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Oct. 1?, 1998 • Semi Series Issue

SEMI SERIES
Screaming Bats Steamroll P-Bears
John Valentin Series MVP in Three Routs and a Shutout

Brooklyn averaged 7.8 runs per game, including 23 runs in the first two games alone, on the road, as Toronto's already-suspect pitching totally collapsed. The underdog Superbas, playing without superstar CF Ken Griffey Jr. won on three routs and a 3-0 one-hit shutout by Masato Yoshii. SS John Valentin won Series MVP honors, batting 12-22 (.545) with 3 HR, 10 RBI and a 1.682 OPS.

It was Toronto’s first loss in the Semi Series since 1988 after winning in 1989, ‘90, ‘91, and ‘94. Brooklyn returns to the Fall Classic for the third time in five years (first under GM Glen Reed), and will look to snap a four-series World Series losing streak dating back to 1969.

GAME 1 - BRO 11, TOR 4
A seven-run fifth inning set the tone for the game and the series, as Brooklyn's bats relentlessly punished Toronto's pitchers. Ace Derek Lowe left in the fourth with a back injury, setting up the fifth inning fiasco. Lance McCullers and Bobby Witt each pitched 0.1 innings, allowing four and three runs, respectively, and the visitors led 11-2. The key blow was John Valentin’s three-run homer off McCullers, part of his four-RBI day. Paul O’Neill was 3-for-5, and surprisingly for a seven-run rout, both teams had 13 hits. Juan Gonzalez had three hits and Jose Vidro homered for the hosts. Masato Yoshii, a trade-deadline acquisition, got the win by holding Toronto to two runs, despite 10 hits, in 6.2 innings.

GAME 2 - BRO 12, TOR 10
Brooklyn silenced the Wrench early, plating five off Chad Ogea in the first and chasing him after just two inning. The Bas led 11-2 again going into the sixth, when the Polar Bears finally came to life, scoring seven to cut the lead to two. But Superba relievers Doug Brocail and Mike Timlin combined for three shutout innings to put the game to bed. Toronto somehow accumulated 21 hits, but still lost. Eric Chavez, Wade Boggs, Juan Gonzalez, and Benito Santiago all had at least three hits. John Valentin had two of Brooklyn’s five home runs, driving in four. Marty Cordova, Paul O’Neill, and Phil Bradley all homered as well. Rookie Brian Moehler, a spot starter during the regular season, coughed up 14 hits in 5.1 innings, but only allowed six runs and got the win.

GAME 3 - TOR 4, BRO 3
In Brooklyn for Game 3, the P-Bears finally got a quality start from Mike Grace, who held the home team to five hits and one run in 6.2 innings. Santiago’s three-run homer off Greg Swindell in the sixth broke a 1-1 tie and Rene Arocha bent but didn’t break, allowing two runs but holding on for the save in a 4-3 decision. Paul O’Neill was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.

GAME 4 - BRO 3, TOR 0
Masato Yoshii pitched the game of his life, muzzling Toronto with a one-hit shutout with no walks and 11 strikeouts for his third playoff win. The hosts scored in each of the first three innings and John Valentin was 3-for-4. Aaron Sele had a quality start but was outclassed on Yoshii’s day.

GAME 5 - BRO 8, TOR 1
A pitchers’ duel between Derek Lowe and Brian Moehler quickly turned into a rout. Leading 3-1 in the seventh, the Bas erupted for five runs off Arocha, keyed by a two-run double by Dave Nilsson, and three Brooklyn relievers combined for 2.2 shutout innings. Otis Nixon was 3-for-4 and Paul O’Neill homered.

SEMI SERIES
Sx
John Valentin Series MVP in Three Routs and a Shutout

Brx

GAME 1 - BRO 11, TOR 4
Ax

GAME 2 - BRO 12, TOR 10
Brx

GAME 3 - TOR 4, BRO 3
Ix
GAME 4 - BRO 3, TOR 0
Mx

GAME 5 - BRO 8, TOR 1
Ax

Oct. 12, 1998 • Hex Series Issue

HEX SERIES
Yanked at the Frank
In His Swan Song with Flamingos, Lima's Goose Is Cooked
“Era como uma procissão de cabras”

It was one of the most dramatic Game 7s in UL playoff history, but for one man it will be remembered as the culmination of an inevitable week-long choke job. GM Jo Lima's Florida Flamingos were riding high, taking a 3-0 lead in their first-ever playoff series against the most storied franchise in league history. But the famous architect, international playboy, and renowned humanitarian issued a warning to his players and fans: this is far from over. Thus we add "prophet" to Lima's long list of sobriquets.

Florida’s pitching was dominant in the opening act, leading the Pink Birds to 6-0 and 2-1 wins in Games 1 and 3, as Mike Mussina and Frankie Cordova were nearly unhittable. Sprinkle in some late rally magic—a 3-run 9th in a comeback road win in Game 2—and it appeared the Flamingos were cruising toward the Semi Series.

But a turning point game early in Game 4. Mike Mussina—the 1991 #1 overall pick and only Flamingo still on the roster from that year—left the game in the second inning with a shoulder issue. It wasn’t a major injury, but it is a bad omen to lose your franchise guy in a playoff game. Brooklyn scored three off his replacement, Alberto Reyes, and cruised to a 6-3 win. In Game 5, second-year Dominican Bartolo Colon bent but didn’t break, coughing up 11 hits but only allowing two runs, only for closer Steve Karsay to throw the game away in the 9th. Florida 3, Brooklyn 2. No problem, the Birds only had to win one of the next two games. Game 6: Cordova gave up four runs in 5-plus innings and then Jim Abbott adds three more to the tally, putting the game out of reach. Brooklyn put up three 3-spots on the way to a 10-2 rout. Then came the decider: Game 7 at Frank Thomas Memorial Stadium.

