Embedded Files
Circuit Clouts
Oct. 26, 1990 • Playoff Edition
Oct. 26, 1990 • Playoff Edition
WORLD SERIES
Toronto Wins First Title
Joyner, Gooden Lead P-Bears to Promised Land
The Toronto Polar Bears shattered several records, including mashing a World Series record 13 home runs, to claim their first UL title in just their seventh year. Rafael Palmeiro homered five times for 12 RBIs, and Wally Joyner homered four times for 8 RBIs. Toronto's 8.0 runs per game was the second most in ULWS history, behind only the 1971 Atlanta Hilltoppers 8.3. Toronto ties Manhattan for the quickest UL title for an expansion team; both teams achieved the feat in their seventh year of existence. Manhattan won the 1968 series 4-2 over Los Angeles.
In 188 previous World Series games, there were just 14 multi-homer games. Toronto batters did it four games in a row: Howard Johnson in Game 1, Wally Joyner in Game 2, and Rafael Palmeiro back-to-back in Games 3 and 4. Joyner's was the first homer hat trick in World Series history, coming in Toronto's only defeat.
Toronto scored half of its 40 runs in the first three innings, building leads of 7-3, 5-0, and 6-2. L.A. starters (Beard, Youmans, and Hurst) gave up 26 hits and 19 runs, for a combined 9.68 ERA. Gooden meanwhile was 4-0, 1.87 in the playoffs, which in a normal year would have been good enough to earn the Lew Burdette Playoff MVP Award. But in this particular year, Wally Joyner hit .404-9-20, 1.408, and HoJo and Palmeiro added six playoff homers apiece.
The loss was Los Angeles' fifth in seven World Series trips, but they end the decade as the only team that made it to Fall Classic five times, one more than Detroit and St. Louis, and the only team to make the playoffs all 10 years.
GAME 1 - TOR 10, LA 3
The Polar Bears got five runs out of the gate, chasing Dave Beard and setting the tone for what was to come. A Wally Joyner RBI single was prelude to Howard Johnson's grand slam. In the second inning, Joyner doubled, driving in two more runs. HoJo added a solo homer in the fourth as Dwight Gooden cruised to an easy Game 1. Tom Brunansky homered for the visitors and Mike Jackson put the game away in a non-save situation.
GAME 2 - LA 8, TOR 7, 12 inn.
A wild and wooly Game 2 saw Toronto answering every Outlaws punch, forcing ties of 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, and 5-5. But when L.A. plated three runs in the 12th, Toronto could only answer with a pair, and the visitors came away with with a split in the Big Smoke. Wally Joyner continued hit torrid streak, homering three times
GAME 3 - TOR 7, LA 5
Another game, another early 5-spot. This time Toronto touched lefty Bruce Hurst for five runs in the third inning: an Ellis Burks RBI single, a run on a wild pitch, and Palmeiro's three run homer. Palmeiro homered again two innings later and the 7-0 looked secure until Los Angeles answered with a 5-spot of their own in the seventh, highlighted by Leon Durham's grand slam. In 188 prior World Series games, only player had hit a grand slam (Sixto Lezcano for Boston in 1978 Game 3). Toronto's Howard Johnson and L.A.'s Leon Durham hit theirs two games apart. Charlie Lea got the win, improving his playoff record to 3-0.
GAME 4 - TOR 11, LA 7
The visitors scored six in the first two innings, bringing to 20 the total of runs scored in the first three innings. Palmeiro and Johnson each homered in the first. Brunansky's two-run shot halved the lead in the bottom of the first, but Palmeiro and Terry Puhl drove in runs in the second to re-establish the four-run lead. Los Angeles rallied to a 7-7 tie late; Sixto Lezcano homered and Robby Thompson hit a go-ahead two-run single off Dave Stieb. But no sooner had the Outlaws tied it up than the P-Bears recaptured the lead off Lee Smith in the ninth. Palmeiro homered, Mariano Duncan hit an RBI double, and George Bell hit a two-run homer, giving Toronto an 11-7 win.
GAME 5 - TOR 3, LA 2
In the one and only pitchers duel of the series, Dave Beard locked horns with Dwight Gooden. Neither team had a hit until the fourth, when Roberto Alomar lead off the Toronto half with a triple. He later scored on Palmeiro's single and Palmeiro scored on Puhl's double. Puhl drove in another on a sac fly in the sixth for a 3-0 lead. Los Angeles again rallied, but only partially, with runs in the sixth and eighth: a Ken Caminiti sac fly and Durham RBI single. But Gooden shut the hosts down when he had to, striking out 11 and allowing just six hits and two runs over 8.2 innings. Michael Jackson generated some excitement in the bottom of the ninth, giving up a single and a walk before inducing a 6-3 groundout by Jay Bell.
WORLD SERIES
Polar Bears Crush Records
The league's top offense for the past three seasons produced when it counted on the game's biggest stage.
• First team with three multi-homer games
• First homer hat trick (Joyner, Game 2)
• Most home runs in a series (Palmeiro 5)
• Most team home runs in a series (13)
• Most RBIs in a series (Palmeiro 12, ties Gorman Thomas, 1977 MAN)
• Most total bases in a series (Joyner 25)
• 2nd most total bases in a series (Palmeiro 24, ties Gorman Thomas, 1977 MAN)
• Second most runs per game in UL World Series history (8.0)
Toronto's lineup produced three of the top four World Series performances in UL history, according to Batting Runs (a component of WAR). Roberto Alomar hit .429 with a .538 OBP and seven runs. That performance ranks #2. Howard Johnson hit .500-3-6, 1.583 for #3 all-time. And Palmeiro's .429-5-12, 1.621 was #4 all-time. Only Lew Burdette's 1966 double-shutout performance outranks the torrid Toronto trio.
Toronto's seven-year run from genesis to apex is tied for the second fastest.
Year of first UL championship:
7 - Manhattan (1968)
7 - Toronto (1990)
9 - Montréal (1982)
20 - San Francisco (1974)
27 - Los Angeles (1981)
na - Seattle (since 1962)
na - Denver (since 1974)
na - Havana (since 1994)
SEMI SERIES
Toronto Powers Past Boston
Joyner Homers Twice in Clincher; Gooden, Lea Win Two
Boston put up a gallant fight, levelling the series with a blowout win and epic comeback, but could not match Toronto's firepower and the stellar arms of Dwight Gooden and Charlie Lea, who each won a pair. Wally Joyner homered twice and drove in six in the clinching 9-3 Game 6 win, and won series MVP honors with .406-5-12. Toronto returns to the World Series for the second year in a row, hoping to make a better showing after last year's four-game sweep by the St. Louis Maroons.
GAME 1 - TOR 4, BOS 2
Dwight Gooden held Boston to three hits and two runs and Mickey Tettleton homered and drove in three as the East Division champs jumped to 1 -0 series lead with a 4-2 win. Howard Johnson also homered for the Polar Bears, who build a a 4-0 lead before Cal Ripken Jr. and Sammy Sosa hit consolation solo homers in the final two innings.
GAME 2 - TOR 5, BOS 4
A see-saw battle with multiple lead changes was ultimately settled by Wally Joyner's two-run homer in the seventh and Michael Jackson's highwire act to lock down the win. Boston's Edgar Martinez' two-run homer off Charlie Lea put Boston ahead 2-1, but Toronto immediately recaptured the lead when Terry Puhl hit a two-run single off Tom Candiotti. The Feds then tied it 3-3 when Lea's wild pitch allowed Kevin Elster to score. Trailing by two in the top of the ninth, Boston chased Lea, loaded the bases, scored a run, but ultimately fell short when Milt Thompson flied out to left off Jackson to end the game.
GAME 3 - BOS 14, TOR 7
Boston was 3-0 against Washington at Fenway, and they picked up where they left off in Game 3, pummeling Scott Sanderson and three relievers for 21 hits and 14 runs. Barry Bonds homered with 3 RBI, Mickey Morandini had four hits, the 1-3 hitters (Dion James, Milt Thompson, and Kirby Puckett) each had three hits, and Darren Daulton added a homer in a comprehensive smackdown. The game was tied 5-5 after three before Boston pulled ahead with six runs in the next two innings. Howard Johnson and Mariano Duncan each homered for Toronto.
GAME 4 - BOS 9, TOR 8 (10 inn)
Boston rallied from a 3-8 deficit with six unanswered runs from the eighth inning on. Duncan had four hits and Roberto Alomar drove in three, as Toronto chased Mike Scott. Boston scored four in the ninth off Brian Holman and Michael Jackson to tie the game 8-8. Rich Coggins had an RBI single, Edgar Martinez scored on a wild pitch, and Morandini delivered a game-tying two-run single. Then in the bottom of the 10th, Puckett, Bonds, and Martinez singled, doubled, and doubled off Jackson, winning the game 9-8 and levelling the series at 2-2.
GAME 5 - TOR 3, BOS 0
Boston's run of five straight playoff wins at home came to an abrupt end at the hands of Dwight Gooden, who authored a three-hit shutout to send the series back north with a 3-2 Toronto lead. Rafael Palmeiro tripled home Wally Joyner, then scored on Terry Puhl's single, as the P-Bears took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Ellis Burks homered to make it 3-0 in the fifth, and Gooden took it home the rest of the way. Dennis Rasmussen was solid for Boston, but was outclassed by the three-time Cy Young winner.
GAME 6 - TOR 9, BOS 3
Before a raucous Ed Werenich Stadium crowd, Toronto touched Boston starter Tom Candiotti for four runs in the fourth, and Boston never had a chance. Wally Joyner hit a pair of three-run homers—one in the first and another in the seventh—and the Polar Bears coasted to a 9-3 win. Charlie Lea notched his second series win with a complete-game effort.
SEMI SERIES
Youmans Castrates Colts
L.A. Rolls With Shutouts and Comebacks
Los Angeles' Floyd Youmans shut out Chicago twice, and the Outlaws staged huge rallies in Games 2 and 3 to ease into the UL World Series with a 4-1 Semi Series win. Youmans struck out 17 and allowed just 10 hits in 18 shutout innings. Los Angeles makes their fourth World Series appearance of the decade, and their first since 1986.
GAME 1 - LA 3, CHI 0
What do you do for an encore after going 11-1 in your first 15 starts with a new club? If you are Floyd Youmans, you toss a five-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and lead your club to a 1-0 Semi Series lead. Chili Davis' two-run homer off Terry Mulholland gave the Outlaws a 2-0 lead, and Andy Van Slyke added an insurance run with a solo poke in the fourth. But this game was all about Youmans, who completely shut down an offense that produced just under seven runs per game in their Hex Series win over St. Louis.
