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1998 was a renaissance year throughout major league baseball.
It was a season defined by numbers.
Pick you favorite(s):
*70 Home Runs
*66 Home Runs
*114 Team Wins
*20 Strikeouts in a game
*2,632 Consecutive Games
*27 Consecutive Batters Retired
*300 Batters Fanned (again)
If you continue to look at the numbers closer to home, the Cardinals compiled some notable totals in 1998:
*3,195,021 in home attendance
*Over 200 Home Runs as a team
*Four players blasting at least twenty-five home runs in a season.
(Unfortunately, the first number for the 1999 Cardinals is a 12% or an average $2.00 Ticket Price Increase!!)
But, perhaps the most glaring 1988 number for the Home Team did not get much attention thanks to the Mark McGwire victory tour: only four games over .500.
Once again the Red Birds finished the baseball season far short of their team goal.
For the second straight year, the Home Team, who was predicted to at least compete for a playoff spot, ending up watching the games in mid-October from the comfort of home.
For those of you who are still enjoying the McGwire hoopla, sooner or later the reality will set in.
How are the Cardinals going to improve in 1999??
Perhaps the best opening question is: who will be wearing the Birds on the Bat in '99 and who will not?
Brian Jordan finished the season with a batting average of .317, twenty-five home runs, 91 Runs Batted In, and a strong contender for Comeback Player of the Year. Brian Jordan is also a free agent who will command a king's ransom on the open market.
Although the Red Birds would prefer #3 remain as a member of the team, there is simply no place to play (or perhaps pay) him. Ray Lankford is locked in a long term contract for big bucks. J D Drew was not given big money to sit on the bench or play in the Minors. Ron Gant still has two more years remaining on a guaranteed contract paying him $5 Million per annum. (Not many teams are interested in obtaining an outfielder with these contract dollars and a .240 batting average, so a trade is not a realistic possibility).
So unless Jordan can play the middle infield, his days with the Cardinals are over.
While we are in the middle infield, what will the 1999 keystone combination look like??
Since the trade of Royce Clayton, the shortstop position has been a revolving door for the Red Birds. From Howard, to Polanco, to Ordaz, it appears that there is no one on the roster who can adequately fill position Number 6.
Rumors are swirling about a trade. Apparently the mid-thirty-something Barry Larkin, with his $5 Million per year contract wants to come to the Gateway City. The ever costing cutting Florida Marlins could be interested in peddling Edgar Renterria. There are shortstops out there. How much (if any) do you want to spend for a shortstop??
Delino DeShields will be providing his services elsewhere. He will also be a victim of the budget numbers. The Red Birds loved his .290 average and 26 stolen bases.
On the other hand, they will not miss him being caught stealing ten times and his nine errors plus his countless mental errors.
The rookie Adam Kennedy looks like the early favorite at second base.
Pat Kelly is always an option, although his .216 batting average in 1998, plus seven errors in fifty-three games did not bode well for his cause.
Eli Marrero is now the everyday catcher with Tom Lampkin as a back-up. Marrero bounced back nicely from the thyroid problem to perform solidly behind the plate.
Fernando Tatis will be the third baseman. He is a prospect with much RAW talent. In 1998, his.287 batting average and seven home runs in 55 games with the Red Birds were good things. His twelve errors in the same fifty-five games was a bad thing. Time will tell if Tatis is the second coming of Mike Schmidt or the second coming of Hector Cruz.
That brings us to the pitching staff.
It is very well documented, almost to the point of being a crutch, of the 1998 Cardinals starting pitching health problems. Before being traded, Todd Stottlemyre was the Ace of the staff with Kent Mercker (the Club's leading winner in '98) as the Number two starter. Matt Morris and Mike Busby spent most of the season on and off the injured list while Alan Benes was the poster boy of the 1998 Disabled List.
On the other hand, the performances of Kent Bottenfield (133 Innings Pitched) and Juan Acevedo (15 Saves) were pleasant surprises.
It appears, barring injuries, that the starting pitching should look like this: Morris, Mercker, Darren Oliver, Bottenfield and #5 (a partner of the firm of Manny Aybar, Mike Busby, Mark Petkovsek, Chad Hutchinson, or Jose Jimenez). Strong Quantity Questionable Quality.
You know, a number one starter would be a fine acquisition for this group. I find it unlikely, though, that a Kevin Brown, or a Randy Johnson, or a Stottlemyre would fit in this team's budget plans. Especially when the Relief Staff is still up in the air.
The Bullpen was the Achilles Heel for the Cardinals in 1998. St. Louis was 69-12 leading after 7 innings, and 77-8 leading after 8 innings. This bullpen led the majors in Blown Saves, but did wonders for the stock price of Pepcid and Zantac.
Jeff Brantley was acquired in the off season to be Dennis Eckerley's replacement. Brantley went 0-5 in 1998, giving up 12 home runs in 48 innings. This is particularly scary when you consider Brantley made his appearance either in Inning 8 or Inning 9.
Juan Acevado was successful with fifteen saves, although he was in and out of the line-up with arm problems. Rick Croushore , the Darling of the bullpen in July and August, started to falter when his opponents saw his pitching routine the second time around.
The state of the bullpen is at best shaky and at worst disturbing.
1999 marks the final year of Tony La Russa's current contract with the Cardinals. One would have to think that the Owners would provide the Manager with the tools to either help or seal his fate. With this in mind, you would have to believe that #10 will throw out all the stops to pad the team's (and ultimately his) win total in 1999.
One last observation: for what it's worth, in the long history of this franchise, the Cardinals never won a pennant or division title in a year that ended in a nine. (What a fun fact this is!!)
Numbers, numbers everywhere but what do they all mean??
Since the Cardinals will be raising ticket prices, and several high salaried players will not be around in 1999 (Jordan, Pagnozzi, Stottlemyre, DeShields, Clayton), there should be some budget funds available to improve the ball club. There are many worthy areas on this team where this cash could be spent.
Since the Cardinals Front Office periodically view this space, Walt, for what it's worth, here is MY priority on the areas you should space this surplus cash: 1.The Bullpen for a Real Closer, 2. A top notch #1 Starter, then, 3. Middle Infield Help.
There are over one hundred days until the Cardinals take the field
at the Ball Park against Milwaukee to open up the 1999 Season.
There is much to do until that time.
I doubt whether the 1999 Major League Baseball Season can match those notable numbers of this season. Nevertheless, it's time to look ahead to new numbers.
But when you think of the Home Team, is it just me, or is 95 Wins more attractive than 71 Home Runs for 1999?
Mike Huss is the host of SportsTalk on WGNU AM-920...from 8-9 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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