One for the Ages (Or One to Forget)
Delino DeShields might have been the hero for the winning Superbas, but the losing Flamingos locker room was a gathering of goats. Exhibit A: Bartolo Colon. After Florida took an early 4-0 lead, Colon let in three in the fourth and instantly put the hosts (and the crowd) back in the game. Exhibit B: Steve Karsay. Having already thrown Game 5, the 26-year-old closer blew a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the 8th, serving a two-run homer to Marty Cordova that tied the game. But wait! How about Exhibit C: Jim Abbott? Speaking of being entrusted with a two-run lead, Abbott took a 7-5 lead into the bottom of the 11th, after the unsung Greg Norton (whom the pundits never talk about) cranked an a go-ahead two-run shot off a tiring Hector Fajardo. After a pair of walks, Abbott struck out PH Javy Lopez, putting the Flamingos one out away from victory. But DeShields drove the ball deep into the left-center gap, scoring Spiezio and Nixon and tying the game (again) at 7-7. Abbott did go on to pitch a 1-2-3 12th inning. But that only set the stage for the fourth and final goat, Exhibit D: Les Lancaster. The 35-year-old righty pitched for Brooklyn last year. He had his best season, in fact, going 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA and 4 saves. He did not perform particularly well in Flamingos’ pink this year, posting a 5.29 ERA and -0.2 WAR, but in the 13th inning of a Game 7, the options are limited. It is simply next goat up. Otis Nixon (Ken Griffey Jr’s replacement) hit a soft dribbler up the middle, stole second base, reached third on DeSheilds’ flyout to center, and scored on another soft grounder up the middle—a seeing-eye single that ignited delirium in Red Hook.

As Jo Lima left the visitors' luxury box and headed to the secret elevator that would take him to the limo that would take him to the helicopter that would take him to his private jet at JFK that would take him to his new hi-rise condo on the beach in San Juan, he was heard to mutter, “Era como uma procissão de cabras” (“It was like a procession of goats.”)

GAME 1 - FLO 6, BRO 0
It was fitting that Mike Mussina threw the first pitch in the Flamingos’ first playoff game. The first pick of the 1991 draft is the dean of the roster. And he did not disappoint, anchoring a six-hit shutout with 6.2 shutout innings. Catcher Javier Valentin drove in a pair, Ruben Sierra hit a two-run, and Junior Felix tacked on an insurance run dinger in the ninth. Greg Swindell took the loss for the home team.

GAME 2 - FLO 9, BRO 8
Both Bartolo Colon and Masato Yoshii were roughed up in a see-saw battle. Florida took a 5-2 lead into the sixth, when Brooklyn scored five to take a 7-5 lead, which closer Greg McMichael proceeded to blow with a three-run ninth that gave the Birds a thrilling 9-8 comeback win. Greg Norton drove in two and Felix homered again. Brooklyn’s John Valentin was 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs in a losing effort.

GAME 3 - FLO 2, BRO 1
Frankie Cordova got the better of Mike Timlin in a classic pitchers’ duel, though to be fair, both of Timlin’s runs were unearned following a second-inning error by Dave Nilsson. Cordova tossed seven shutout innings and Steve Karsay gave up a run in the eighth but still got the save. Greg Norton was 2-for-3 and scored the winning run. Brooklyn’s bullpen was solid, with three shutout innings, but the bats were frozen.

GAME 4 - BRO 6, FLO 3
Mussina left with an injury in the second and so began a slow trickle of Brooklyn runs. The Bas scored in four straight innings, building a 6-0 lead. Swindell gave up three, but the bullpen then went to work, again shutting down the Flamingos with 2.2 shutout innings. Delino DeShields snapped out of an .077 slump with a home run and John Valentin was 3-for-4 with a homer.

GAME 5 - BRO 3, FLO 2
Fresh off their Game 2 drubbings, Colon and Yoshii locked horns in a duel, each allowing only two runs, and it was Yoshii who breaked the deadlock, singling to lead off the 8th and scoring on Dion James’ double to hand closer Steve Karsay the loss. Dave Nilsson had three hits and James drove in two of Brooklyn’s three runs.

GAME 6 - BRO 10, FLO 2
Florida’s pitching had a bad day at the office, giving up 15 hits in a 10-2 rout. Cordova gave up four in 5.1 innings, but Jim Abbott made things worse, tacking on three more runs, and Johnny Ruffin officially made it a rout but giving up three more. Nine Superbas got at least one hit, including three pinch hits. DeShields was 3-for-5 with a homer and 3 RBI and Paul O’Neill hit 3-for-5.

GAME 7 - BRO 8, FLO 7 (13 inn)
Having already blown a 3-0 series lead and the facing inexorable headwinds of a massive momentum shift, the Flamingos blew multiple chances to salvage the series. They blew 4-0, 5-3, and 7-5 leads—the latter two in the 8th and 11th innings. Delino DeShields’ two-run double with two outs in the 11th will live in infamy, but it was Dion James who hit the series-winning single off Les Lancaster, scoring the injured Ken Griffey Jr’s replacement, Otis Nixon, for an 8-7 victory in the 13th.

John Valentin (.323-2-7) won Series MVP, but the Screaming Bats don’t win without DeShields. After batting 1-for-13 in the first three games, the 2B from Dover, Delaware went 9-for-19 (.474-2-6) in Games 4-7.

Delino DeShields photo, Glen Reed's dorm room, 1991.

HEX SERIES
Ponies Trample Foxes
Magglio Runs Roughshod Over Youmans

Chicago feasted on Minneapolis pitching, scoring 38 runs in five games, led by a red-hot and fully rested Maggio Ordonez. The young RF, acquired in a trade with Washington a year ago, spent more than a year in rehab, only making his first appearance on GM Peter Vays’ lineup card in mid-August.

For all of Vays’ injury worries—Carlos Beltran, Frank Catalanotto, and Fernando Vina all spent extended time on the IL—it was the guy who returned from a year-long injury who provided the biggest punch in a very punchy lineup. Magglio won series MVP honors with a .450-3-13 performance, setting some kind of record with 13 RBIs in five games. Beltran showed no ill effects from his late-season elbow tendonitis, batting .391, and 1B John Olerud hit .364.

With a rested rookie Kelvim Escobar ready to go, veteran lefty Floyd Youmans instead took the ball in Game 1 and proceed to lose twice in spectacular fashion (17.55 ERA) to his former boss, prompting immediate speculation that he was still on Vays’ payroll. Youmans pitched seven season in Los Angeles under the wily Hungarian, accumulating a 106-70 record, 3.06 ERA and 30.5 WAR. But he also earned $55.7 million while on Vay’s payroll, prompting some Foxes fans to question his loyalty to his new club.