GAME 2 - LA 8, CHI 7 (11 inn)
Los Angeles blew a 5-2 lead, then Chicago blew an 8-5 lead as both bullpens faltered, and the hosts eventually won on Cory Snyder's leadoff homer off Jeff M. Robinson in the 11th. Los Angeles led 5-3 after eight and appeared headed toward a 2-0 series lead when Chicago plated four runs in the top of the ninth of Luis DeLeon and Jim Gott. Benito Santiago homered, John Kruk hit a two-run double, and Alan Trammell drove in Kruk. Now with a 7-5 lead, Chicago put in Rob Dibble, one of the league's elite closers, to put the game away. Instead, the 25-year-old closer gave up two runs on three hits, with Mike Scioscia's two-out single tying the game at 7-7. Lee Smith and Dibble exchanged scoreless 10th innings, setting up Snyder's 11th-inning heroics.
GAME 3 - LA 5, CHI 4
Another late lead turned into a heartbreaking meltdown for the Colts, this time in a no-hit bid in front of their Comiskey Park faithful. A three-run fourth and Alan Trammell's homer in the seventh gave the Ponies a 4-0 lead, while Charles Nagy had a no-hitter until the seventh. Then in the eighth, the wheels, both axles, and several other parts fell off, as Nagy went from Sandy Koufax to Sandy Berger in an instant. Snyder doubled, Sciocia singled, Robby Thompson walked. Then with the bases loaded and one out, the Outlaws rolled the dice with a pinch-hitter, one Eddie Murray. The 33-year-old first baseman was relegated to a bench role this year, starting just 28 games and batting just .258 with 7 HR in the least productive campaign of his 14-year career. But none of that matter after Murray sent Nagy's 0-1 fastball 401 feet over the right-center wall, tying the game with a pinch grand slam. When 3B Gary Sheffield bobbled a ball in the top of the ninth, putting Otis Nixon aboard with one out, the ending was clear to everyone in attendance and watching on TV. Three batters later Thompson singled and Nixon scored from second, sliding under the throw from RF Ivan Calderon to put L.A. ahead. Chicago managed to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Luis DeLeon buckled down and induced a 5-2-3 double play and an Alan Trammell groundout to give the Outlaws a commanding 3-0 series lead.
GAME 4 - CHI 1, LA 0
Facing elimination, Erik Hanson pitched the game of a lifetime, 7.1 shutout innings with 11 strikeouts, outduelling Greg Swindell for a 1-0 win. Alan Trammell's home run in the fourth provided the game's only run. Swindell also allowed just four runs, while fanning seven. Jose Nunez and Ed Vande Berg locked down the win for the Colts.
GAME 5 - LA 1, CHI 0
Floyd Youmans and Terry Mulholland locked horns for a classic playoff duel, battling to a 0-0 score through eight innings. But once again, it was Los Angeles who rose to the occasion and Chicago who faltered. After allowing just two hits in 8.2 innings, Mulholland suddenly and inexplicably surrendered three singles in a row to Thompson, Tom Brunansky, and Snyder, the last allowing the game's only run to score. Youmans pitched two five-hit shutouts with 17 strikeouts in one of the most dominant playoff pitching performances in UL history.
EET Expanding Product Lines
Sensing That It Can “Grow” a New Market, EET Extends Offering
by Sean “Steady On” Holloway, UL Beat Reporter
With the 1990 UL Playoffs going like gangbusters (whatever that means), the GMs with teams involved are seemingly having issues in watching said playoff games. STL skipper Glen Reed hasn’t been seen or heard from in weeks, reportedly locked in his basement while listening to Public Enemy’s first album on repeat. Chicago Steve’s musical recommendations have gone quiet. BOS GM Hetzer was rumored to suffer a stroke and be in intensive care, while WAS GM Mark “Not Wahlberg” Waller has allegedly been on a week-long high.
But the most passionate pleas for help have come from LA’s Peter Vays. The Outlaws’ GM, on track to guide LA to Team of the Decade for the 1980s, nearly broke down at his playoff preview press conference in LA. “No one knows what it’s like when you win all the time!” bemoaned Vays. “Every year LA wins the division or finishes highly, which means that every year I’m in the playoffs! Who wants that kind of stress? I wish there was some way of not being so anxious and nervous. This (playoffs) is a lot less stressful when your team is not playing.”
Those smart guys at EET saw an opening, and boy did they fill it. Mere days after Vays’ cries for help, EET and the UL held a joint presser where UL Special Assistant to The Commish, Lance Mueller, announced that the League and the company, known for its ability to elevate performance, are teaming up once again by introducing a new 100% natural stress relief supplement that has been specifically formulated for everyone from a UL GM to the casual UL observer. For those suffering from both stress and – ahem – issues down below, EET will also offer a combined stress relief/ED drug – two for the price of one.
Commented Mueller: “We realize that having to suffer the pain, heartache and agony of constantly winning is extremely stressful. The UL wants to do all it can to help whoever is stressed out due to fake baseball. As it pertains to the Outlaws’ GM, the League is even ready to move Vays to one of the two future expansion teams being considered in the hopes that not making the playoffs will relieve Vays of his stress should the supplement not work. We would, of course, first discuss at the 1991 GM Offseason Meeting, but we also would expect this measure to pass nearly unanimously if put to a vote of all GMs.”
Stress! Nervousness! Anxiety! And yet EET is already on top of things and ready to blow the doors off this new market, while the UL gains more revenue from EET as the League now has two sponsorship deals! Hmmmm…..makes you wonder if, in some weird and roundabout way, that UL teams’ new media deal in 1994 will see each team’s media revenues rise.
HEX SERIES
James Leads Feds To Semis
Boston Wins Four After Two Shutout Losses
The Boston Federals topped the Washington Monuments, 4-2, in their first-ever playoff meeting, sending the Feds to their first Semi Series in 10 years. Dion James hit .464 and drove in eight runs, as the #2 seed Federals overcame back-to-back shutout losses in the first two games to rattle off four straight wins and set up a East Semis matchup with the division-winning Toronto Polar Bears.
GAME 1 - WAS 4, BOS 0
Bret Saberhagen and Paul Assenmacher combined for a six-hit shutout and Barry Bonnell and Rich Gedman homered, as the Monuments cruised to a 4-0 win in the opener at Griffith Stadium. Roger Clemens was solid for Boston, allowing just four hits in six innings, but was victimized by Kirby Puckett's throwing error in the third, which allowed Stan Javier to score the first run, then Bonnell's two-out solo poke in the fourth. Assenmacher retired all five batters he faced, including Puckett, Barry Bonds, and Edgar Martinez to earn the save.
GAME 2 - WAS 5, BOS 0
Invoking the maxim (or was it a song) "everything you can I, I can do better", it was Teddy Higuera's turn to shut down Boston. The 31-year-old Mexican southpaw tossed eight shutout innings, allowing just four hits. The hosts touched Mike Scott for five runs, including a pair on Cecil Cooper's eighth inning homer. The 39-year-old longtime Cleveland Baron was playing in Double-A Fort Worth in 1988 and hit just one home run all year before delivering a pinch dong with Gedman aboard. Boston, the 3rd-ranked team in OPS and 4th in scoring, was held to five singles and no extra-base hits and has been out for 18 straight innings.
GAME 3 - BOS 3, WAS 1
Back home at Fenway, Dennis Rasmussen took his star turn in Game 3, holding Washington to one run in six innings. The Feds ended their scoring drought right away, plating runs in the first two innings on an Edgar Martinez sac fly and Dion James double. The teams traded runs in the fourth and the score held at 3-1 until the end. Ripken and Morandini also doubled, as Boston finally got to second base. Larry McWilliams took the loss for the Monuments.
GAME 4 - BOS 16, WAS 5
After averaging one run in the first three contests, the Feds' offense exploded for 24 hits and 16 runs, sending Bob Tewksbury to an early shower, then piling on against 40-year-old Rick Reuschel. Leadoff man Dion James had five hits, including a double and a dinger, and drove in five runs. 2B Mickey Morandini had three hits and three RBIs, and Darren Daulton doubled twice and scored thrice. Tom Candiotti was solid, allowing just four runs in six innings.
GAME 5 - BOS 1, WAS 0
In a Game 1 rematch of Saberhagen and Clemens, it was the latter who rose to the occasion in Game 5. The Rocket went the distance, shutting out the Monuments on four hits and 11 strikeouts to move the Feds within a game of their first playoff series win since 1980. Dion James led off the game with a single, stole second, and scored on Kirby Puckett's RBI single, and that was all the runs in the game. Saberhagen scattered seven hits over seven innings, but that first and only run would prove decisive. James and Morandini had a pair of hits each, accounting for half of Boston's runs.
GAME 6 - BOS 5, WAS 2
Back in Griffith Stadium with their backs against the wall, the Monuments collapsed, blowing an early 2-0 lead as the visitors rallied with three-run seventh to lock up the Hex Series, 5-2. Trailing 1-2 in the top of the seventh, Boston got runs from Daulton's two-run double and Cal Ripken Jr's single, as Washington left Teddy Higuera in the game one inning too long. Sammy Sosa homered in the eighth for an insurance run, and Ken Howell got his second save of the series. Kirby Puckett also homered in the game. Ryne Sandberg put the home team ahead with a two-run double in the third and ended the series with a team-best .308 average. Dion James was named series MVP, with a .464-1-8 statline.
HEX SERIES
Colts Trample Maroons
"Ripped a New Sphincter" GM Glen Reed Laments
The party lasted into the wee hours of the night on the South Side of Chicago after the Colts trounced St. Louis for the third time in six days to win the first playoff series in 17 years. Chicago outscored St. Louis 38-13 in those three wins, interpersed between a pair of Maroons wins that forced the series to seven games. But posterity will remember this series not for it length, but for its girth, as the Colts offense overpowered Maroons' pitching and ripped St. Louis a new sphincter, according to distraught GM Glen Reed.
GAME 1 - STL 7, CHI 3
Jamie Moyer had a solid outing, allowing just one run in 6+ innings, before Melido Perez ruined everything. The rookie Dominican righthander, apparently suffering a bad case of playoff jitters, gave up five runs while retiring a single batter. The eighth-inning outburst was highlighted by LF Glenn Braggs' 3-run homer that put the Maroons up 4-2. Kevin Seitzer also drove in three runs, and Rickey Henderson was 3-for-4 with a steal. Albert Belle's two-run shot off Dave Schmidt put the Colts up 2-1 in the fourth, but the bullpen meltdown flipped home-field advantage to the Gateway City.
GAME 2 - CHI 3, STL 2
Trailing 1-2 going into the ninth, St. Louis tied it up when Julio Franco singled off Melido Perez to plate Alfredo Griffin. For a moment, it looked like Melido might be the goat two nights in a row. Alas, Bill Spiers bailed him out in the next half-inning. With Joe Sambito on the hill, the 23-year-old infielder led off with a walk, then slide safely into third under the throw from Dan Pasqua on Marquis Grissom's single, then slide under the throw from Franco on Craig Biggio's groundball to second for the winner. Rookie starter Charles Nagy looked sharp for Chicago, allowing just five hits and one run in seven innings. Seitzer was 3-for-4 for the visitors.
