being counted on for strong showings again in `85.
The shoulder surgery on third baseman Ray Knight will render him unavailable for the first month or so of the season, pressing young Howard Johnson into duty.
For a team that didn`t score many runs last season (652), the Mets got good mileage, finishing 6 1/2 games behind the Cubs.
NL Rookie of the Year Dwight Gooden (17-9, 176 strikeouts) may lack a strong supporting cast because of the trade of Walt Terrell to Detroit over the winter.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
So you think you have problems? This is a franchise in trouble, about to be sold. No fans, no money, no interest. Two of the team`s top pitchers–John Candelaria and Rod Scurry–are begging every other day to be traded. Bill Madlock can`t get his hits because he`s hurt repeatedly. And the shortstop position remains a big question.
Yet there is enough talent around–second baseman Johnny Ray, catcher Tony Pena, first baseman Jason Thompson and center-fielder Marvell Wynne–to get excited about. Plus, optimistic manager Chuck Tanner traded for outfielders Steve Kemp, George Hendrick and Sixto Lezcano to add some life to the league`s dullest offense.
New pitching coach Grant Jackson will try to squeeze more consistency out of a staff that finished first in the league in earned run average.
Philadelphia Phillies
Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, John Denny, Garry Maddox. How long can these veterans be counted on to carry the Phillies?
While new manager John Felske is looking for typical years from the proven veterans, he is also looking for some stability from young players such as Rookie of the Year runner-up Juan Samuel (.272, 15 HR, 72 steals), who was shaky in the field (33 errors), rookie shortstop Steve Jeltz and outfielders Jeff Stone and Von Hayes.
Denny (7-7) was the Cy Young Award winner in 1983 before suffering arm problems last season. Carlton pitched 229 innings but slipped to 13-7 with a 3.58 ERA. Lefty Al Holland spent more time last year feuding with his bosses about his excess weight than saving games out of the bullpen. Shane Rawley
(10-6) was obtained from the Yankees in the second half of the season and was the Phillies` best pitcher at the end.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Who ya gonna call in the late innings? Not Bruce Sutter. Cardinal manager Whitey Herzog`s ace reliever signed a record $48 million contract with the Atlanta Braves over the winter, leaving the Cardinals with quixotic right-hander Neil Allen as their closer.
Joaquin Andujar won 20 games last season, but without Sutter (45 saves)
mopping up, Andujar and the rest of the staff could be in trouble. Slugger Jack Clark was obtained from the Giants in a trade that sent outfielder David Green, lefty Dave LaPoint and shortstop Jose Gonzales to San Francisco.
Acrobatic shortstop Ozzie Smith, who can become a free agent after this season, is still without peer defensively. Center-fielder Willie McGee finished the season strongly with a .291 average.
Outfielder George Hendrick was traded to Pittsburgh for left-handed starter John Tudor.
New general manager Dal Maxvill will have his hands full trying to return his club to contention in the NL East.
MONTREAL EXPOS
Many of the Expo players said they were glad to see slugging catcher Gary Carter traded because of personality differences with him. But whether the Expos will be a better ballclub without his 106 RBIs and catching skills is questionable.
Center-fielder Tim Raines is rich (he won a $1.2 million contract in arbitration) and now he wants to be famous. He thinks he should be better recognized for his 75 stolen bases in 1984. The Expos were devastated by injuries to key players Andre Dawson, Terry Francona and Steve Rogers last season.
Charlie Lea (15-10) was Montreal`s best pitcher last season, but he has had arm problems this spring. Third baseman Tim Wallach had an off-season last year, hitting .246 with 18 homers and 72 RBIs.
Hubie Brooks, obtained in the trade with the Mets for Carter, will be tried at shortstop, with U.L. Washington waiting in the wings.
NL WEST
SAN DIEGO PADRES
The National League champions added former White Sox starter and 1983 Cy Young Award winner LaMarr Hoyt to their starting rotation, allowing manager Dick Williams many more options with his staff.
A curious mixture of aged stars such as first baseman Steve Garvey (36), third baseman Graig Nettles (40) and reliever Goose Gossage (34) and the youngest outfield in the majors of Carmelo Martinez (24), Kevin McReynolds
(25) and Tony Gwynn (24) make the Padres something special.
Martinez will open the season on the disabled list following surgery on his hand. Young Jerry Davis and free-agent signee Al Bumbry will see some time in left field. Second baseman Alan Wiggins will be nursing a knee injury in the early going.
