Program-sellers should do a booming business in National League ballparks this summer.
Just try identifying your favorite team without one.
Joe Carter went back to the American League, Darryl Strawberry switched coasts and Willie McGee took the San Francisco Bay Bridge back into the senior circuit. And don`t forget the big-buck signings that brought George Bell, Danny Jackson and Dave Smith to the Cubs.
Who dealt themselves the best hand? The Cubs think they did. So do the San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, to name a few.
It won`t be known for months who`s only dreaming. In the meantime, the clubs head south, looking for clues to how good-or bad-they really are. Not counting the Cubs, here`s a peek at how they shape up:
NL EAST
New York-The Mets won a world title in 1986, and every year since they`ve been considered the Beast of the East. But only once in the intervening four years have the Mets come away with so much as a division crown. The reasons were many: pathetic hitting in the clutch, back-biting in the clubhouse and a curious tendency to go flat in September.
Some think Darryl Strawberry`s departure will bring harmony to the clubhouse, but the Mets haven`t explained how they will replace Straw`s run production.
One thing that hasn`t changed much since the Mets won their World Series is the pitching. Top to bottom they still have one of the best staffs in baseball.
Montreal-Former White Sox front-office hand Dave Dombrowski has assembled a team that fits roomy Olympic Stadium perfectly. Only three teams hit fewer home runs than the Expos. The Expos rely on speed (they led the league with 235 steals a year ago) and defense. They finished 10 games over .500 on artificial turf last year, second to Pittsburgh in the East. That`s a telling figure in a division in which four of the six parks are carpeted.
Their outfield is young, talented and deep, with speedsters Marquis Grissom, Larry Walker and Dave Martinez, along with new acquisition Ivan Calderon from the Sox.
Pittsburgh-The Pirates didn`t spend much time savoring their division title this winter. Instead, they found themselves bickering over contracts. Barry Bonds called the club cheap and said he wants out when he`s eligible for free agency, and the club`s refusal to meet Bobby Bonilla`s demands left that cheerful slugger grim. Eventually the club admitted it will be lucky to retain three of its Big Four-Bonds, Bonilla, Cy Young winner Doug Drabek and Andy Van Slyke-beyond this season.
Not all teams react the same way to contract squabbles. But the 1990 Pirates were a close-knit team with the right sprinkling of stars and bit players. Fans in Pittsburgh fear that the angry Bucs will unravel.
On paper, they should be in the hunt again, although they still haven`t found a replacement for Sid Bream, who fled to Atlanta.
Philadelphia-The Phillies aren`t great, but they`re no longer the poor bunch that could move even Veterans Stadium`s rabid fans to pity.
Their day-to-day lineup isn`t exactly formidable, but John Kruk and Von Hayes provide decent pop. The Phils` 1990 victory leader was Pat Combs with 10, but the club hopes Terry Mulholland will emerge as the staff ace by following up on his strong finish (a 1.99 earned-run average over his last 10 starts, including a no-hitter).
St. Louis-Decades ago the Cardinals were one of the few teams that could be mentioned in the same breath as the powerful New York Yankees. Now the Cards are being compared with the Yanks again. But this time the question is, Who`s worst?
St. Louis` strategy seemed simple: if a player had value, let him go. They traded Willie McGee, then watched Vince Coleman and Terry Pendleton depart through free agency.
The aging Ozzie Smith and the spotted dog on the Budweiser wagon are about all that remain from the 1987 pennant winners.
NL WEST
Los Angeles-The Dodgers grabbed one of the winter`s biggest headlines by signing Strawberry to a deal that will pay him more than $4 million per year. Strawberry had his problems in New York, but driving in runs wasn`t among them. He`ll complement the big stick of Eddie Murray in a beefed-up attack that includes leadoff man/center-fielder Brett Butler.
The Dodgers` weak spot is the infield. Untested Jose Offerman is the shortstop of the future, though he`s a liability at the plate.