GAME 3 - CHI 15, STL 7
With just one win in his last eight regular season starts, a nervous Ed Whitson took the mound at Sportsman's Park for Game 3. Three short innings later, the 34-year-old righthand sat motionless with a towel draped over his head, the scoreboard reading 9-2 for the visitors. Chicago's 1-8 hitters each had at least two hits apiece. Ivan Calderon, Lance Johnson, and Albert Belle all homered, and Belle drove in four. Chicago scored in seven separate innings and put up four crooked numbers. Alvin Davis hit homer and a pair of doubles for the hosts. Maroons GM Glen Reed did not take questions after the game, telling assembled reporters that he would hold a press conference "if and when we win the World Series."
GAME 4 - CHI 10, STL 1
Trying to put the previous night's meltdown behind them, the Maroons and their faithful instead suffered through deja vu all over again, as Scott Garrelts coughed up nine runs in 2.2 innings, essentially ending the game before most patrons were settled in their seats. Calderon drove in four, and Alan Trammell was 3-for-5 with three RBIs, allowing Terry Mulholland to cruise to an easy win with one run in eight innings.
GAME 5 - STL 2, CHI 1
Dan Pasqua hit a walkoff homer off Melido Perez, ending St. Louis' three-game skid and keeping their season alive. Braggs homered in the fifth to put the Maroons up 1-0, but Albert Belle knotted it up in the 7th, setting up Pasqua's dramatic game-winner. Schmidt, Steve Howe, and Joe Sambito scattered six hits and the defense erased four baserunners with double plays.
GAME 6 - STL 4, CHI 2
Rickey Henderson homered twice, Steven Ontiveros had a solid start, and the Maroons' bullpen held the win, as St. Louis forced a seventh and deciding game with a 4-2 Game 6 win. Benito Santiago homered and doubled and Charles Nagy took the loss for the hosts.
GAME 7 - CHI 13, STL 5
Another playoff start, another playoff meltdown for Ed Whitson. This time, he allowed five runs in 1.2 innings, and a parade of six relievers could not stem the tide, as Chicago rattled off 16 hits for 13 runs and their third blowout win in six days. Calderon, Trammell, and Jack Howell homered for Chicago. Calderon and Spiers had three hits, and Trammell scored three runs. The series win was the first for the Colts since their 1973 World Series win over the Cleveland Barons. Ivan Calderon was named Series MVP with .424-2-6. Chicago next faces Los Angeles in a Semi Series battle of the league's top two pitching teams.
Outlaws League's Best
Colts End 5-Year Playoff Drought, STL Holds Off Leones
In a year of churn, with many teams moving up and down the standings, the Los Angeles Outlaws were a model of consistency, winning their eighth division pennant in nine years and their second President's Trophy, with a league-best 98-62 mark. After last year's blip, L.A. was once again the top pitching team, for the eighth time in nine years. Newcomer Floyd Youmans went 11-1 in Black-and-Red and veteran closer Lee Smith posted the best ERA of his 10-year career.
GM Steve Haugh's Chicago Colts nabbed second place, capping a two-year journey from 100 losses to the second best record in the league (96-64). The Colts had the second-best pitching staff, but perhaps more impressive: they produced the most productive Colts offense since 1967.
St. Louis, the two-time World Series and three-time President's Trophy winners, looked like mere mortals this year, winning fewer than 90 games for the first time in seven years and not clinching until the final day. The upstart Havana Leones were in hot pursuit the second half. After a 35-48 start that had them in the conversation for a top-3 pick, the Leones roared a 52-25 finish, including 12-2 down the stretch and a doubleheader win over St. Louis on the penultimate day of the season that pulled them within a game. Alas, a 5-0 loss at Chicago ended Havana's Cinderella season, but not before they logged a 16-game improvement and their first winning season in club history.
Seattle regressed by 11 games and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1987. Atlanta saw marginal improvement, but not enough to avoid a third straight losing campaign. Denver and San Francisco took big steps backward and never figured in any postseason scenarios, while Florida won the first overall pick with a 109-loss inaugural campaign.
Toronto Tops East
Mons Fall Just Short; Boston in First Playoffs since 1980
The Toronto Polar Bears won their third straight pennant, and their first in the new super-divisions. The P-Bears lead the league in scoring for the third straight year, led by home run and RBI champion Rafael Palmeiro and hit, run, and WAR leader Roberto Alomar.
The Washington Monuments revamped midseason and finished a close second, just a game back. Five-eighths of their lineup and half the rotation were not on the club a year ago, and new 2B Ryne Sandberg and CF Stan Javier made key contributions down the stretch.
Boston held third most of the year, but faced a late challenge from the Detroit Griffins. Unlike years past, however, the Fed held on, going 15-9 in the final month to land two games ahead of the Flyin' Lions and secure their first playoffs in a decade.
Elsewhere in the division, Brooklyn was the most-improved team in the league, jumping 20 games to 81-79, and Cleveland ended a run of five straight losing seasons, finishing .500 for the third time in 11 years. Manhattan's run of six playoff years came to an end, and Montreal managed to finish nine games behind the expansion Keystone Starlings.
Ups and Downs
Boston, Havana Headline Surprise Teams
Former Pacific Powers Fade in Expanded West
Blame it on expansion if you will, but the 1990 season saw more "churn" in the league standings than most seasons, as measured by team records changing by 10 or more games. Five teams took big forward strides, led by the Brooklyn Superbas, who improved by 20 games. Of course this was helped by two teams absorbing more than 105 losses, only one of which was an expansion team. At the other end, three clubs from the former Pacific Division—the league's most competitive division a year ago—regressed significantly.
Both Detroit and Havana (67-95 and 72-90 last year, respectively) were in the playoff hunt down to the season's final days and landed fourth in their respective divisions. Detroit finished 88-72, just two games out of the playoff zone and four out of first in the East. Havana, meanwhile, was the circuit's best team in the second half (52-25) and were only eliminated on the last day of the season, after a dramatic double-header win over St. Louis on Sept. 29 pulled them within a game.
The Boston Federals were the biggest overperformers relative to preseason predictions. The Feds, who have not made the playoffs since 1980, were picked 13th and 16th in Opening Day polls, but improved by 12 games to 90-70 and, for once, avoided a late season collapse to secure their first October baseball in the Ryan Hetzer era.
Denver and San Francisco were picked 5th and 7th in Reed's Read, and Seattle 7th by BNN's prognosticators. But Seattle finished .500, tied for 10th overall, and the Teeners and Spiders tied for 14th with identical 72-88 records. All those new divisional road trips to hot and humid Havana, Florida, Atlanta, and St. Louis apparently took their toll.
BRO +20
DET +19
HAV +16
BOS +12
CHI +10
SEA -11
SF -11
DEN -10
1990 All-UL Team
Griffey, Larkin Win First Ullies
The Toronto Polar Bears again led the league with three All-UL Team nominations. Cy Young favorite Dwight Gooden won his sixth, 2B Roberto Alomar his second, and OF Rafael Palmeiro his first. Washington also had three winners. Catcher Rich Gedman earned his second Ullie five years after his first nomination, Wade Boggs won his fifth straight, and Bret "Bert" Saberhagen his third.
The All-UL Team was expanded from 12 to 15 players this year, the first change since its creation in 1951, when the league consisted of just eight teams. The three new slots were allocated to a "wildcard" infielder and outfield and a fourth starting pitcher. The first "wildcard" awards went to Boggs and Palmeiro, who were edged out for the 3B and LF awards by first-time winner Matt Williams and two-time MVP Barry Bonds.
Other first-time winners were Detroit's Fred McGriff, San Francisco shortstop Barry Larkin, Brooklyn's Ken Griffey Jr, and L.A. closer Lee Smith. Smith ranks 4th all-time with 310 saves, and led the league with 40 in 1988.
Atlanta, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles each garnered two Ullies—the Superbas for the first time since 1969 (Dick McAuliffe and Mickey Mantle). The Toppers have claimed multiple Ullies in four of the last five years.
The All-UL Team is announced between the regular season and the playoffs and previews the more prestigious Most Valuable Player, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year awards. Leading candidates for the MVP include WAR leader Roberto Alomar, home run and RBI co-leader Rafael Palmeiro, slugging and OPS leader Barry Bonds, and batting champion Wade Boggs.
The Cy race is a bit more straight-forward, with Dwight Gooden the odds-on favorite for his fifth Cy Young Award. Other contenders include Fernando Valenzuela, who won 20 games and led the league in WAR; Roger Clemens, who was 3rd in WAR and 4th in striketouts; and WHIP champion Dave Beard, who was 3rd in wins, 4th in WAR, and 5th in ERA.
Rookie of the Year will likely come down to Chris Nabholz, only the third rookie ERA champ in league history and first overall pick Frank Thomas of Florida, who led all rookies in most offensive categories. Keystone CF Jerome Walton is a good bet to finish in the top three, and catcher Brent Mayne in the top five.
1990 ALL-UL TEAM
C Rich Gedman WAS (2)
1B Fred McGriff DET (1)
2B Roberto Alomar TOR (2)
3B Matt Williams BRO (1)
SS Barry Larkin SF (1)
IF Wade Boggs WAS (5)
LF Barry Bonds BOS (3)
CF Ken Griffey Jr BRO (1)
RF Tony Gwynn ATL (4)
OF Rafael Palmeiro TOR (1)
SP Dwight Gooden TOR (6)
SP Fernie Valenzuela ATL (3)
SP Dave Beard LA (2)
SP Bret Saberhagen WAS (3)
RP Lee Smith LA (1)
East Hex Series Preview
Washington-Boston in First Playoff Meeting
Washington makes its fifth playoff appearance in seven years, and features the fourth-best pitching staff, headlined by Bret Saberhagen and Teddy Higuera. Boston, sporting its best offense since 1954, is making its first postseason appearance in a decade.
This is the first playoff meeting of two founding UL franchises. Washington won the season series 7-4. Larry McWilliams was 3-0, 1.89 in 3 starts and Rich Gedman hit .342-6-13, 1.349. Roger Clemens struggled against the Monuments (1-2, 4.29), but Mickey Morandini hit .450 in 20 AB.
West Hex Series Preview
Chicago-St. Louis in First Playoff Meeting
Chicago and St. Louis have never met in the playoffs. Chicago makes their playoff return after five year absence, with the #2-rated pitching staff. Their last appearance in 1985 resulted in a seven-game Hex Series loss to Washington. This is St. Louis' sixth straight playoff appearance, but first time they have played in the Hex round since 1986.
Chicago won the regular season series, 6-5. Bill Spiers hit .457-1-10 and Terry Mulholland had a 2.57 ERA in two starts. For the Maroons, Rickey Henderson hit .348-4-6 and Alejandro Pena was 2-0, 0.84 in 8 appearances.
