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We are now two and one-half weeks into the 1998 baseball season and have seen the immediate effects of expansion. Pitching across the league is watered down and scores throughout the game have resembled the national debt.
In terms of those who wager: Take the Over!!
Such is the case with the Cardinals and the entire National League Central Division. This Division reminds one of the American League. Score as much as you can and then hand the game over to a closer.
Certainly, the Cubs are following that philosophy. Why not, since it worked for the North Siders in 1984 and 1989. Put together a solid starting eight, keep the score close, then turn it over to Rod Beck in the 9th.
So once again we can predict that the Central is the weakest division in the league, and perhaps the game. It may come down to which teams has the best pitching will win. <Footnote: the best pitching is defined as best quality of a weak division.>
That brings us to the Home Team. The Cardinals ON PAPER, perhaps have the best starting pitching in the division. But we know games are not played on paper. Yet, the Red Birds starting staff does have an ace in Todd Stottlemyre.
Stottlemyre is a throw-back. He will throw many innings consisting of about 120 pitches per game, and does not like to be taken out of the game. He actually likes to complete games. (Yes, the entire NINE Inning variety).
One more thing-Stottlemyre can be a free agent after the season is over, and he knows just how Pedro Martinez, Darryl Kile, and Andy Benes services were worth last winter.
For the Cardinals in 1998, these are all good things.
After that, the starting pitching looks fuzzy.
What appeared as a promising staff, quickly has resembled a M A S H unit. Youngsters such as Matt Morris, Alan Benes, and Donovan Osborne have been on, off, and back on the disabled list. The Red Birds must have at least two of these youngsters in order to be competitive in 1998
Although the Cliffe Pollitte story is a good one, judgment on his status can not be fully analyzed until he goes through the league more than one time.
There is good news from this scenario: despite these shortcomings and question marks, the Red Birds may be in better shape from a starting pitching than most of their N L Central competitors.
Now, let's make a call to the Bullpen.
This may sound very simple, but it is very true-if the Cardinals do not have an effective relief pitching core, those October dates scheduled for playoff baseball will be replaced with watching the Rams. (Talk about a double dose of bad news!!)
In the off season, Jeff Brantley was acquired to serve as Dennis Eckersley's replacement. At this writing he has two saves. Both were ugly.
Save #1 came in Colorado thanks in large part to a defensive play by Gary Gaetti. Save #2 came in large part because the Arizona Diamondbacks can not run the bases properly. In each of these two save situations, Brantley allowed the tying and winning runs to reach base in the ninth inning.
Brantley is pick of the litter in the bullpen. John Frascatore, Lance Painter, and Mark Petkovsek all had rough appearances in relief in April of 1998.
No matter how many Mark Mc Gwire home runs are hit this season, the Red Birds can not give away games in late innings. These take the competitive edge off any team.
Where the Red Birds are stronger in Divisional Starting Pitching, you must assess that the relief is questionable. This is particularly concerning when your divisional opponents can throw either Beck, Billy Wagner, Doug Jones, Jeff Shaw, or Rich Loiselle at you.
Granted there is still about 24 weeks in the season, 1998 should prove to be an entertaining, perhaps frustrating and amusing season. Again, this is the beauty of baseball.
If we have learned anything so far this season, it is that maybe Yogi Berra is right, "it ain't over till it's over".
But with all due respect to Mr. Berra, perhaps the cliché for 1998 should be: "until it's over-take the over".
EDITOR'S NOTE: Mike Huss hosts "Sportstalk" on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:00 pm, on WGNU AM-920, St. Louis.
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