QUIZ:Three NL hitters who finished inthe top 15 in batting in 1990 are still withthe same team this season, a decadelater. Name them (answer below). …
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The Yankees acquired Roger Clemens for David Wells for two major reasons: 1) They thought Clemens was a better pitcher and 2) they thought he was a better health risk long term. So far, neither theory has held up.
Wells goes into his start tomorrow in The Bronx at 20-11 since the trade with a 4.68 ERA while Clemens – pitching for a superior team – is 15-12 with a 4.47 ERA. As for the issue of holding up, Wells has worked through a painful back – he had an MRI again this week on it – and rotund stomach to pitch 2631/3 innings, start 39 games and complete nine of them in his second stint with the Blue Jays. Meanwhile, Clemens, the workout fiend, has managed 2191/3 innings, 35 starts and just one complete game since joining the Yankees as he prepares to face Toronto on Sunday. Pass the beer and hot dogs.
As for the Yankees’ other 37-year-old starter, David Cone entered this season viewed as a bubble Hall-of-Fame candidate along with Tom Glavine and Randy Johnson, since the three had such similar statistics plus fine extra achievements. Speaking of his own candidacy, Cone said, “I need to do more.” So far in 2000, he has slipped from the bubble (0-2, 10.70 ERA going into tonight’s start) while Glavine and Johnson have made inroads to Cooperstown.
Glavine, having added a cut fastball at the suggestion of teammate Greg Maddux, has bounced back from his worst season in a decade to open 4-0 with a 1.95 ERA and – in this long-ball blizzard – has not permitted a homer in 37 innings. Johnson is delving into Pedro Martinez territory. He has gone 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA and an astonishing 53 strikeouts and eight walks in 421/3 innings. …
Speaking of Martinez, he has won 12 straight decisions, dating to last Aug. 19. But that is not his most impressive streak. The Red Sox righty has not allowed a multi-run homer since Sept. 24, 1998, when Baltimore’s Chris Hoiles connected for a two-run shot in the second inning. That was 246 innings ago. Since then, he has permitted 13 homers, all solo.
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The Reds have not lived up to the hype so far this season. But they may get a few shots of adrenaline before long. Deion Sanders is working his way back from knee surgery at Triple-A Louisville. He is struggling, but he is one of GM Jim Bowden‘s favorite players and could be brought up for his speed as Cincinnati sees if it can use spare outfielders such as Alex Ochoa, Michael Tucker or Dmitri Young to obtain much-needed pitching.
The Reds also may be about five weeks away from adding Mark Wohlers. He is returning from elbow surgery and whatever mental block that forced the one-time superb closer to lose the strike zone. He currently is with Cincinnati’s extended spring and, according to Bowden, “throwing a pinpoint 92-93 mph.”
“Deion and Wohlers are Cincinnati Red-type players, high ceiling, low risk and low pay,” Bowden said. …
Another pitcher working back toward the majors is Paul Wilson. Pitching for Single-A Port St.Lucie because the Mets wanted to keep him in warm weather, Wilson has a 1.53 ERA in four starts with four walks and 16 strikeouts. He is about two weeks away from being elevated to Triple-A, where he will be kept on a strict pitch count for about four starts. But beginning around June 1, the Mets intend to begin looking at him as just another Norfolk pitcher who can help the big team.
“This is the most encouraged we have been about Paul in quite a while,” Mets assistant GM Jim Duquette said. …
In 1995, Derek Jeter, just shy of his 21st birthday, came up to the Yankees to fill in for the injured Tony Fernandez. He struggled, hitting .234 in 47 at-bats with no homers and looked awkward defensively. So try to have patience with Alfonso Soriano, just 22, who in filling for the injured Scott Brosius hit just .154 in 26 at-bats and looked terrible defensively. A scout for an AL team said, “Don’t judge him too early. He has all the tools. His body reminds me of Vladimir Guerrero, lean and you wonder where he gets the power. But it is real power. He has a chance still to be special.”
Starting this weekend with Philadelphia’s Curt Schilling and possibly Cub Kerry Wood, a series of starting pitchers are expected to soon rejoin their clubs and possibly influence division races. Also watch for the returns over the next month of Anaheim’s Tim Belcher, Baltimore’s Scott Erickson, Boston’s Bret Saberhagen, the Cubs’ Ismael Valdes, Texas’ Justin Thompson and St. Louis’ Matt Morris. …
It’s 10 p.m., is Bobby Valentine still in job jeopardy? …
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QUIZ ANSWER:Mark Grace, Cubs.Barry Larkin, Reds.Tony Gwynn, Padres.