Standings
Standings
East W L GB 2ndH R RA
Toronto 92 68 - 44-32 1 10
Washington 91 69 1 46-30 12 4
Boston 90 70 2 42-34 4 7
Detroit 88 72 4 46-31 5 5
Brooklyn 81 79 11 38-38 11 12 Cleveland 80 80 12 39-37 15 3
Manhattan 79 81 13 39-37 9 8
Keystone 63 97 29 32-44 14 18
Montreal 54 106 38 19-57 17 16
West W L GB Last R RA
Los Angeles 98 62 - 51-25 10 1
Chicago 96 64 2 49-27 13 2
St. Louis 89 71 9 42-34 3 6
Havana 87 73 11 52-25 8 11
Seattle 80 80 18 33-43 6 13
Atlanta 77 83 21 35-41 7 14
Denver 72 88 26 32-44 2 17
San Francisco 72 88 26 29-47 16 9
Florida 51 109 47 17-59 18 15
League Leaders
League Leaders
Batting Average
Wade Boggs WAS .377
Roberto Alomar TOR .373
Tony Gwynn ATL .371
Bip Roberts MON .364
Roberto Kelly MAN .353
Kirby Puckett BOS .352
Ken Griffey Jr BRO .342
Kal Daniels HAV .339
Chris James DET .334
Tony Fernandez DEN .333
Home Runs
Rafael Palmeiro TOR 51
Mark McGwire ATL 41
Barry Bonds BOS 40
Matt Williams BRO 40
Eric Davis ATL 38
Howard Johnson TOR 38
Fred McGriff DET 38
Mickey Tettleton TOR 36
Rob Deer SF 32
Cory Snyder LA 32
RBIs
Barry Bonds BOS 126
Rafael Palmeiro TOR 126
Matt Williams BRO 124
Mark McGwire ATL 122
Eric Davis ATL 119
Kevin Mitchell DET 118
Fred McGriff DET 116
Wally Joyner TOR 109
John Shelby SEA 108
Rich Gedman WAS 106
bWAR
Roberto Alomar TOR 9.5
Tony Gwynn ATL 7.5
Barry Bonds BOS 7.4
Wade Boggs WAS 7.4
Rich Gedman WAS 7.2
Matt Williams BRO 7.0
Shane Mack HAV 6.5
Ken Griffey Jr BRO 6.5
Ryne Sandberg MAN 6.5
Kevin Mitchell DET 6.4
Earned Run Average
Chris Nabholz DET 2.58
Jose DeLeon SF 2.68
Dwight Gooden TOR 2.75
Bruce Hurst LA 3.03
Dave Beard LA 3.04
Bret Saberhagen WAS 3.05
Den Rasmussen BOS 3.13
Jamie Moyer CHI 3.16
Erik Hanson CHI 3.18
Bruce Ruffin SEA 3.19
Wins
Dwight Gooden TOR 21
Fern Valenzuela ATL 20
Dave Beard LA 18
Roger Clemens BOS 18
Mark Langston HAV 18
Den Rasmussen BOS 18
David Cone BRO 17
Kevin Ritz HAV 17
Bruce Hurst LA 16
Charlie Lea TOR 16
Terry Mulholland CHI 16
Strikeouts
Floyd Youmans LA 261
Fern Valenzuela ATL 253
Mark Langston HAV 248
Roger Clemens BOS 247
Dwight Gooden TOR 233
Dave Beard LA 220
Jose DeLeon SF 207
Bobby Witt BOS 204
Teddy Higuera WAS 196
Doug Drabek MAN 192
pWAR
Fern Valenzuela ATL 7.0
Dwight Gooden TOR 6.5
Roger Clemens BOS 5.2
Dave Beard LA 5.2
Floyd Youmans LA 5.1
Mark Langston HAV 5.1
Jose DeLeon SF 5.0
Matt Young MAN 4.8
Brt Saberhagen WAS 4.7
Britt Burns BRO 4.6
Infield Zone Rating
Alan Trammell CHI 12.7
Rene Gonzalez CLE 12.2
Craig Grebeck DET 11.0
Cal Ripken Jr BOS 10.3
Ozzie Smith DEN 10.0
Outfield Zone Rating
Lloyd Moseby MON 10.6
Devon White SF 10.2
Stan Javier WAS 10.0
Henry Cotto SEA 9.3
John Shelby SEA 8.8
Awards
Awards
Batter of the Month
APR Roberto Alomar TOR
MAY Darren Daulton BOS
JUN Roberto Alomar TOR
JUL Rafael Palmeiro TOR
AUG Ken Griffey Jr BRO
SEP Eric Davis ATL
Pitcher of the Month
APR Mike Scott BOS
MAY Roger Clemens BOS
JUN Jose DeLeon SF
JUL Mark Langston HAV
AUG Dave Beard LA
SEP Lee Smith LA
Rookie of the Month
APR Melido Perez CHI
MAY Randy Tomlin DET
JUN Albert Belle CHI
JUL Frank E. Thomas FLO
AUG Frank E. Thomas FLO
SEP Chris Nabholz DET
Player of the Week
4/9 Roberto Alomar TOR
4/16 Hal Morris CLE
4/23 Rob Deer SF
4/30 Tony Fernandez DEN
5/7 Wally Backman KEY
5/14 Tony Bernazard BRO
5/21 Darren Daulton BOS
5/28 Matt Williams BRO
6/4 Roberto Kelly MAN
6/11 Andy Van Slyke LA
6/18 Lonnie Smith MON
6/25 Ken Griffey Jr BRO
7/2 Benito Santiago CHI
7/9 Roberto Alomar TOR
7/16 Phil Bradley DEN
7/23 B.J. Surhoff KEY
7/30 Rafael Palmeiro TOR
8/6 Chris Sabo MAN
8/13 John Kruk CHI
8/20 Shane Mack HAV
8/27 Roberto Alomar TOR
9/3 Willie Upshaw SEA
9/10 Juan Samuel KEY
9/17 Luis Aguayo ATL
9/24 Brian Harper SEA
Injuries
Injuries
CHI RP Jeff Montgomery (6 mo)
WAS 3B Wade Boggs (4 mo)
WAS SS Robin Yount (4 wk)
WAS LF Lonnie Smith (4 wk)
East Division
East Division
92-68 (-2)
3rd overall, 1st in runs, 10th in runs against
The Sailors of the Floe showed amazing consistency in 1990, scoring 5.4 and allowing 4.5 runs per game, exactly the same as a year ago. Toronto led the league in scoring for a third straight year, with a franchise best .286 team batting average. Roberto Alomar let the batting title slip away with an ill-timed slump (.233 in his last seven games), but still led the league with 239 hits, 47 doubles, 136 runs, 364 total bases, and 9.5 WAR, and should challenge Barry Bonds for Most Valuable Player. Rafael Palmeiro (.293-51-126) won HR and RBI titles, Wally Joyner had his third straight .300-30-100 season, Howard Johnson contributed 38 HR and 105 RBI, and Ellis Burks' .311-28-86 was almost an afterthought.
Dwight Gooden (21-3, 2.75) had his fifth straight 20-win season, though his homers and walks were up and his 6.5 WAR the lowest of his career. So explosive was the run support that all four other starters had 10+ wins, despite ERAs over 4.00. Charlie Lea, Scott Sanderson, and Brian Holman each pitched over 220 innings, Lea with 16 wins and 166 Ks. The bullpen was a major weakness when Michael Jackson wasn't on the mound—no other reliever posted an ERA under 4.75. But when MJ was on the hill, he dominated, with 23 saves and a 1.90 ERA.
The defense, never a strength, was marginally improved, with team ZR edging up from -48 to -22, though HoJo was a statue at third base (-10.4).
The Big Smoke went out in the Semis in '88 and lost the World Series last year. Bears fans will expect nothing short of a UL title this October.
3rd overall, 1st in runs, 10th in runs against
The Sailors of the Floe showed amazing consistency in 1990, scoring 5.4 and allowing 4.5 runs per game, exactly the same as a year ago. Toronto led the league in scoring for a third straight year, with a franchise best .286 team batting average. Roberto Alomar let the batting title slip away with an ill-timed slump (.233 in his last seven games), but still led the league with 239 hits, 47 doubles, 136 runs, 364 total bases, and 9.5 WAR, and should challenge Barry Bonds for Most Valuable Player. Rafael Palmeiro (.293-51-126) won HR and RBI titles, Wally Joyner had his third straight .300-30-100 season, Howard Johnson contributed 38 HR and 105 RBI, and Ellis Burks' .311-28-86 was almost an afterthought.
Dwight Gooden (21-3, 2.75) had his fifth straight 20-win season, though his homers and walks were up and his 6.5 WAR the lowest of his career. So explosive was the run support that all four other starters had 10+ wins, despite ERAs over 4.00. Charlie Lea, Scott Sanderson, and Brian Holman each pitched over 220 innings, Lea with 16 wins and 166 Ks. The bullpen was a major weakness when Michael Jackson wasn't on the mound—no other reliever posted an ERA under 4.75. But when MJ was on the hill, he dominated, with 23 saves and a 1.90 ERA.
The defense, never a strength, was marginally improved, with team ZR edging up from -48 to -22, though HoJo was a statue at third base (-10.4).
The Big Smoke went out in the Semis in '88 and lost the World Series last year. Bears fans will expect nothing short of a UL title this October.
91-69 (-4)
4th overall, 12th in runs, 4th in runs against
The Washington Monuments are the latter-day Los Angeles Outlaws. Before 1982 L.A. was known for a run of 2nd- and 3rd-place finishes—14 in 21 seasons. The Mons have placed or showed in six of the last seven years. This year, they finished just one game behind Toronto on the way to their fourth 90-win season in six years.
Washington's roster featured perhaps the biggest collection of future Hall of Famers in recent times. The regular eight were Gedman, Horner, Sandberg, Boggs, Yount, Raines, Moseby, and Winfield. Though they lacked the pure firepower of Toronto', 2-5 hitters Winfield, Sandberg, Gedman, and Horner provided reliable production, with each contributing an average of 25 HR and 87 RBI. Boggs backed into his third batting title—and first since 1984. The 31-year-old third baseman trailed Roberto Alomar in the batting race when Brooklyn's Jose Uribe shattered his ankle on a slide into second on Sept. 22. Alomar hit just .233 down the stretch, however, handing the batting title to Boggs.
Bret Saberhagen (15-11, 3.05) had an off-year by his standards, ending his run of three straight 19-win years and ballooning last year's league-best ERA by a full run. Still, Bert was 2nd in WHIP and 6th in ERA, and his 114 career wins is second only to Dwight Gooden among pitchers under 28. And while Teddy Higuera (14-10, 4.50) had the worst year of his six-year career, 35-year-old Larry McWilliams (14-9, 3.40, 3.8 WAR) more than compensated, providing the third star in the rotation.
If Washington's rotation was solid, then its bullpen was world-class. The pen's 3.23 ERA was best in the league, with four pitchers posting sub-2.80 ERAs. Closer Paul Assenmacher notched 26 saves with a 2.41 ERA, and the Mons had the best record in one-run (22-14) ane extra-inning (13-6) games.
Three losses in the final four games cost the Monuments the pennant— none hurt them more than the 2-6 loss to Toronto on Sep. 27, missing a chance to move into a first place tie.