Pitching, a traditional strong point, is unsettled. Budding superstar Ramon Martinez leads a rotation that includes Tim Belcher and Bob Ojeda, but the Dodgers need ace Orel Hershiser, who may not return until the All-Star break.
Cincinnati-They shocked the Oakland Athletics in four straight games last October, but the Reds did little to improve over the off-season. Some might argue that they didn`t need much help; the Reds led the league in hitting with a .265 team average and finished second in pitching with a 3.39 ERA.
The Reds won the West by whipping the East last year. They went 45-27 against the other division but only 46-44 against their own. With great improvements in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Atlanta, they might be hard-pressed to match last year`s record against the West.
San Francisco-The Bay Area is buzzing over a flurry of off-season activity, but just how much better are the Giants? Bud Black was only a .500 pitcher with Cleveland. Willie McGee is a better center-fielder than Butler but not as good a leadoff man. The addition of Dave Righetti should make one of the league`s top bullpens even stronger.
The Giants have a mini-Murderers` Row with Will Clark, Kevin Mitchell and Matt Williams. San Francisco`s pitchers spent more time on the operating table than on the mound last year, and if it happens again the Giants don`t have a chance.
San Diego-The Padres hardly resemble the underachieving bunch that has disappointed fans for the last few seasons. They made the biggest deal of the off-season, sending Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter to Toronto for Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez. They also jettisoned Jack Clark, Eric Show and Mike Pagliarulo.
Pitching is still a question mark, with Bruce Hurst (11-9 last year) the ace of the rotation and Craig Lefferts the closer despite blowing 8 of 31 save chances in 1990.
Atlanta-A winter of activity has given fans a reason to tune in the National League`s other superstation team. The Braves solved infield problems with free agents Bream and Pendleton. Their outfield includes Dave Justice, the 1991 Rookie of the Year who hit 28 homers and knocked in 78 runs in only 127 games, and 30-30 man Ron Gant.
The Braves` team ERA was a staggering 4.58 a year ago, worst in the league by a stretch, and their bullpen blew 21 of 51 save chances. But four of the five projected starters are younger than 25, so the Braves preach patience.
Houston-The Astros have a long way to go before they`re back among the contenders. They hit a sickly .242 as a team last year, worst in the league, and hit just 94 home runs, 11th in the league.
The loss of slugging first baseman Glenn Davis isn`t going to help the run production. The Astros also were decimated by the defection of free agents Dave Smith, Franklin Stubbs, Bill Gullickson and Danny Darwin.
COME AND GONE
Off-season player moves for National League teams
National League East
Team Arrivals Departures
Cubs George Bell, Danny Curtis Wilkerson
Jackson, Dave Smith
Cardinals None Vince Coleman, Terry
Pendleton, Willie McGee
Expos Ivan Calderon, Barry Jones Tim Raines, Kevin Gross
Mets Vince Coleman, Hubie Darryl Strawberry, Bob Ojeda
Brooks
Phillies Wally Backman None
Pirates Curtis Wilkerson Sid Bream, Wally Backman,
Rafael Belliard, Ted Power
National League West
Team Arrivals Departures
Astros Steve Finley, Pete Harnisch, Glenn Davis, Danny Darwin,
Curt Schilling Dave Smith, Franklin Stubbs,
Bill Gullickson, Glenn Wilson
Braves Glenn Wilson, Terry Lonnie Smith, Jim Presley
Pendleton, Sid Bream, Juan
Berenguer, Rafael Belliard
Dodgers Darryl Strawberry, Brett Hubie Brooks, Kirk Gibson
Butler, Bob Ojeda, Kevin
Gross
Giants Willie McGee, Dave Righetti, Brett Butler, Steve Bedrosian,
Bud Black, Darren Lewis Ernest Riles
Padres Tony Fernandez, Fred Joe Carter, Roberto Alomar,
McGriff, Jim Presley, Larry Jack Clark, Eric Show,
Andersen Mike Pagliarulo
Reds Ted Power Danny Jackson, Ron Oester