But one can hardly pin the blame on Youmans for what was a comprehensive defeat. Escobar gave up seven hits and five runs in his start, and Jason Isringhausen was crushed in a 6-1 Game 3 defeat. Chicago got a pair a great starts from Steve Cooke (2-0, 1.35) and a gem from 41-year-old Scott Sanderson in Game 3 (6.1-5-1-4).

The win was Vay’s 19th playoff series win and sets up a first ever meeting against the Seattle Rainiers and GM Brandon Tucker.

GAME 1 - CHI 12, MPS 3
Magglio Ordonez drove in six runs and Steve Cooke held Minneapolis to two runs in seven innings as Chicago romped to a 12-3 win in the opener. Floyd Youmans was touched for seven runs in the first two innings and Tim Salmon homered twice for the hosts.

GAME 2 - CHI 9, MPS 5
The Foxes took a 3-1 lead into the eighth, when all hell broke lose. Kelvim Escobar had a fine outing going, having allowed just five hits and one run in the first seven innings. Then he put five straight batters on base to start the eighth, before finally getting the hook for Danny Patterson. But he and Gabe White only added fuel to the fire. Chicago sent 12 men to the plate, scoring eight runs and six hits and four walks. Catcher Jason Kendall was the big bat for the Colts, hitting 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs. Minneapolis got 12 hits, including four from Scott Rolen, and Garret Anderson drove in four runs, including a two-run homer in the ninth when the game was essentially already decided.

GAME 3 - CHI 6, MPS 1
A 41-year-old Scott Sanderson was masterful, holding the Foxes to five hits and one run in six-plus innings, and the Colt bats were again productive, scoring six times on 13 hits. Carlos Beltran was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, Ordonez was 3-for-4, and Salmon hit his third homer of the series. Jason Isringhausen was touched for five runs in five innings as the Foxes’ starters continued to struggle.

GAME 4 - MPS 4, CHI 3
The Foxes finally got a quality start, and it came from former Topper righty Darryl Kile, who held Chicago to three runs in five innings. And the bullpen was even better, as Gabe White and Ricardo Rincon combined for four shutout innings. Minneapolis got a three-spot in the second off John Mitchell on back-to-back bases-loaded walks and an RBI groundout. Ordonez homered and drove his series RBI total to 10 in the loss.

GAME 5 - CHI 8, MPS 3
Facing elimination, Floyd Youmans again sputtered, allowing eight runs in 4.2 innings as the Colts rolled to a fourth blowout win. Steve Cooke cruised to his second win of the series, allowing just four hits and one run in six innings. Maggio Ordonez homered and drove in three, winning series MVP honors with a .450-3-13 line. John Olerud had three hits, pushing his series average to .364, and Beltran hit .391 with 5 RBIs.

P-Bears, Rainiers
Staring Down History
Superbas, Colts Make 19th and 16th Trips to Final Four

PLAYOFF PREVIEW

EAST SEMI SERIES
BROOKLYN 2-0 vs TORONTO
1993 Hex BRO 4-1 TOR
1995 Hex BRO 4-2 TOR
This season: BRO x-x

REED 1-0 vs CLEMONS

1990 WS STL 4-0 TOR
This season:

WEST SEMI SERIES
SEATTLE vs CHICAGO

First meeting

This season: SEA 6-5

TUCKER vs VAYS

First meeting

Toronto and Seattle are the favorites on paper, but they play the games on grass. Although GMs Eric Clemons and Brandon Tucker won their respective divisions and home home-field advantage heading into their Semi Series encounters with the Brooklyn Superbas and Chicago Colts, it is the former two clubs that have the advantage. Namely, the dark spectre of history.

Brooklyn will make its 19th appearance in the final four (10th under GM Glen Reed), the most in league history. Clemons might take some small consolation in knowing that the Screaming Bats are 3-5 at this stage of the playoffs since the Semi Series was introduced in 1974. Also, for the numerologists out there, Toronto won its two titles in 1990 and 1994, so it is due for its third.

Seattle has only made the postseason four times in its first 36 years, making it one of the most playoff-starved teams in the league. They battled the Colts for the West pennant all year long, only clinching on the penultimate day of the season. Chicago had the third most appearances in the final four (15) and is 2-4 in the Semis. For his part, Peter Vays had made the semis 17 times, with a 10-7 record, all with Los Angeles.

The four semifinals are also the top four offensive teams, a league first. Only Seattle ranked in the top 7 in pitching, which combined with their 98 regular season wins and President’s Trophy, makes them the favorites to go all the way. But the road to glory is filled with history-laden potholes.

Oct. 1, 1998 • Season Summary Issue

Seattle, Florida
Surprise Playoff Teams
Rainiers' Nomar, Gooden Take Top Honors

It was a fairytale season in the Pacific Northwest, as the Seattle Rainiers put years of futility behind them to book their first playoffs in nine years and capture their first pennant and President's Trophy under GM Brandon Tucker. In the East, GM Jose Lima's swan song landed the Florida Flamingos in October tournament for the first time in their nine-year history, powered by the league best pitching.

Four of last year's six playoff teams dropped to 5th or lower, while Seattle and Florida led the charge of new postseason entries. Seattle joins the party for the first time since 1989 and Florida for the first time in its nine-year history.

Seattle used the perfect blend of youth and veterans, led by 24-year-old batting champion Nomar Garciaparra and 33-year-old Cy Young favorite Dwight Gooden, and finished the year #1 in offense and #2 in pitching. The R’s 98 wins was the most in franchise history and earned the team’s second President’s Trophy. If the veteran free agents were impressive (17.7 WAR from Burks, Gooden, and Hanson, see below), then the homegrown talent was equally so. In his first three years at the helm, GM Brandon Tucker had bad luck not only in the draft, but in the draft lottery. His early first rounders (Javy Lopez, Trevor Hoffman, and Joey Hamilton) have failed to pan out. In 1995 a last place finished yielded only the #5 pick due to the vagaries of the new draft lottery, prompting the introduction of a floor/ceiling rule to prevent repeated slights. Yet that draft produced first rounders Johnny Damon (13.0 career WAR) and Mariano Rivera (4.6), the next year added Nomar (15.5), and 1997 was David Ortiz (6.7), Torii Hunter (-1.3). Those five first-rounders from 1995-97 have career WARs of 38.5, making it one of the most successful three year first-round hauls in UL history. And that’s not even counting later picks such as Jason Varitek, Matt Mantei, and Jose Guillen.