4th overall, 12th in runs, 4th in runs against
The Washington Monuments are the latter-day Los Angeles Outlaws. Before 1982 L.A. was known for a run of 2nd- and 3rd-place finishes—14 in 21 seasons. The Mons have placed or showed in six of the last seven years. This year, they finished just one game behind Toronto on the way to their fourth 90-win season in six years.
Washington's roster featured perhaps the biggest collection of future Hall of Famers in recent times. The regular eight were Gedman, Horner, Sandberg, Boggs, Yount, Raines, Moseby, and Winfield. Though they lacked the pure firepower of Toronto', 2-5 hitters Winfield, Sandberg, Gedman, and Horner provided reliable production, with each contributing an average of 25 HR and 87 RBI. Boggs backed into his third batting title—and first since 1984. The 31-year-old third baseman trailed Roberto Alomar in the batting race when Brooklyn's Jose Uribe shattered his ankle on a slide into second on Sept. 22. Alomar hit just .233 down the stretch, however, handing the batting title to Boggs.
Bret Saberhagen (15-11, 3.05) had an off-year by his standards, ending his run of three straight 19-win years and ballooning last year's league-best ERA by a full run. Still, Bert was 2nd in WHIP and 6th in ERA, and his 114 career wins is second only to Dwight Gooden among pitchers under 28. And while Teddy Higuera (14-10, 4.50) had the worst year of his six-year career, 35-year-old Larry McWilliams (14-9, 3.40, 3.8 WAR) more than compensated, providing the third star in the rotation.
If Washington's rotation was solid, then its bullpen was world-class. The pen's 3.23 ERA was best in the league, with four pitchers posting sub-2.80 ERAs. Closer Paul Assenmacher notched 26 saves with a 2.41 ERA, and the Mons had the best record in one-run (22-14) ane extra-inning (13-6) games.
Three losses in the final four games cost the Monuments the pennant— none hurt them more than the 2-6 loss to Toronto on Sep. 27, missing a chance to move into a first place tie.
90-70 (+12)
5th overall, 4th in runs, 7th in runs against
Boston had the franchise's best offensive year since 1954's Jackie Robinson-Vic Wertz-Larry Doby New York Gothams. The attack again was led by MVP favorite Barry Bonds (.329-40-126), who won his first RBI title and led the league in slugging and OPS for the third year running. Catcher Darren Daulton (.299-24-101, .907) put up career power numbers while falling one hit shy of .300. RF Kirby Puckett had career highs with a .352 average, 93 RBI, and .903 OPS. And sophomore Edgar "Allan" Martinez (.295-12-97, .814) was the tell-tale heart of the lineup, emerging as an elite third baseman. Rookie 2B Mickey Morandini had a solid maidan voyage (.288), providing a needed upgrade at a key position.
The defense committed just 54 errors, fewest in club history. The glove stars included Cal Ripken Jr (+10.3 ZR), CF Milt Thompson (+7.9), and RF Kirby Puckett (+6.2).
The pitching staff was among the most-improved in the league, finishing in the top half for just the second time since 1980. Roger Clemens won a career-high 18 and led the league in K/9 and the staff with 5.2 WAR. Dennis Rasmussen matched Clemens 18-6 mark, with a career-high 4.0 WAR, and lead the team with a 3.13 ERA. And Tom Candiotti's career-best 1.17 WHIP helped him to 15 wins, including a no-hitter on Aug. 21. The bullpen ranked 11th in ERA, perhaps the biggest weakness heading into the playoffs.
5th overall, 4th in runs, 7th in runs against
Boston had the franchise's best offensive year since 1954's Jackie Robinson-Vic Wertz-Larry Doby New York Gothams. The attack again was led by MVP favorite Barry Bonds (.329-40-126), who won his first RBI title and led the league in slugging and OPS for the third year running. Catcher Darren Daulton (.299-24-101, .907) put up career power numbers while falling one hit shy of .300. RF Kirby Puckett had career highs with a .352 average, 93 RBI, and .903 OPS. And sophomore Edgar "Allan" Martinez (.295-12-97, .814) was the tell-tale heart of the lineup, emerging as an elite third baseman. Rookie 2B Mickey Morandini had a solid maidan voyage (.288), providing a needed upgrade at a key position.
The defense committed just 54 errors, fewest in club history. The glove stars included Cal Ripken Jr (+10.3 ZR), CF Milt Thompson (+7.9), and RF Kirby Puckett (+6.2).
The pitching staff was among the most-improved in the league, finishing in the top half for just the second time since 1980. Roger Clemens won a career-high 18 and led the league in K/9 and the staff with 5.2 WAR. Dennis Rasmussen matched Clemens 18-6 mark, with a career-high 4.0 WAR, and lead the team with a 3.13 ERA. And Tom Candiotti's career-best 1.17 WHIP helped him to 15 wins, including a no-hitter on Aug. 21. The bullpen ranked 11th in ERA, perhaps the biggest weakness heading into the playoffs.
88-72 (+19)
7th overall, 5th in runs, 5th in runs against
Detroit has all the pieces to make a deep playoff run, with one major caveat: they didn't make the playoffs. Despite that minor detail, GM Sean Holloway must be pleased with the resurgence of his club following a dismal 95-loss campaign in '89. Detroit's vaunted offense proved that last year's power outage was an aberration, returning to the top-5 for the eighth time in 10 years after a dip to 13th.
Corner infielders Kevin "World" Mitchell and Fred "Crime Dog" McGriff were the best 3-4 hitters this side of Toronto. Combined they hit .315-67-234, 10.9 WAR. McGriff even provided his own Fourth of July fireworks with a homer hat trick. LF Chris James led the club with 201 hits and a .334 average. The attack also benefitted from a pair of rookies: CF Steve Finley swiped 30 bases and had a .355 OBP, and 2B Craig Grebeck hit 25 doubles and drove in 59 runs while ranking third among all infielders in defense.
Speaking of rookies, the real story of the 1990 Detroit Griffins was the rookie tandem of Randy Tomlin and Chris Nabholz, the first and fifth overall picks. Other teams have trotted out two rookies in their rotation from day one, but none have done it successfully until these Griffins. Tomlin was the early season darling, starting 5-1, 1.71 and earning Rookie of the Month in May. But Nabholz dominated down the stretch, going 8-2, 1.08 in his last 12 starts to earn the ERA title. The 23-year-old from Harrisburg, PA is joins Stu Miller (1952) and Dwight Gooden (1984) as the only rookies to win the ERA title.
Ultimately, two things held the team back: the bullpen and an August slump. The pen ranked just 9th. Closer Mikey Stanton had just 23 saves with 7 blown saves, and Mark Guthrie led the league with 22 Meltdowns, my new favorite statistic. Detroit was 8-15 from Aug. 4-28, a span that included a five-game losing streak and eight games scoring two runs or less. A strong 16-8 finish lifted the team back into contention, but they fell two games short.
7th overall, 5th in runs, 5th in runs against
Detroit has all the pieces to make a deep playoff run, with one major caveat: they didn't make the playoffs. Despite that minor detail, GM Sean Holloway must be pleased with the resurgence of his club following a dismal 95-loss campaign in '89. Detroit's vaunted offense proved that last year's power outage was an aberration, returning to the top-5 for the eighth time in 10 years after a dip to 13th.
Corner infielders Kevin "World" Mitchell and Fred "Crime Dog" McGriff were the best 3-4 hitters this side of Toronto. Combined they hit .315-67-234, 10.9 WAR. McGriff even provided his own Fourth of July fireworks with a homer hat trick. LF Chris James led the club with 201 hits and a .334 average. The attack also benefitted from a pair of rookies: CF Steve Finley swiped 30 bases and had a .355 OBP, and 2B Craig Grebeck hit 25 doubles and drove in 59 runs while ranking third among all infielders in defense.
Speaking of rookies, the real story of the 1990 Detroit Griffins was the rookie tandem of Randy Tomlin and Chris Nabholz, the first and fifth overall picks. Other teams have trotted out two rookies in their rotation from day one, but none have done it successfully until these Griffins. Tomlin was the early season darling, starting 5-1, 1.71 and earning Rookie of the Month in May. But Nabholz dominated down the stretch, going 8-2, 1.08 in his last 12 starts to earn the ERA title. The 23-year-old from Harrisburg, PA is joins Stu Miller (1952) and Dwight Gooden (1984) as the only rookies to win the ERA title.
Ultimately, two things held the team back: the bullpen and an August slump. The pen ranked just 9th. Closer Mikey Stanton had just 23 saves with 7 blown saves, and Mark Guthrie led the league with 22 Meltdowns, my new favorite statistic. Detroit was 8-15 from Aug. 4-28, a span that included a five-game losing streak and eight games scoring two runs or less. A strong 16-8 finish lifted the team back into contention, but they fell two games short.
81-79 (+20)
9th overall, 5th in runs, 9th in runs against
The Superbas ended a run of four losing years—including three straight 100-loss seasons—and were the most improved team in the league, jumping 20 wins to 81. Both their hitting and pitching leapt forward, thanks mostly to breakout years by second-year players.
On offense, Matt Williams (.325-40-124, .950) finished 3rd in RBIs, 4th in HR, and 6th in WAR on his way to the best batting season by a Superba since 1982. Last year's Rookie of the Year Ken Griffey Jr. improved his average by 15 points and his OPS by 55 to .342 and .979 respectively, and hit for the cycle on June 23. David Cone flipped a 2-12 record to 17-7, Kevin Brown had 13 wins and 162 Ks, and closer John Wetteland notched 26 saves with a 3.27 ERA.
But it wasn't just sophomores contributing; some rookies got in on the act as well. Sixth overall pick Steve Avery was 8-3, 2.85 in 13 starts, 2B Luis Alicea hit .317 with a .373 OBP and LF Jerry Browne hit .337 with an .849 OPS.
Of Brooklyn's 13 players with 1.0+ WAR, nine are under 26 and six are under 23. So the East Division should be on notice: these Bas are for real and are headed toward the top of the pack.
9th overall, 5th in runs, 9th in runs against
The Superbas ended a run of four losing years—including three straight 100-loss seasons—and were the most improved team in the league, jumping 20 wins to 81. Both their hitting and pitching leapt forward, thanks mostly to breakout years by second-year players.
On offense, Matt Williams (.325-40-124, .950) finished 3rd in RBIs, 4th in HR, and 6th in WAR on his way to the best batting season by a Superba since 1982. Last year's Rookie of the Year Ken Griffey Jr. improved his average by 15 points and his OPS by 55 to .342 and .979 respectively, and hit for the cycle on June 23. David Cone flipped a 2-12 record to 17-7, Kevin Brown had 13 wins and 162 Ks, and closer John Wetteland notched 26 saves with a 3.27 ERA.
But it wasn't just sophomores contributing; some rookies got in on the act as well. Sixth overall pick Steve Avery was 8-3, 2.85 in 13 starts, 2B Luis Alicea hit .317 with a .373 OBP and LF Jerry Browne hit .337 with an .849 OPS.
