Tuesday, December 21, 1999
Cards close gap on Astros, Reds
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The gulf has narrowed between the haves and have-nots in the National League Central.
Houston, winner of the last three division titles, and the Reds, who finished 11/2 games behind the Astros last season, have retained most of their key players. But the payroll problems that prompted the Astros to trade valuable outfielder Carl Everett to Boston could force more moves. The Reds tried but failed to make big changes (Ken Grif fey Jr.) and smaller ones (Hideki Irabu).
“We've done the best we could, but we don't have the depth to make a lot of moves,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said Monday.
Meanwhile, St. Louis and Chicago, which finished a combined 511/2 games behind Houston last year, have remained aggressive. St. Louis upgraded its pitching staff by trading for starters Darryl Kile and Pat Hentgen and reliever Dave Veres. The Cardinals also acquired second baseman Fernando Vina. Chicago added right-hander Ismael Valdes, second baseman Eric Young and catcher Joe Girardi without yielding much.
“I think the Cardinals and Cubs did a tremendous job,” McKeon said. “The Cardinals made the most improvement. They have a pretty good ballclub if they get pitching.”
Pittsburgh has added respectable hitters Wil Cordero and Bruce Aven to a promising roster. “That gives them a little more sock on the right side,” McKeon said.
Only the Milwaukee Brewers didn't help themselves. But they split their 12 games against Cincinnati this year.
“Nobody said it was going to be easy,” McKeon said.
Here's a summary of the offseason moves each Central team has made, with clubs listed in order of 1999 finish.
HOUSTON ASTROS
• Record: 97-65, 1st
• Key additions: None.
• Key losses: OF Carl Everett.
• What's next: Deciding whether to trade ace left-hander Mike Hampton, who already has declared his intent to try free agency after next season.
• Summary: The Astros are stuck. They'd prefer to trade outfielders Moises Alou or Derek Bell, as they did Everett, to ease their payroll constraints. Instead, they could be forced to trade Hampton, who's more marketable than either Alou or Bell.
Second baseman Craig Biggio's contract extension prevented future hassles in re-signing Jeff Bagwell.
Houston can soften the blow of trading Hampton if they can get an everyday shortstop and a top-flight catcher in return.
CINCINNATI REDS
• Record: 96-67, 2nd
• Key additions: LF Dante Bichette, LHP Heath Murray, OF Kimera Bartee, RHP Elmer Dessens, 1B Ron Wright.
• Key losses: LF Greg Vaughn, C Brian Johnson, OF Jeffrey Hammonds, RHP Stan Belinda, LHP Steve Avery.
• What's next: Ideally, the Reds would add a starting pitcher for insurance, since Pete Harnisch, Denny Neagle and Steve Parris all had arm or shoulder troubles.
• Summary: Since most of their key players are 27 or younger, the Reds didn't need to revamp the roster, though they tried to acquire Seattle's Ken Griffey Jr. At this point, the Mariners appear resigned to keeping Griffey.
Quickly replacing Vaughn with Bichette was a solid move. Having fashioned winners out of lightly regarded pitchers such as Parris and Ron Villone, the Reds will try again with the likes of Murray and Dessens.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
• Record: 78-83, 3rd
• Key additions: OF Bruce Aven, OF-INF Wil Cordero.
• Key losses: RHP Brad Clontz, OF Brant Brown.
• What's next: Praying that Jason Kendall recovers from his horrifying ankle injury and searching for a reliever who could develop into a closer.
• Summary: Mike Williams' late-season fade and Jose Silva's shoulder problems could leave the Pirates scrambling to preserve ninth-inning leads. Overall, nobody feels sorry for the Pirates, who have the division's best young talent, especially in the starting rotation (Kris Benson, Francisco Cordova, Todd Ritchie, Jason Schmidt).
Cordero will start in left field if Al Martin is traded, in right field if rookie Chad Hermansen isn't ready or at third base if Aramis Ramirez isn't.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
• Record: 75-86, fourth.
• Key additions: C Mike Matheny, OF Dante Powell, RHPs Darryl Kile, Pat Hentgen and Dave Veres, LHP Paul Spoljaric.
• Key losses: INF Luis Ordaz, LHPs Donovan Osborne and Lance Painter, C Alberto Castillo, RHPs Manny Aybar, Rick Croushore and Jose Jime nez.
• What's next: May turn thoughts back to pitching following Monday's acquisition of 2B Fernando Vina from Milwaukee.
Summary: St. Louis' pitching ranked in the middle of the pack last year. But with Mark McGwire turning 36, the Cardinals can't wait for improvement. Kile, Hentgen and Veres should contribute immediately if they can duplicate or approach their best years.
Vina gives St. Louis a formidable infield to go with McGwire, shortstop Edgar Renteria and third baseman Fernando Tatis. But starting outfielders Ray Lankford, J.D. Drew and Eric Davis combined for only 132 RBI last year.
“I think we stack up competitively,” manager Tony LaRussa said. “But we need our outfield to increase its production.”
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
• Record: 74-87, 5th
• Key additions: RHPs Jamey Wright, Jimmy Haynes and Juan Acevedo, C Henry Blanco, 3B Jose Hernandez, RHP Curtis Leskanic.
• Key losses: 3B Jeff Cirillo, RHPs Hideo Nomo and Eric Plunk, LHP Mike Myers.
• What's next: Finding outfield help and bolstering the pitching staff.
• Summary: Haynes, Wright and Steve Woodard were the only certain members of the rotation, so Monday's deal for Acevedo filled one more spot.
The versatile hurler,Acevedo could also firm up the bullpen if he doesn't join the rotation.
Milwaukee's likely Opening Day infield (Kevin Barker, Ron Belliard, Jose Valentin, Hernandez) is almost completely changed from this year's (Sean Berry, Vina, Valentin and Cirillo).
CHICAGO CUBS
• Record: 67-95, 6th
• Key additions: RHP Ismael Valdes, 2B Eric Young, OF Damon Buford, C Joe Girardi.
• Key losses: RHP Terry Adams, INF Manny Alexander, 3B Gary Gaetti, SS Jeff Blauser, C Benito Santiago, 2B Mickey Morandini.
• What's next: Seeking more depth for possible platoon situations.
Summary: The Cubs signed free-agent shortstop Ricky Gutierrez Monday to push or replace youngster Jose Nieves. The Cubs won't have to use that dreadful Triple-A lineup they threw onto the field toward the end of last season.
They'd like to find left-handed-batting complements to center fielder Damon Buford and third baseman Shane Andrews.
Signing free agent Girardi and acquiring Valdes and Young improved Chicago significantly. But after ranking next to last statistically in hitting and pitching, the Cubs needed plenty of help.
Pitcher Kerry Wood through off a mound Monday. His return would be significant.
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