As for Florida, their success this year comes down to the simultaneous blooming of several young talents. Six players age 26 or young produced 2.5+ WAR seasons. Grieve, Young, Norton, Kotsay, Cordova, and Colon generated 12 more WAR than last year.

Player Age 1997 1998
Ben Grieve 22 -0.2 4.0
Dmitri Young 24 1.5 3.8
Greg Norton 26 3.7 3.6
Mark Kotsay 22 0.0 2.5
Francisco Cordova 26 2.7 4.2
Bartolo Colon 25 1.8 2.9
Total 9.5 21.0

Add to that the 7th best farm system, and whoever takes over the Flamingos next year—it is rumored to be a wargaming buddy of outgoing GM Jo Lima—will inherit a solid young core to build around.

A Season of Disappointment, Underachievement, and Missed Expectations

For every Cinderella story and ended playoff drought, there is a counterbalancing story of defeat, disappointment, and regret. This was the main theme of the 1998 season, as several teams and many more players failed to meet expectations.

Start at the top. The two preseason predictions (BNN and Reed’s Read) agreed on only two teams to make the playoffs: the Montreal Voyageurs and the Cleveland Barons. Those teams finished 5th and 6th respectively in their divisions.

Then there is the case of last year’s playoff teams. Manhattan, Boston and Denver not only failed to return to October ball, but finished in the bottom three of their divisions. Denver’s late slump was perhaps most emblematic of the season, as they managed to drop three places from 4th to 7th in the final week.

On the individual level, there is no better place to start than sorting by salary. Barry Bonds (STL, $15M) had 4.4 WAR, his lowest in 12 years. Albert Belle (BOS, $14.9M) hit .271 with 3.0 WAR. Ivan Rodriguez (MON, $10.9M) OPSed .754 with 3.0 WAR. Shane Mack (HAV, $10M) OPSed just .742 with 0.7 WAR.

Care to take a gander at the league’s worst fielders? Denver SS Barry Larkin was third worst (-15.7 ZR) for $9.2M, Atlanta RF Tony Gwynn fourth worst (-15.2) for $7.8M, and LA’s former Gold Glove CF Stan Javier had -13.8 ZR and -0.4 WAR for the tidy sum of $6M. Eric Karros (TOR, $5.2M) had the third worst batting average (.228) while Charles Johnson (ATL, $4.2M) had the fourth (.231). Billy VanLandingham (KEY, $2.9M) had the fourth worst ERA (5.48) and Floyd Youmans (MPS, $5.5M) had the third worst WHIP.

Yet like a meadow of wildflowers emerging from a burn scar, the collective suckage across the league opened the door to new teams and new players to take center stage. Seattle won its first pennant in a decade and Florida will play in October for the first time in its ninth season. On the All-UL Team, 10 of 15 players won their first or second honor, including Seattle batting champion Nomar Garciaparra and St. Louis slugger Chipper Jones.

The proverbial changing of the guard comes at an opportune moment in the league’s history. Next season marks the beginning of a new era, with a “big bang” expansion of three teams, a shift to a three-division alignment, and an additional playoff round. With expansion will come a shuffling of the deck, the forging of new rivalries and the emergence of new dynasties (and new playoff droughts).

East W L GB 2ndH R RA

Toronto     89 71 - 40-36 4 13
Brooklyn     88 72 1 41-35 3 8
Florida 83 77   6 41-35 12 1
Havana 76 84 13 43-36 14 5
Montreal 75 85 14 38-48 6 12
Keystone 73 87 16 37-39 10 17
Manhattan    71 89 18 34-42 15 11

Washington 71 89 18 36-40 13 6
Boston 67 93 22 32-45 16 16

West W L GB Last R RA

Seattle 98 62 - 44-32 1 2

Chicago 97 63 1 44-32 2 7

Minneapolis 91 69 7 44-32 11 4
Atlanta 87 73 11 44-32 7 10
St. Louis 86 74 12 40-36 9 3
Cleveland 85 75 13 37-39 8 15
Denver 84 76 14 37-39 5 14
Detroit 73 87 25 33-43 17 9

Los Angeles 46 114 52 22-55 18 18
tied

TOP PERFORMANCES
Scott Rolen (MPS) had the league's first 4-HR game on Apr. 24.
Gregg Jefferies (WAS) hit for the cycle Aug. 5.
Derek Lowe (TOR) pitched the season's only no-hitter Jul 15.
Juan Gonzelez (TOR) had the first 50-HR season since 1994.
Bobby Abreu (MPS) had a 23-game hitting streak thru Jun 13.

MILESTONES
Barry Bonds 500 HR (#8)
Eric Davis 500 HR (#9)
Tony Gwynn 3500 H (#2)
Tim Raines 2500 H (#23)
Rance Mulliniks 2500 H (#24)
Tony Phillips 2500 H (#25)
Tony Gwynn 1500 R (#10)
Tony Gwynn 600 SB (#13)
Scott Sanderson 250 W (#15)
Fernie Valenzuela 3500 K (#7)
Scott Sanderson 3000 K (#17)

INJURIES
BRO 2B Geronimo Pena (season)
BRO CF Ken Griffey Jr (2 wk)
CHI LF Frank Catalanotto (2 wk)
FLO CF Mark Kotsay (season)
MPS SP Jose Rosado (2 wk)
SEA RP Graeme Lloyd (season)

PLAYOFF PREVIEW

EAST HEX SERIES
Brooklyn skipper Glen Reed makes his 30th playoff appearance in pursuit of his 13th UL title, and his first since 1989. Jo Lima returns to the playoffs for the first time since his 1982 title in Montreal, leading his expansion Florida Flamingos to their first postseason.