Of Brooklyn's 13 players with 1.0+ WAR, nine are under 26 and six are under 23. So the East Division should be on notice: these Bas are for real and are headed toward the top of the pack.
80-80 (+5)
10-T overall, 15th in runs, 3rd in runs against
It was an up-and-down year for the Barons, who started the year 17-11, only to slump through a 10-19 May. A midsummer surge (26-13), including a 10-game winning streak in early August lifted them into the playoff zone—rarified air for a club that hasn't tasted playoff baseball since the Nixon Administration. On Aug. 15, the B's were 67-56, but they stumbled down the stretch (13-24), only avoiding a sixth-straight losing season with a win on the last day.
Despite the roller-coaster nature of the season, it was their most successful year since 1984. The Barons had a top-3 pitching staff, as the youthful tandem of Joe Magrane and John Smoltz started to gel. Magrane regressed a bit, though with a still-impressive 3.06 ERA, while Smoltz posted a 3.29 ERA and led the team with 182 Ks. The midseason trade of Tom Glavine was a painful move, but yielded a first round pick from Havana. Closer Dan Plesac emerged as a top-shelf closer, leading the league with 37 saves to accompany a 2.42 ERA.
The offense had its moments, but ultimately suffered from a lack of consistency. Kevin McReynolds hit .381 in April but ended at .285, leading the team with 94 RBI. Warren Cromartie hit .344 in April, June, and July, but just .279 the other three months. Rookie Hal Morris was a bright spot, batting .385 in September to finish .296-10-65, and 2B Mark McLemore was efficient at the top of the order, with a .362 OBP and 37 stolen bases.
10-T overall, 15th in runs, 3rd in runs against
It was an up-and-down year for the Barons, who started the year 17-11, only to slump through a 10-19 May. A midsummer surge (26-13), including a 10-game winning streak in early August lifted them into the playoff zone—rarified air for a club that hasn't tasted playoff baseball since the Nixon Administration. On Aug. 15, the B's were 67-56, but they stumbled down the stretch (13-24), only avoiding a sixth-straight losing season with a win on the last day.
Despite the roller-coaster nature of the season, it was their most successful year since 1984. The Barons had a top-3 pitching staff, as the youthful tandem of Joe Magrane and John Smoltz started to gel. Magrane regressed a bit, though with a still-impressive 3.06 ERA, while Smoltz posted a 3.29 ERA and led the team with 182 Ks. The midseason trade of Tom Glavine was a painful move, but yielded a first round pick from Havana. Closer Dan Plesac emerged as a top-shelf closer, leading the league with 37 saves to accompany a 2.42 ERA.
The offense had its moments, but ultimately suffered from a lack of consistency. Kevin McReynolds hit .381 in April but ended at .285, leading the team with 94 RBI. Warren Cromartie hit .344 in April, June, and July, but just .279 the other three months. Rookie Hal Morris was a bright spot, batting .385 in September to finish .296-10-65, and 2B Mark McLemore was efficient at the top of the order, with a .362 OBP and 37 stolen bases.
79-81 (-4)
12th overall, 9th in runs, 8th in runs against
Manhattan was not planning on 1990 being a rebuilding year, but a slow start followed by a June swoon sent GM Eric Holthaus into selling mode in a quest for draft picks. Dave Stieb went to Toronto, Julio Franco went to St. Louis, but the biggest move came on July 1 when Mr. Sandberg went to Washington. The second overall pick in 1981, Ryno put up close to 50 WAR in 7½ years with the Dingy Hose, making him a candidate for Player of the Decade.
After a pitching-dominant 1988 (3rd in RA, 13th in R) and a batting-dominant 1989 (2nd in R, 13th RA), the Gray Sox were more balanced in 1990. The pitching improved significantly, with newcomers Doug Drabek (6-4, 2.93) and Matt Young (3.42 in 32 starts) having an immediate impact. Kelly Downs (4.63) had his worst year, however, and longtime relief man Jim Acker (5.39 in 31 starts) struggled in a starting role.
Last year's HR and RBI champ, Jose Canseco, suffered a massive deflation, with his home runs cut in half to 25 and his OPS dipping 160 points to .806. But the rest of the outfield picked up the slack: RF Joe Carter (.299-23-75, .856), at age 30, finally drove in more than 30 runs, and second-year CF Roberto Kelly (.353-28-87, .966) had a breakout year, leading the Sox in average, home runs, and WAR. More worrying: Danny Tartabull and Scott Fletcher had their lowest batting production in years.
12th overall, 9th in runs, 8th in runs against
Manhattan was not planning on 1990 being a rebuilding year, but a slow start followed by a June swoon sent GM Eric Holthaus into selling mode in a quest for draft picks. Dave Stieb went to Toronto, Julio Franco went to St. Louis, but the biggest move came on July 1 when Mr. Sandberg went to Washington. The second overall pick in 1981, Ryno put up close to 50 WAR in 7½ years with the Dingy Hose, making him a candidate for Player of the Decade.
After a pitching-dominant 1988 (3rd in RA, 13th in R) and a batting-dominant 1989 (2nd in R, 13th RA), the Gray Sox were more balanced in 1990. The pitching improved significantly, with newcomers Doug Drabek (6-4, 2.93) and Matt Young (3.42 in 32 starts) having an immediate impact. Kelly Downs (4.63) had his worst year, however, and longtime relief man Jim Acker (5.39 in 31 starts) struggled in a starting role.
Last year's HR and RBI champ, Jose Canseco, suffered a massive deflation, with his home runs cut in half to 25 and his OPS dipping 160 points to .806. But the rest of the outfield picked up the slack: RF Joe Carter (.299-23-75, .856), at age 30, finally drove in more than 30 runs, and second-year CF Roberto Kelly (.353-28-87, .966) had a breakout year, leading the Sox in average, home runs, and WAR. More worrying: Danny Tartabull and Scott Fletcher had their lowest batting production in years.
63-97 (--)
16th overall, 14th in runs, 18th in runs against
The Starlings won the battle of expansion teams, with 12 more wins than Florida, a bigger gate, and more revenue—though their 63 wins fell well behind Toronto's 84 and Havana's 77 in the last round of expansion in 1984. Keystone's pitching ranked dead last, but there were some stars on offense. Jerome Walton proved to be an inspired choice as the first pick in the expansion draft. The 24-year-old led the team with 3.6 WAR, while batting .322 with an .806 OPS. Former Maroon Juan Samuel hit 21 homers while provide plus defense in the outfield corners. B.J. Surhoff led the club with 89 RBIs. And unheralded rookies C Brent Mayne and RF Jeff Stone defied expectations by batting over .300.
The only pitching performances of note were Don August (11-9, 3.94) and John Dopson (2.82, 19 SV). Both the starting rotation and the bullpen ranked dead last in ERA, and pitching will likely be a key focus for GM Doug Aiton during the franchise's first offseason.
16th overall, 14th in runs, 18th in runs against
The Starlings won the battle of expansion teams, with 12 more wins than Florida, a bigger gate, and more revenue—though their 63 wins fell well behind Toronto's 84 and Havana's 77 in the last round of expansion in 1984. Keystone's pitching ranked dead last, but there were some stars on offense. Jerome Walton proved to be an inspired choice as the first pick in the expansion draft. The 24-year-old led the team with 3.6 WAR, while batting .322 with an .806 OPS. Former Maroon Juan Samuel hit 21 homers while provide plus defense in the outfield corners. B.J. Surhoff led the club with 89 RBIs. And unheralded rookies C Brent Mayne and RF Jeff Stone defied expectations by batting over .300.
The only pitching performances of note were Don August (11-9, 3.94) and John Dopson (2.82, 19 SV). Both the starting rotation and the bullpen ranked dead last in ERA, and pitching will likely be a key focus for GM Doug Aiton during the franchise's first offseason.
54-106 (-7)
17th overall, 17th in runs, 16th in runs against
Under first-year GM Bryan Gryka, the V's made a headlong race to the bottom in the Jeff Bagwell sweepstakes (or will it be Ivan Rodriguez?). Coming off a 100-loss campaign in Jo Lima's final year, the Canoeists went into full rebuild mode, trading LF Lonnie Smith, SP Floyd Youmans for top prospect Larry Walker and a raft of draft picks. Montreal ended the year with the smallest non-expansion payroll and the third-best farm system, setting themselves up for future success.
On the field, however, the highlights were scant. Leadoff man Bip Roberts (.364) finished fourth in the batting race, 3B Bobby Bonilla hit .287 with 86 RBI, and rookie southpaw Kenny Rogers led the staff with a 3.88 ERA. Several of the organization's top players—Jim Abbott, Curt Schilling, and Ruben Sierra—were exiled to Quebec in an effort to pad the loss column, which could have detrimental effects on their development. But with Schilling, Walker, Abbott, Gregg Olson, Luis Gonzalez, Jeff Blauser, Sierra, and Junior Felix all 23 or younger, the future looks bright in La Metropole.
17th overall, 17th in runs, 16th in runs against
Under first-year GM Bryan Gryka, the V's made a headlong race to the bottom in the Jeff Bagwell sweepstakes (or will it be Ivan Rodriguez?). Coming off a 100-loss campaign in Jo Lima's final year, the Canoeists went into full rebuild mode, trading LF Lonnie Smith, SP Floyd Youmans for top prospect Larry Walker and a raft of draft picks. Montreal ended the year with the smallest non-expansion payroll and the third-best farm system, setting themselves up for future success.
On the field, however, the highlights were scant. Leadoff man Bip Roberts (.364) finished fourth in the batting race, 3B Bobby Bonilla hit .287 with 86 RBI, and rookie southpaw Kenny Rogers led the staff with a 3.88 ERA. Several of the organization's top players—Jim Abbott, Curt Schilling, and Ruben Sierra—were exiled to Quebec in an effort to pad the loss column, which could have detrimental effects on their development. But with Schilling, Walker, Abbott, Gregg Olson, Luis Gonzalez, Jeff Blauser, Sierra, and Junior Felix all 23 or younger, the future looks bright in La Metropole.
West Division
West Division
98-62 (+9)
1st overall, 10th in runs, 1st in runs against
Another year, another pennant. 1990 makes eight division titles in the last nine years—this one the more impressive in a crowded nine-team field. Also for the eighth time in nine years, they were the top pitching team, with a newfound power element resulting in their second-most strikeouts of the decade. Fun fact: the '90 Outlaws are just the ninth team in UL history with 20 shutout wins. But their offense also improved by 0.4 runs to 4.5 per game, resulting in a 98-win campaign that captured their second President's Trophy.
L.A.'s pitching story was epitomized by two recent imports from the East. Last year, GM Peter Vays prised Dave Beard from Boston; this year, he added Floyd Youmans from Montreal. Beard was 18-13 and lead the league with a 1.00 WHIP. Youmans was an unstoppable 11-1, 2.41 in 15 starts.