Other starters include Eric Show, Mark Thurmond and Dave Dravecky. Ex-Cub reliever Tim Stoddard was signed as a free agent over the winter.
ATLANTA BRAVES
New manager Eddie Haas has Bruce Sutter to summon from the bullpen, and that may be all the Braves need to overtake the Padres. Atlanta`s starting rotation of Rick Camp (8-6), Rick Mahler (12-10), Craig McMurtry (9-17) and Pascual Perez (14-8) suddenly looks better with Sutter in the bullpen.
Dale Murphy hit .290 with 36 homers and 100 RBIs, even without slugging teammate Bob Horner in the lineup to protect him. Ken Oberkfell will play third until Horner is ready. Claudell Washington (.286, 17 HR) can help Murphy with the big-run innings.
Recently acquired catcher Rick Cerone, second baseman Glenn Hubbard and shortstop Rafael Ramirez make the Braves solid up the middle.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Between key players` injuries and personal problems last season, manager Tommy Lasorda didn`t have much fun. The Dodgers had 15 players on the disabled list.
This spring started out much the same way, when the Dodgers learned that NL earned run average leader (2.48) Alejandro Pena would be out all season with an arm injury. Reliever Steve Howe, suspended from baseball last season because of repeated drug problems, reinjured his elbow this spring. And Tom Niedenfuer, Rick Honeycutt and Jerry Reuss, all of whom had major injury problems last season, are iffy this year.
Lasorda has perhaps the least mobile outfield in the league when he starts Al Oliver in left, Ken Landreaux in center and Mike Marshall in right. Pedro Guerrero, a disappointment at third base and at the plate last season, is a key to the team`s success. Highly touted first baseman Greg Brock remains an enigma.
Fernando Valenzuela (12-17) will try to rebound from a tough-luck season. Orel Hershiser, who was bombed this spring, will try to show that last season (11-8, 2.66 ERA) was no fluke.
CINCINNATI REDS
The highlight of the Reds` season will probably be player-manager Pete Rose`s 4,192d career hit, which will move him past Ty Cobb on the all-time list. Rose is just 95 hits away from breaking the record.
Before that historic moment, Rose will have to figure out a way to get his young troops rolling. Besides hard-throwing Mario Soto (18-7), pitching coach Jim Kaat will be searching desperately for help. He`s counting on the likes of Jeff Russell (6-18), Tom Hume (4-13), Frank Pastore (3-8) and Joe Price (7-13).
Last season, Dave Parker hit .285 with 16 homers and 94 RBIs, Cesar Cedeno hit .276 and Eddie Milner .232. Gary Redus stole 48 bases and is fighting for an outfield spot. Nick Esasky (.193) was a major disappointment at third. Wayne Krenchicki may platoon with Rose at first.
Rose is surrounding himself with proven veterans such as Dave Concepcion, Tony Perez and Parker.
HOUSTON ASTROS
They have moved the fences in about 10 feet at the Astrodome, but it won`t help the powerless Astros, who rely on solid defense and strong pitching, to remain in contention.
Manager Bob Lillis has the same offensive arsenal as last year: Jose Cruz (.312), Enos Cabell (.310) and Jerry Mumphrey (.290). Terry Puhl hit .301 in 132 games as a platooning outfielder.
The pitching staff of 38-year-old Nolan Ryan (12-11), knuckleballer Joe Niekro (16-12) and Bob Knepper (15-10) is still pretty imposing. Relievers Frank DiPino (14 saves), Bill Dawley, Joe Sambito and Dave Smith are effective.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
New manager Jim Davenport has some young talent in fleet outfielder Chili Davis (.315, 21 HR), catcher Bob Brenly (.291, 20 HR) and slugging outfielder Jeff Leonard (.302, 21 HR). But the last-place Giants lack pitching, defense and general discipline.
Left-hander Dave LaPoint (12-10, 3.96 ERA) was obtained in the trade with St. Louis that also landed outfielder-first baseman David Green (.268, 15 HR, 65 RBIs). Disgruntled slugger Jack Clark was sent packing.
Infielder Manny Trillo is still a solid performer if Davenport can settle on playing him at second or third. Shortstop Johnnie LeMaster, who asked to be traded over the winter, is trying to come back from a horrible season.
The starting staff that includes Mike Krukow (11-12), Bill Laskey (9-14)
and Mark Davis (7-15) looks like it could be scary.