BROOKLYN vs FLORIDA
First meeting
This season: BRO 6-5

REED vs LIMA

First meeting

WEST HEX SERIES
Minneapolis GM Steve Haugh faces off against his former team, having won the title his (in)famous Bondage Ponies in 1993. The Foxes will make their 2nd consecutive playoff appearance, and 8th in franchise history. GM Peter Vays makes his 20th playoff appearance in pursuit of his fourth title. It is Chicago's 19th postseason. The Colts have won the league three times, twice under Lance Mueller and the '93 ring under Haugh.

The two skippers have met on four previous occasions, splitting honors. Vays beat Haugh in the Semis on his way to the title in 1991 and Haugh returned the favor two years later.

CHICAGO vs MINNEAPOLIS

First meeting

This season: CHI 6-5

VAYS 2-2 HAUGH

1990 Semi LA 4-1 CHI
1991 Semi LA 4-2 CHI
1992 Hex CHI 4-3 LA
1993 Semi CHI 4-1 LA

West Division

East Division

WAR Leaders: Nomar Garciaparra (8.8), Ellis Burks (6.6), Dwight Gooden (5.9), David Ortiz (5.5)

Seattle used the perfect blend of youth and veterans, led by 24-year-old batting champion Nomar Garciaparra and 33-year-old Cy Young favorite Dwight Gooden, and finished the year #1 in offense and #2 in pitching. The R’s 98 wins was the most in franchise history and earned the team’s second President’s Trophy. The lineup featured six batters with 20+ home runs, and eight with 20+ doubles. The 2-3-4 combo was the deadliest in the circuit: LF Ellis Burks (.303-34-89), Nomar (.365-21-118), and 1B David Ortiz (.338-26-129). Leadoff man Johnny Damon got on base at a .369 clip and swiped 48 bases, and three other regulars had 2.8+ WAR seasons: C Jason Varitek, 2B Benji Gil, and 3B Ken Caminiti. The team ranked 1st in runs, average, OPS, and wOBA.

If there were a Comeback Player of the Year award, Dwight Gooden would be the hands down winner. A four-time Cy Young winner from 1984-90, Gooden pitched liked a mere more after turning 30 in 1995 and seemed to be gradually fading into the sunset. But then he was picked up by GM Brandon Tucker in free agency and has had a late-career resurgence. After an impressive 13-9, 2.57 last year he became a Cy Young candidate this year, going 18-6, 2.20 with a 1.06 WHIP and 5.9 WAR. In addition to winning his third ERA title, he was 1st in H/9, 2nd in wins and WAR, and 3rd in quality starts and WHIP, and HR/9. But he was not alone. Fellow FA veteran Erik Hanson was nearly as dominant, going 20-5 with a 3.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 5.2 WAR. Add closer Mariano Rivera (2.50, 31 SV) and you get the #2 pitching team.

And the biggest punchline might be this: Seattle built this monster with the smallest cap in the league, a piddling $63 million. Attendance surged to over 2.7 million, a 15-year high, and total revenue will exceed $60 million for the first time in a decade.

WAR Leaders: Juan Gonzalez (7.5), Raul Mondesi (6.5), Derek Lowe (5.3), Mike Grace (4.9)

From 1988-95, the Toronto Polar Bears experienced an unprecedented run of success for an expansion team, just four years from their 1984 debut, the Sailors of the Floe had an eight-year run in which they averaged 93 wins, led the league in scoring six times, made the playoffs 7 of 8 years, and won two UL titles (1990, 1994). The last two year produced unsatisfying fourth place finishes, but in 1998 Toronto recaptured its mojo. Toronto won their sixth division pennant, nosing Brooklyn by one game, with an offense that was still overpowering, if not at the level of those earlier teams.

CF Raul Mondesi (.303-43-115, 6.5 WAR) had a breakout year at age 27, 1996 MVP RF Juan Gonzalez (.339-51-131, 7.5) led the league in HR, SLG, and OPS, and 1B Eric Karros managed his sixth straight 30-HR season despite batting only. 228.

The pitching staff performed well by some measures (2nd in pWAR, 5th in FIP), but was only 13th in runs against, no doubt hurt by the league worst defense (-41.9 ZR). There were no real standouts though Chad Ogea (13-7, 3.92) and second-year righty Derek Lowe (12-8, 3.88) were solid at the top of the rotation and closer Jose Mesa (26 SV, 3.12) got his 150th career save. Lowe pitched the season's only no-hitter Jul 15.

The club was #2 in attendance (3.3 million) and #1 in revenue, producing a 15th straight profitable season. The cherry on top? The Triple-A Ottawa Assassins capture their second Governor's Cup in three years.

WAR Leaders: Carlos Beltran (5.4), Steve Cooke (5.2), Scott Sanderson (4.3), Tim Salmon (4.2)

Scott Sanderson was a controversial free agent signing. At $3.8 million per year for two years, GM Peter Vays appeared to have overpaid for an overcooked veteran. Instead, the 40-year-old righthander turned into a key cog in the Colts’ return to the playoffs. Picked 13th (BNN) and 7th (Reed) in the preseason prediction, Chicago won 97 games and finished just one game shy of the President’s Trophy.

Sanderson was 13-8, 4.09 and pitched 202 innings for a 4.3 WAR, clocking his 250th win (#15) and 3,000th strikeout (#17) along the way. Lefty Steve Cooke (18-9, 3.22, 5.2 WAR) was again the star of the staff, finishing 2nd in strikeouts, 2nd-T in wins, and 7th in ERA. Cory Bailey was 2nd in saves with 36.

In third third year back at Wrigley, the Colts were again a top-2 offense, led by Rookie of the Year favorite Carlos Beltran (.320-18-74, .905) and second-year LF Frank Catalanotto (.325-11-71) who briefly contended for the batting title. Young RF Magglio Ordonez showed moments of brilliance after missing more than a year with an elbow injury. Maggio hit .351 with a 1.012 OPS in 32 games and will be a key bat in the playoffs with Catalanotto and Tim Salmon carrying injuries.

