Oops.
We thought interleague play was going to show what we have believed for a decade or more–the superiority of the league with the Green Monster, Ken Griffey’s backward cap, Cal Ripken’s streak and strike zones the size of your average cocktail napkin. We thought it somewhat unfair for the Indians to play the Pirates, the Mariners to play the Giants and–worst of all–the Yankees to play the Phillies.
Of course, we also thought Hideki Irabu would make Hideo Nomo look like Shigetoshi Hasegawa.
The first season of interleague play turned into the biggest embarrassment for the American League since Lou Whitaker dressed himself for the All-Star Game off the racks of a souvenir stand. Exactly two AL teams acquitted themselves the way we expected–Texas went 10-6, Cleveland was 9-6. The AL otherwise had a 78-105 record.
Things were especially bleak on the road, where AL teams combined for a 39-71 record. The lack of a designated hitter showed more than just the futility of AL pitchers at the plate (.106, nine RBIs, 18 sacrifice bunts compared with .165 with 15 RBIs and 38 sacrifices by NL pitchers). It showed the inflexibility of AL lineups built for three-run homers and the inability of AL hitters to adjust to the bigger strike zone in the NL.
While lawyers for the players union will surely disagree, it also hinted at the folly of paying full-time designated hitters near the top of the salary scale. While the list of the AL’s primary DHs includes hitters like Frank Thomas, Paul Molitor and Chili Davis, the NL’s designated hitters actually outperformed their AL counterparts in games at AL parks.
Despite NL managers having to use extra men in the role, NL designated hitters batted .263 and scored 60 runs. Those in the AL hit .245 and scored 45 runs. It was a blight on the memory of Ron Blomberg.
Among notable interleague quirks:
– Roger Clemens, who is 20-2 against AL opposition, went 0-3 with a 4.24 earned-run average. The New York Mets pounded him for seven runs in six innings Tuesday, in part because Clemens proved he can hit.
After Clemens’ double to right field, he found himself diving back into second base on pickoff throws, then moving to third base, then tagging up and chugging home on a sacrifice fly. One pitch later, he had to go back on the mound. The Mets’ next inning started with a walk, then a single, then a double and finally another double.
“He wasn’t used to hitting and running the bases,” Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. “It was kind of a blessing for us he got the double and had to score from third.”
– Though Edgar Martinez hit .475, the Mariners went 7-9. That includes a 1-7 record in the NL parks, where Lou Piniella often rested Martinez rather than expose him to injury (if not embarrassment) by playing him at third base.
The Mariners still did better than the Anaheim Angels, who were 4-12. For the first time, an American League race could be decided by a team’s play against National League competition.
“You think it’s interleague play?” Angels manager Terry Collins asked. “Or is it the fact that we just didn’t play very well?”
– Pittsburgh Pirates manager Gene Lamont got some revenge on White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf for his 1995 firing. After sweeping the Sox in June, the Pirates could win only one of three games against Cleveland. That’s a two-game advantage in the AL Central standings for the Indians over the White Sox. Maybe it will be meaningless. Maybe it will be fatal.
Better off second: Just how motivated can the Yankees be this weekend in Baltimore? They basically have the wild-card spot wrapped up, which will give them a chance to play the Central Division champion in the first round of the playoffs. The Orioles, meanwhile, will be rewarded for winning the East by having to fly across the country to play Seattle or Anaheim.
“The only difference in winning the division or the wild card is that there is no flag in your ballpark for winning the wild card,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said. “What it’s all about is what happens in October, (and) it’s unfortunate there is not more incentive to winning the division. The wild card shouldn’t be on the same plane as the division winner.”
The current postseason format is inherently flawed. It assumes that for the purposes of ticket sales and logistical ease–mainly, possible stadium conflicts with NFL teams–game sites must be determined far in advance. That keeps the leagues from doing the right thing–forcing the wild card to play the division champ with the best record in the first round, unless they’re in the same division.
Under that format, the wild-card Yankees would go west while Baltimore played the Central champ. If you are going to play 162 games to reach the postseason, the league powers ought to get the postseason format right.
Spinning wheels: It’s the time of year when managers are really trying to earn their salary. Baltimore’s Davey Johnson pinch-ran for Harold Baines with pitcher Shawn Boskie Wednesday night, then pinch-ran for the pinch-running Boskie with Jeffrey Hammonds after Boskie reached second base. Hammonds got picked off second by Florida’s Charles Johnson when Jeff Reboulet bunted through a pitch.
“That can’t happen,” Hammonds said.
It did.
Touching the bases: Will Clark’s five trips to the disabled list since the start of the 1996 season are only one fewer than all other AL first basemen combined–Frank Thomas (two), Mo Vaughn, John Jaha, Scott Stahoviak and Mark McGwire are the only other first basemen disabled over the last two seasons. . . . Matt Anderson, the first pick in the June draft, remains unsigned, and classes have begun at Rice University. Anderson isn’t yet attending, however, which buys more time for Detroit to get him signed. Seattle is in the same position with high school left-hander Ryan Anderson, who has the University of Michigan on hold. . . . Toronto has promoted Syracuse outfielder Rich Butler, the younger brother of former Blue Jays outfielder Rob Butler. He’s the ninth Canadian to play for Toronto.