The lineup featured several stars. Andy Van Slyke led the team with 175 hits, 100 runs and an .840 OPS. Ken Caminiti's 90 RBIs and Cory Snyder's 32 HR set the pace. And Mike Scioscia led the club with a .313 average and 5.0 WAR. Jesse Barfield was shipped to Denver and Glenn Hubbard to Atlanta, but their replacements stepped easily into their shoes. Chili Davis hit .310-16-64 with 50 SB and a 4.9 WAR, and Robby Thompson (.313-11-59, 4.3 WAR) is a Rookie of the Year candidate. Veteran 1B Eddie Murray returned after a year in Cleveland and collected his 2500th hit on June 7.
For all their regular season dominance, the season will feel incomplete without a World Series ring. Los Angeles has 11 division pennants, but has only won the big one twice, in 1981 and 1985, and their recent resume lists three straight exits in the Semi Series. So these Outlaws will feel some pressure to convert regular season dominance into hardware.
1st overall, 10th in runs, 1st in runs against
Another year, another pennant. 1990 makes eight division titles in the last nine years—this one the more impressive in a crowded nine-team field. Also for the eighth time in nine years, they were the top pitching team, with a newfound power element resulting in their second-most strikeouts of the decade. Fun fact: the '90 Outlaws are just the ninth team in UL history with 20 shutout wins. But their offense also improved by 0.4 runs to 4.5 per game, resulting in a 98-win campaign that captured their second President's Trophy.
L.A.'s pitching story was epitomized by two recent imports from the East. Last year, GM Peter Vays prised Dave Beard from Boston; this year, he added Floyd Youmans from Montreal. Beard was 18-13 and lead the league with a 1.00 WHIP. Youmans was an unstoppable 11-1, 2.41 in 15 starts.
The lineup featured several stars. Andy Van Slyke led the team with 175 hits, 100 runs and an .840 OPS. Ken Caminiti's 90 RBIs and Cory Snyder's 32 HR set the pace. And Mike Scioscia led the club with a .313 average and 5.0 WAR. Jesse Barfield was shipped to Denver and Glenn Hubbard to Atlanta, but their replacements stepped easily into their shoes. Chili Davis hit .310-16-64 with 50 SB and a 4.9 WAR, and Robby Thompson (.313-11-59, 4.3 WAR) is a Rookie of the Year candidate. Veteran 1B Eddie Murray returned after a year in Cleveland and collected his 2500th hit on June 7.
For all their regular season dominance, the season will feel incomplete without a World Series ring. Los Angeles has 11 division pennants, but has only won the big one twice, in 1981 and 1985, and their recent resume lists three straight exits in the Semi Series. So these Outlaws will feel some pressure to convert regular season dominance into hardware.
96-64 (+10)
2nd overall, 13th in runs, 2nd in runs against
Two years ago the Colts lost 100 games and finished second from bottom. In 1990, they won 96 and finished second from the top. GM Steve Haugh accomplished this dramatic turnaround by revamping the pitching staff. Only Terry Mulholland and Jamie Moyer carried over from that '88 rotation, and they combined for a 30-17 record and 3.27 ERA. The remainder of the rotation consisted of two sophomores and a rookie. Erik Hanson, 25, posted a 15-6, 3.18 second campaign; Jeff M. Robinson, a 46th overall pick, went 11-6, 3.59; and rookie Melido Perez (14-14, 4.21) was a serviceable inning-eater. The bullpen also ranked second; Jose Nunez (1.83) and Jeff Montgomery (2.04) were nearly unhittable, and Rob Dibble managed 36 saves despite a 3.48 ERA.
The Colts also produced their most prolific offense since 1967 ("Just" Adcock and "Feed" Demeter), with 4.4 runs per game. Ivan Calderon (.304-23-102) had his first 100-RBI year, John Kruk (.327-13-57) led the team in hits and average, and Alan Trammell (.312-17-67) led the team in WAR and captured his record eighth Willie Mays Award—first since 1987. Benito Santiago had a career-high 80 RBIs and rookie Albert Belle hit the ground running with a .305 average and 74 RBI. And let's not forget Bill Spiers (.308, 58 RBI, 22 SB), a 23-year-old who ranked 5th in WAR among second basemen in his rookie year.
While Chicago's ascent has been rapid, the club appears to have staying power, with the third youngest roster in the league. Trammell is the only regular over 28 and the rotation's average age is 25. So Comiskey patrons can look forward to more playoff baseball in the '90s.
2nd overall, 13th in runs, 2nd in runs against
Two years ago the Colts lost 100 games and finished second from bottom. In 1990, they won 96 and finished second from the top. GM Steve Haugh accomplished this dramatic turnaround by revamping the pitching staff. Only Terry Mulholland and Jamie Moyer carried over from that '88 rotation, and they combined for a 30-17 record and 3.27 ERA. The remainder of the rotation consisted of two sophomores and a rookie. Erik Hanson, 25, posted a 15-6, 3.18 second campaign; Jeff M. Robinson, a 46th overall pick, went 11-6, 3.59; and rookie Melido Perez (14-14, 4.21) was a serviceable inning-eater. The bullpen also ranked second; Jose Nunez (1.83) and Jeff Montgomery (2.04) were nearly unhittable, and Rob Dibble managed 36 saves despite a 3.48 ERA.
The Colts also produced their most prolific offense since 1967 ("Just" Adcock and "Feed" Demeter), with 4.4 runs per game. Ivan Calderon (.304-23-102) had his first 100-RBI year, John Kruk (.327-13-57) led the team in hits and average, and Alan Trammell (.312-17-67) led the team in WAR and captured his record eighth Willie Mays Award—first since 1987. Benito Santiago had a career-high 80 RBIs and rookie Albert Belle hit the ground running with a .305 average and 74 RBI. And let's not forget Bill Spiers (.308, 58 RBI, 22 SB), a 23-year-old who ranked 5th in WAR among second basemen in his rookie year.
While Chicago's ascent has been rapid, the club appears to have staying power, with the third youngest roster in the league. Trammell is the only regular over 28 and the rotation's average age is 25. So Comiskey patrons can look forward to more playoff baseball in the '90s.
89-71 (-8)
6th overall, 3rd in runs, 6th in runs against
St. Louis made the playoffs for the eighth straight year, but their win total and league placement were the lowest since the playoff run began in 1983. What is behind the Maroons' decline? In a word: age.
After being a top-3 pitching team for six years, and capturing the best pitching title last year, St. Louis dropped to sixth with a 0.8 jump to 4.2 runs allowed per game. The main issue was the starting rotation, which ranked 10th in ERA, and more specifically Ed Whitson and Dave Schmidt, the balwarks of the staff for nearly a decade. Whitson, coming off a 19-win campaign a year ago, turned 34 and saw his ERA balloon by 130 points to 3.97, his worst in six years. Schmidt turned 32 the day after Opening Day and posted career highs in ERA (4.14) and WHIP (1.28). The 29-year-old Steven Ontiveros also hit a career nadir, with an ERA that jumped from 2.86 to 4.10. The trio was 32-27 in 1990 after going 55-19 last year. So the story essentially ends there.
Dig deeper and you'll find that the Dark Reds dropped from 5th to 14th in defense (as measured by ZR), their worst since 1984, with negative defense at every position except middle infield and catcher.
The offense managed to produce its second-highest run total in two decades (5.1), good for third in the league. Not a single hitter made the top-10 charts of the four major batting category, which speaks to a diverse and varied attack. Eight batters drove in at least 64 runs and seven had at least 10 homers. Alvin Davis (.310-26-97) led in HR and RBI, Dan Pasqua (.310-25-93) led in OPS, and the 37-year-old Darrell Porter (.287-18-67) led in WAR.
6th overall, 3rd in runs, 6th in runs against
St. Louis made the playoffs for the eighth straight year, but their win total and league placement were the lowest since the playoff run began in 1983. What is behind the Maroons' decline? In a word: age.
After being a top-3 pitching team for six years, and capturing the best pitching title last year, St. Louis dropped to sixth with a 0.8 jump to 4.2 runs allowed per game. The main issue was the starting rotation, which ranked 10th in ERA, and more specifically Ed Whitson and Dave Schmidt, the balwarks of the staff for nearly a decade. Whitson, coming off a 19-win campaign a year ago, turned 34 and saw his ERA balloon by 130 points to 3.97, his worst in six years. Schmidt turned 32 the day after Opening Day and posted career highs in ERA (4.14) and WHIP (1.28). The 29-year-old Steven Ontiveros also hit a career nadir, with an ERA that jumped from 2.86 to 4.10. The trio was 32-27 in 1990 after going 55-19 last year. So the story essentially ends there.
Dig deeper and you'll find that the Dark Reds dropped from 5th to 14th in defense (as measured by ZR), their worst since 1984, with negative defense at every position except middle infield and catcher.
The offense managed to produce its second-highest run total in two decades (5.1), good for third in the league. Not a single hitter made the top-10 charts of the four major batting category, which speaks to a diverse and varied attack. Eight batters drove in at least 64 runs and seven had at least 10 homers. Alvin Davis (.310-26-97) led in HR and RBI, Dan Pasqua (.310-25-93) led in OPS, and the 37-year-old Darrell Porter (.287-18-67) led in WAR.
87-73 (+16)
8th overall, 8th in runs, 11th in runs against
Nobody outside of Cuba saw Havana's scorching final third coming. The Leones were 39-14 from Aug. 1, having gone 48-59 through July, fifth worst. The entire roster turned things around in a big way, but a few merit special call-outs.
On June 28, Mark Langston was 5-11, 4.28. His record since 1987 was 30-53 and his ERA over that span hovered around 4.50. Heading into the second half, Langston appeared to be a washed-up former top prospect. Then on July 8 he pitched a four-hit shutout. Six days later, he pitched a perfect game. Success begat more success, and Langston was 13-3 with a 2.65 ERA in his last 18 starts and reestablished himself as a pitcher to be reckoned with.
Terry Pendleton had 33 RBIs in the first half, 66 in the second half. Shane Mack hit .400 with 27 RBIs in August, on his way to a career-best .330-22-98, .894. Kevin Ritz started the year 0-4, and finished 13-4. Kal Daniels hit .303-11-49 in his first 89 games, then hit .396-9-38 in his last 49. The list goes on and on...
Havana won nine straight heading into the last four days of the season, slowly yet inexorably closing the gap with St. Louis. On Sept. 29 they swept a double-header with the Maroons at home, slicing the deficit from three games to one in the span of a few hours. But the season finale was a letdown: a 5-0 blanking in Chicago at the hands of Terry Mulholland. It was a bitter end to a magical run. But Havana smashed the club win record by 10 and ended with the first winning record in franchise history.
8th overall, 8th in runs, 11th in runs against
Nobody outside of Cuba saw Havana's scorching final third coming. The Leones were 39-14 from Aug. 1, having gone 48-59 through July, fifth worst. The entire roster turned things around in a big way, but a few merit special call-outs.