With two playoff appearances in three years, Vays is working on building another dynasty in Chicago, though a third straight financial loss is a reminder of financial constraints that didn’t exist in Los Angeles.

WAR Leaders: Ken Griffey Jr (6.6), Greg Swindell (5.4), Dave Nilsson (5.0), Marty Cordova (4.9)

The only team other than Minneapolis to make a playoff return, the Superbas have made four straight postseasons: the final two campaigns of the Tim Widholm era and two under new/returning GM Glen Reed. The ‘98 Bas dropped two spots to the 3rd-ranked offense, due mainly to a weaker supporting cast. CF Ken Griffey Jr (6.6 WAR), C Dave Nilsson (5.0), and 2B Geronimo Pena (4.1) all increased their WAR contributions—despite injuries to Griffey and Pena—but Paul O’Neill and Dion James proved insufficient replacements for the departed Ivan Calderon and Alvin Davis.

The pitching jumped six positions to 8th, led by top free agent Greg Swindell (14-10, 3.49). The $10 million signing posted the second-highest WAR (5.4) of his 12-year career. No other starter had an ERA below the league average, but the bullpen ranked 4th. Closer Greg McMichael got 30 saves for the first time, with a 2.95 ERA, and 34-year-old lefty Norm Charlton was a pleasant surprise with a 2.23 ERA in 73 games.

Brooklyn will make a record 21st playoff appearance in pursuit of its record 9th title.

WAR Leaders: Scott Rolen (7.0), Bobby Abreu (6.1), Kelvim Escobar (5.8), Jason isringhausen (4.4)

One of just two clubs to make a playoff return, the Foxes were a model of consistency in a topsy-turvy world. GM Steve Haugh’s charges won 91 games, good for 3rd place in a loaded West Division. The Foxes will look to move past the Semi Series, where they were eliminated by eventual champions Cleveland last year.

Minneapolis’ strength was their pitching, which ranked 4th overall and 1st in bullpen ERA. Jason Isringhausen (26) in his third full year cemented his ace credentials with a 15-8 record, 3.62 ERA, and 180 Ks. But he was outshone by 22-year-old Kelvim Escobar (18-3, 3.41, 5.8 WAR). Though technically not a rookie, as he pitched 50 innings last year, the #3 overall pick from 1997 exceeded all expectations and ranks among the league’s elite young arms. The pen featured 34-save Ricardo Rincon (3.09), plus two middle relievers with sub-3.00 ERAs: Danny Patterson (2.83) and Gabe White (2.08). And other than veteran Floyd Youmans, the entire Foxes’ pitching staff was under 30.

The offense was just midtable in run production, but featured two superstars. Scott Rolen (.310-27-111) joined a shortlist of players with back to back .300/100-RBI/7.0+ WAR seasons and had the league's first 4-HR game on Apr. 24. RF Bobby Abreu (24) enjoyed a breakout year in his third season, and contended for the batting title before settling for 3rd (.342-18-80, .950, 6.1 WAR). Abreu had 57 doubles on Sept. 8, one shy of the single-season record, but then went 17 games without a double to end the season, despite two triples in the last week. The third base coach was subsequently fired.

Pronto Pup Stadium welcomed over 2 million patrons, the 3rd largest gate in franchise history in the last two decades.

WAR Leaders: Bernie Williams (5.3), Francisco Cordova (4.2), Ben Grieve (4.0), Dmitri Young (3.8)

In his ninth year in South Beach, GM, renowned architect, and international playboy Jo Lima finally led his Pink Birds to the promised land. And he did it part-time while coordinating humanitarian relief operations on the beleaguered island of Cuba and engineering the expansion Puerto Rico Cocodrilos franchise. Florida was first the league in pitching—their first time cracking the top five—led by young righthanders Francisco Cordova (14-10, 2.71) and Bartolo Colon (16-10, 3.55). Cordova was 2nd in ERA, Colon was 4th in strikeouts and tied for 7th in wins, and Mike Mussina () was 5th in strikeouts. Closer Steve Karsay (2.33, 22 SV) headlined the 5th-ranked bullpen.

The offense got a shot in the arm—and buttocks—from 22-year-old LF Ben Grieve (.327-19-94, .913), who led the club in batting, RBI, and OPS. Excellent glove man, RF Bernie Williams led the team in home runs (24) and WAR (5.3), while 24-year-old 1B Dmitri Young broke out with .295-13-83, .816.

Lima leaves a solid legacy in Florida. Though the Pink Birds took more years to reach the playoffs than their co-expansionist Keystone Starlings, Florida has had more winning seasons and more top-five finishes. And now he has a chance to go out with a second UL title for his trophy case to put alongside his 1982 Montreal crown.

WAR Leaders: Pedro Martinez (6.7), Derrek Lee (6.4), Ruben Rivera (4.6), Fernando Valenzuela (4.3)

GM Andy Chaney’s last year in Atlanta was typical one in many senses. The club entered the season with playoff hopes, stumbled out of the gate, only the surge at the end to make the race look closer than it was. We’ve seen this movie before. The Red Blobs were essentially out of the playoff race in August, but decided to go on a 15-9 run to close the season, just for fun. The result was an impressive 87-73 record, sixth best overall, but four games behind third-place Minneapolis.

It was a banner year for Tony Gwynn. “Mr. Topper” gathered his 3500th hit (#2 all-time), 1500th run (#10), and 600th stolen base (#13). Fernie Valenzuela, who was Chaney’s very first draft pick back in 1980 and has been with him all 19 of his seasons, notched his 3500th strikeout (#7 all-time) and ran his all-time record to 240-161. Other highlights were sophomore 1B Derrek Lee’s breakout (.321-35-105, .964) and Robin Yount batting .279 and putting up 3.7 WAR at the age of 41. Oh, and Pedro Martinez led the league in strikeouts (275) for the sixth year in a row and in WAR (6.7) for the fourth time in five years.

Like Charlie Qualls and Lane Mueller, Chaney heads west next year to take over the expansion Portland team. His 19-year reign in Atlanta ended on a strong note, with five straight winning seasons, including two playoffs and the epic 110-win 1994 season.

WAR Leaders: Matt Lawton (6.8), Sean Bergman (4.7), Ben Davis (4.5), Ricky Ledee (3.1)

Amidst the turmoil of the Castro Revolution, which had the front office in flux and the team playing in a half-empty stadium under police escort, the Leones managed to put a decent product on the field. Havana ranked fifth in pitching, highest since 1991 and the club finished 4th place in the East, though only 11th overall. Sean Bergman fell off from his 8.0 WAR season last year, but still managed a 3.79 ERA, 186 Ks, and 4.7 WAR. Free agent signing Scott Bankhead was a solid 12-7 with a 3.06 ERA. And #1 overall pick Roy Halladay led all rookies with 11 wins, 222 innings, and 2.8 WAR.

The offense improved from last year’s rock bottom performance, but still ranked in the bottom five. You know it’s a problem when your second baseman leads the team in home runs, as 29-year-old Kurt Abbott did, with 22. Shane Mack, with two more years left on a $10 million-per contract, laughed all the way to the bank with a .742 OPS and 0.7 WAR. Matt Lawton (.317-13-83, .869) had a breakout year in his fourth season, and a trio of rookies all had strong debuts: C Ben Davis (4.5 WAR), CF Ricky Ledee (3.1), and 3B Troy Glaus (1.6). Davis was particularly impressive, posting a +4.5 ZR as a catcher at the age of 21 and finishing second only to Chicago’s Carlos Beltran in rookie WAR.

Havana was 30-42 before the revolt and 46-42 after it. Apparently a bit of chaos does this team good. Which is a good thing, because they will spend the offseason relocating the franchise across a continent to San Diego, where refurbishments to Jack Murphy Stadium are already underway.

WAR Leaders: Tony Batista (9.1), Chipper Jones (8.3), Michael Tucker (7.3), Bret Saberhagen (5.6)

GM Jeremy Lemmon inherited a solid team at the end of 1996 and has left it intact, yet finished tied for 5th two years in a row despite having the best player in baseball and some of the finest glove men in the league. Four-time MVP Barry Bonds signed a five-year $97 million contract in the offseason, the biggest contract in UL history, then promptly posted his worst season since his 1986 rookie year, with his .291-31-87, .918 falling into the mere superstar tier from demigod, even accounting for six weeks on the IL. Bonds became the 8th player in the 500-HR club in May. 3B Chipper Jones at long last had his long-anticipated breakout year, batting .325-45-112, 1.029 and earning his first All-UL Team nomination. The Maroons were a top-2 defensive team for the fourth straight year, led by Willie Mays Award winning SS Rey Sanchez (27.3), 2B Tony Batista (24.6), and CF Michael Tucker (21.6).

The Maroons pitching staff, as it often does, defied aging, ranking 3rd in runs against with the #1 ranked rotation (3.61 ERA). Going with a four-man setup, Frank Viola, Britt Burns, Bret Saberhagen, and Jim Gott averaged 247 innings despite an average age of 37. Viola (18-8, 3.22, age 37) set career marks with 18 wins, 39 starts, and 284 innings, while posting a 1.12 WHIP. Burns, one year older, had career bests with 18 wins, 3.01 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 5.0 WAR.

Lemmon’s main task will be injecting some youth in the pitching, a task that should be made easier as the team gets its first 1st round pick since 1993. The club had a grand total of zero draft picks from 1994-97 and, not surprisingly, has the lowest-ranked farm system with 0 of the league’s top 85 prospects.

Bond’s big payday didn’t help the bottom line, and the Maroons saw red ink for the third straight year and will take their first significant cap cut (to $70M) for the first time in two decades.

WAR Leaders: Vladi Guerrero (7.0), Jermaine Dye (4.9), Livan Hernandez (3.8), Mike Mason (3.8)

A consensus top-3 pick by both BNN and Reed's Read, the Voyaguers were the top flop of 1998, perhaps crumbling under the pressure of expectations. And they flopped from the start, going 9-19 in April and never coming within a sniff of the playoff zone. The Canoeists were 3-9 in extra innings and 17-33 in one-run games, both league worsts.

One player who did not crumble under pressure was 1997 MVP Vladi Guerrero (.352-35-108), who finished 2nd in the batting race and 6th in WAR. Another star was RF Jermaine Dye (.322-26-87, .951) who had a breakout season at age 24. Rookie 3B Mike Lowell (#7 overall pick), showed flashes of greatness with a .281 average and 65 RBI in just over 100 games.

On the pitching side, $6 million free agent ace Mike Mason lived up to billing, leading the team with a 12-6 record and 3.16 ERA while announcing his retirement at the end of the season. Third year starters Livan Hernandez (244) and Chan Ho Park (205) turned into innings-eaters, though Park regurgitated most of his (5.52 ERA). The bullpen struggled as well, though somehow closer Jerry Dipoto managed 34 saves despite a 4.52 ERA.

Nine years into his tenure, GM Bryan Gryka has yet to play October ball. However, the club turned a third straight profit and will see a second straight maximum cap upgrade next year, giving the club its biggest payroll cap since 1992.

WAR Leaders: Ismael Valdez (5.7), Rich Gedman (4.6), Carlos Delgado (4.5), Alex Rodriguez (4.0)

In a season peppered with stories of disappointment and underachievement, the Cleveland Barons were perhaps the biggest flop. One of just two consensus picks for a playoff spot, the Barons instead finished tied for fifth with nine fewer wins than last year. The culprit was a colossal pitching collapse, from 2nd to 15th. The departure of Greg Swindell didn’t help things, but more fault lies with ace Ismael Valdez (+1.09 ERA to 3.70), Alex Fernandez (+1.66 to 4.92), and Jose DeLeon (+1.88 to 4.67). DeLeon at least has the excuse of age (36). The others were just sucky. Closer Toby Borland shone again, with a 2.07 ERA and league-best 39 saves.

The 22-year-old SS Alex Rodriguez (.245-40-133) had a career-worst batting average, but career best power numbers, winning the RBI title. 1B Carlos Delgado hit career best 37 HR and 121 RBI. The WAR leader was 38-year-old Rich Gedman, earning his $13.6 million paycheck with an .804 OPS and 72 RBIs while wearing the tools of ignorance.