On June 28, Mark Langston was 5-11, 4.28. His record since 1987 was 30-53 and his ERA over that span hovered around 4.50. Heading into the second half, Langston appeared to be a washed-up former top prospect. Then on July 8 he pitched a four-hit shutout. Six days later, he pitched a perfect game. Success begat more success, and Langston was 13-3 with a 2.65 ERA in his last 18 starts and reestablished himself as a pitcher to be reckoned with.
Terry Pendleton had 33 RBIs in the first half, 66 in the second half. Shane Mack hit .400 with 27 RBIs in August, on his way to a career-best .330-22-98, .894. Kevin Ritz started the year 0-4, and finished 13-4. Kal Daniels hit .303-11-49 in his first 89 games, then hit .396-9-38 in his last 49. The list goes on and on...
Havana won nine straight heading into the last four days of the season, slowly yet inexorably closing the gap with St. Louis. On Sept. 29 they swept a double-header with the Maroons at home, slicing the deficit from three games to one in the span of a few hours. But the season finale was a letdown: a 5-0 blanking in Chicago at the hands of Terry Mulholland. It was a bitter end to a magical run. But Havana smashed the club win record by 10 and ended with the first winning record in franchise history.
80-80 (-11)
10-T overall, 6th in runs, 13th in runs against
After two playoff seasons, the Rainiers slipped back to .500 in 1990, as their pitching regressed to the bottom quarter. Ace Don Robinson's ERA bloated 50 points to 4.57, Allan Anderson was downgraded and relegated to the bullpen, and elite closer Luis DeLeon (1.91 ERA and 42 saves last year) was traded to L.A. Granted, newcomer Bruce Ruffin became the de facto ace with a 11-5, 3.19 campaign and Mike Mason was solid (3.16, 1.16 WHIP in 10 starts). But the other new acquisition Tommy Boggs (2-9, 6.36) was abysmal and rookie Tim Birtsas (6.14 in 15 starts) looked overmatched much of the year.
The offense also slipped a bit, from 6th to 3rd in runs scored. 3B Chris Brown fell back to earth after a career year. John Shelby's power dropped off, though he still managed 108 RBIs, and catcher Brian Harper posted his lowest OPS in five years. The two Willies were continued bright spots: Upshaw smacking 27 HR for 97 RBIs and McGee batting .331 with a 4.7 WAR. And Henry Cotto was a difference-maker in center field, finishing fourth in outfield ZR while driving in 88 runs, and hitting for the cycle on Aug. 19.
10-T overall, 6th in runs, 13th in runs against
After two playoff seasons, the Rainiers slipped back to .500 in 1990, as their pitching regressed to the bottom quarter. Ace Don Robinson's ERA bloated 50 points to 4.57, Allan Anderson was downgraded and relegated to the bullpen, and elite closer Luis DeLeon (1.91 ERA and 42 saves last year) was traded to L.A. Granted, newcomer Bruce Ruffin became the de facto ace with a 11-5, 3.19 campaign and Mike Mason was solid (3.16, 1.16 WHIP in 10 starts). But the other new acquisition Tommy Boggs (2-9, 6.36) was abysmal and rookie Tim Birtsas (6.14 in 15 starts) looked overmatched much of the year.
The offense also slipped a bit, from 6th to 3rd in runs scored. 3B Chris Brown fell back to earth after a career year. John Shelby's power dropped off, though he still managed 108 RBIs, and catcher Brian Harper posted his lowest OPS in five years. The two Willies were continued bright spots: Upshaw smacking 27 HR for 97 RBIs and McGee batting .331 with a 4.7 WAR. And Henry Cotto was a difference-maker in center field, finishing fourth in outfield ZR while driving in 88 runs, and hitting for the cycle on Aug. 19.
77-83 (+7)
13th overall, 7th in runs, 14th in runs against
A reinvigorated offense was held back by the second worst picthing performance of the last nine years. Atlanta made up roughly half the ground they lost last year, when they plummeted from 3rd to 10th in offense. But the pitching ranked 14th, with only Fernando Valenzuela (3.36) and Dave Freisleben (3.55) posting ERAs under 5.00—and the latter was shipped off to Seattle for cash at the trade deadline.
The offense featured four big stars. Tony Gwynn fell short of his fifth batting title, but still notched his sixth season over .350 and his fifth with 220+ hits. Eric Davis (.297-38-119, .923) finished 5th in HR and RBI. In his second year as a full-time starter, 1B Mark McGwire drove in 122 and finished 2nd in HR and 4th in RBIs. And SS Luis Aguayo (.296-24-88, .819) took well to the Launching Pad and re-burnished his credentials as an elite power-poking middle infielder.
Yet, after two Semi Series appearances in 1986 and 1987, the last three years smack of disappointment and underachievement; not least for GM Andy Chaney.
13th overall, 7th in runs, 14th in runs against
A reinvigorated offense was held back by the second worst picthing performance of the last nine years. Atlanta made up roughly half the ground they lost last year, when they plummeted from 3rd to 10th in offense. But the pitching ranked 14th, with only Fernando Valenzuela (3.36) and Dave Freisleben (3.55) posting ERAs under 5.00—and the latter was shipped off to Seattle for cash at the trade deadline.
The offense featured four big stars. Tony Gwynn fell short of his fifth batting title, but still notched his sixth season over .350 and his fifth with 220+ hits. Eric Davis (.297-38-119, .923) finished 5th in HR and RBI. In his second year as a full-time starter, 1B Mark McGwire drove in 122 and finished 2nd in HR and 4th in RBIs. And SS Luis Aguayo (.296-24-88, .819) took well to the Launching Pad and re-burnished his credentials as an elite power-poking middle infielder.
Yet, after two Semi Series appearances in 1986 and 1987, the last three years smack of disappointment and underachievement; not least for GM Andy Chaney.
72-88 (-10)
14-T overall, 2nd in runs, 17th in runs against
With the most inflated hopes in club history coming into the season, the 14ers' balloon at first merely deflated, with a 10-19 May, then crashed to the ground with a wretched summer that saw the club drop out of contention for anything, including a .500 season and simple respectability. The problem was one of the most underperforming pitching staffs in the league. Bill Swift, the once-promising young starter, posted a 5.78 ERA. Rick Reuschel was 5.01. Sid Fernandez was 6.79 in 11 starts. Add it all up, and Denver had the second-worst rotation, third-worst bullpen, and the second-most runs allowed.
A midseason shakeup sent CF Stan Javier, 3B Gary Gaetti, RF Sixto Lezcano, and C Mickey Tettleton packing. Their replacements were mostly outstanding. LF Tim Raines hit .343 with a .418 OBP and CF Jesse Barfield slugged .562 for a .897 OPS.
Still, despite the addition of some new talent, the midseason moves felt like a shuffling of the deck chairs, and the long-term prognosis looks dim. This ship has sailed.
14-T overall, 2nd in runs, 17th in runs against
With the most inflated hopes in club history coming into the season, the 14ers' balloon at first merely deflated, with a 10-19 May, then crashed to the ground with a wretched summer that saw the club drop out of contention for anything, including a .500 season and simple respectability. The problem was one of the most underperforming pitching staffs in the league. Bill Swift, the once-promising young starter, posted a 5.78 ERA. Rick Reuschel was 5.01. Sid Fernandez was 6.79 in 11 starts. Add it all up, and Denver had the second-worst rotation, third-worst bullpen, and the second-most runs allowed.
A midseason shakeup sent CF Stan Javier, 3B Gary Gaetti, RF Sixto Lezcano, and C Mickey Tettleton packing. Their replacements were mostly outstanding. LF Tim Raines hit .343 with a .418 OBP and CF Jesse Barfield slugged .562 for a .897 OPS.
Still, despite the addition of some new talent, the midseason moves felt like a shuffling of the deck chairs, and the long-term prognosis looks dim. This ship has sailed.
72-88 (-11)
14-T overall, 16th in runs, 9th in runs against
After an 84-win season a year ago, finishing within sniffing distance of the playoffs, the Itsy-Bitsy Spiders washed back down the water spout to familiar territory in 1990, with their eighth losing season of the decade. The uncharacteristically mid-table offense of a year ago plummeted to 16th. If we must pin the blame for the decline on one man, let's pick on Mark Grace. The 1988 Rookie of the Year avoided a sophomore slump last year, batting (.348 with 6.1 WAR). But this season was disgraceful, dropping to .275 and 2.1. But he wasn't alone; Terry Steinbach and Jose Oquendo slumped as well. Barry Larkin (.296-21-66, .805) was as reliable as ever, and Rob Deer trimmed his strikeouts by 50 and improved his OPS by 35 points. To his credit, Grace did cobble together the year's longest hitting streak: 27 games.
On the pitching side, former ace Jose Rijo was abysmal, going 4-16 with a 5.56 ERA, but new ace Jose DeLeon had a career year, going 14-10, 2.68 and finishing second in the ERA race. Walt Terrell pitched the Spiders' sixth no-hitter on July 25.
14-T overall, 16th in runs, 9th in runs against
After an 84-win season a year ago, finishing within sniffing distance of the playoffs, the Itsy-Bitsy Spiders washed back down the water spout to familiar territory in 1990, with their eighth losing season of the decade. The uncharacteristically mid-table offense of a year ago plummeted to 16th. If we must pin the blame for the decline on one man, let's pick on Mark Grace. The 1988 Rookie of the Year avoided a sophomore slump last year, batting (.348 with 6.1 WAR). But this season was disgraceful, dropping to .275 and 2.1. But he wasn't alone; Terry Steinbach and Jose Oquendo slumped as well. Barry Larkin (.296-21-66, .805) was as reliable as ever, and Rob Deer trimmed his strikeouts by 50 and improved his OPS by 35 points. To his credit, Grace did cobble together the year's longest hitting streak: 27 games.
On the pitching side, former ace Jose Rijo was abysmal, going 4-16 with a 5.56 ERA, but new ace Jose DeLeon had a career year, going 14-10, 2.68 and finishing second in the ERA race. Walt Terrell pitched the Spiders' sixth no-hitter on July 25.
51-109 (--)
18th overall, 18th in runs, 15th in runs against
Only five teams in UL history have put together a roster with a smaller payroll than the 1990 Florida Flamingos—and it showed. The Pink Birds lost more than twice as many as they won, and put up the worst month of baseball in league history in September, going 1-23 for a .041 winning percentage. First overall pick Frank Thomas was one of the few bright spots. The slugging first baseman hit .274-30-83, .881 and is a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year. RF Tracy Jones led the team with a .275 average and drove in 50 runs. And Kevin Gross led the pitching staff with 10 wins and a 3.99 ERA.
18th overall, 18th in runs, 15th in runs against
Only five teams in UL history have put together a roster with a smaller payroll than the 1990 Florida Flamingos—and it showed. The Pink Birds lost more than twice as many as they won, and put up the worst month of baseball in league history in September, going 1-23 for a .041 winning percentage. First overall pick Frank Thomas was one of the few bright spots. The slugging first baseman hit .274-30-83, .881 and is a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year. RF Tracy Jones led the team with a .275 average and drove in 50 runs. And Kevin Gross led the pitching staff with 10 wins and a 3.99 ERA.
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