Still, GM Charlie Qualls goes out on a high. The team won 85 games, good for a fourth successive winning season, one shy of the club record from 1964-68. Qualls will ply his trade with the expansion Bay Area Breakers next year.

WAR Leaders: Rondell White (5.3), Jeff Bagwell (5.2), Kevin Millar (3.8), Butch Henry (3.2)

Since their 1995 pennant, the Starlings have ensconced themselves in 6th place in the East. Keystone finished in that position for the third straight year, behind average hitting an abysmal pitching. CF Rondell White ( .280-32-94, +11.8 ZR, 5.3 WAR) led both the offense and the defense, SS Wil Cordero (.258-37-117) had his most RBIs since his 1995 MVP season, and #24 overall pick 1B Kevin Millar (.341-17-90, .912) was a top rookie.

The pitching staff and starting rotation both ranked second bottom, and nearly every every veteran had a season to forget. The few bright spots included RP Matt Whiteside (1.97, 1.01 WHIP, 11 SV) and RP Pat Clements, who posted a 2.59 ERA in 67 appearances at age 36.

The bloom is off the rose at New Shibe Park, however. The club welcomed just over 2 million patrons and the club posted a loss for the fifth straight season and will face a salary cap crunch in 1999.

WAR Leaders: Darin Erstad (6.4), Kal Daniels (4.7), Joe Magrane (4.6), Jay Bell (3.7)

After ending a 17-year playoff drought in 1997, the 14ers hoped for a playoff return. GM Tim Smith’s club was within striking distance much of the season, occupying 4th place a few games behind Minneapolis most of the year. But a 9-16 September, culminating in a 1-7 collapse in the final week, saw Denver drop three spots in seven days to a depressing 7th place finish. On the bright side, the Teeners notched three straight 80-win seasons for the first time in club history and the offense ranked in the top-5 for the first time since 1990.

Darin Erstad (.286-10-105, 6.4) led the offense while playing Gold-Glove defense in CF, the big free agent signing Kal Daniels provided the power punch he was hired for (.307-23-104, .882 OPS), and veteran SS Barry Larkin batted .293, his best average in six years. Tim Raines collected his 2500th hit, though at age 38 he only started 41 times.

Joe Magrane (16-8, 3.76) was solid again in the ace role, and Hideo Nomo (15-10, 4.19, 1.24 WHIP) was decent, if not spectacular, in his return to the rotation after a year in the pen. But a pair of 35-year-olds hit the wall after great 1997 seasons. Greg Mathews slumped to 9-15, 5.25 after last year’s 17-win campaign, and Todd Frohwirth, of 24 saves and 1.84 fame, collapsed to a 5.53 ERA and 1.52 WHIP.

The club spent in pursuit of the playoffs, resulting in a third straight financial loss and another salary cap cut next season.

WAR Leaders: Matt Morris (5.4), Frank Thomas (4.1), Bubba Trammell (3.4), Terry Mulholland (3.1)

After back-to-back playoff years, including the East Division pennant last year, the Dingy Hose dropped six positions to a 7th place tie in 1998. The league’s best pitching staff in 1997 ranked just 11th in 1998. Roger Clemens (4-9, 5.17) could not recapture his late-career magic he conjured last year, and Pat Hentgen (+1.33), Bobby Munoz (+1.25), and Terry Mulholland (+2.24) all regressed, although it was arguably a reversion to mean, as all four had strong seasons last year. Matt Morris (13-11, 3.30) was the only starter who had a good season. The sophomore northpaw from Middletown, N.Y. reached 13 wins, 225 innings, 150 Ks, and 5.0+ WAR in his first two seasons, which puts him in elite company.

The offense was led by Frank Thomas (.300-28-85, .949) who experienced a ballpark-assisted resurgence after a super-slumpy final season in Tinseltown. Second-year LF Bubba Trammell (.340-24-75, 1.006) had a breakout season, and second-year CF Richard Hidalgo drove in 88 runs.

Attendance dipped 400k, slashing revenues by $14 million and producing the first financial loss in five years.

WAR Leaders: Justin Thompson (5.2), Todd Helton (3.9), Marc Newfield (3.2), Andy Benes (2.9)

The Flyin’ Lions’ pitching improved quite a bit in 1998, but not enough to prevent a third straight 8th place finish in a hyper-competitive West Division. Probably no club is looking forward to the divisional realignment more than Detroit. The pitching improved from 15th to 9th, despite Justin Thompson’s 18 losses and only one pitcher posting an ERA under 4.00. Pete Schourek (age 29) was probably the best pitcher, though at 9-8, 3.98 he was far from a world-beater. The bullpen however, ranked 2nd overall, led by 26-save Billy Wagner, who featured for the USA in the All-Star Classic in July.

The offense suffered a power outage, led by Ryan Klesko (19-53) whose power numbers were less than half of last year’s SLG and OPS title campaign. Sophomore Todd Helton (.307-28-98, .906) continued to emerge as an elite first baseman and young LF Marc Newfield (.317-17-60) had his second .300 season in three years. 2B Todd Walker, acquired midseason in the Fernando Vina trade, hit a fine .315 with a .370 OBP in the second half.

WAR Leaders: Gary Sheffield (6.5), Gregg Jefferies (4.2), Andruw Jones (4.0), Jorge Posada (3.2)

The Mons suffered through a sixth straight losing season under GM Jason Gudim, again landing in the bottom three of the East, but Washington saw some glimmers of hope, particularly in the dramatically improved pitching staff. Geremi Gonzalez (11-6, 3.31) had a creditable rookie campaign, Tom Glavine won 13 games, Doug Drabek had his best WAR in four years, and Julio Valera—acquired from Atlanta last year— consolidated his role as a top-3 starter.

At the plate, Gary Sheffield returned to his All-Star numbers, batting .302-24-103, and RF Shawn Green (.281-28-109) had a breakout year. Andruw Jones provided an elite glove in center field, while contributing 71 RBIs, and Jorge Posada gives the club its first consistent regular behind the plate since Rich Gedman left in 1993. Gregg Jefferies hit the league's only cycle on Aug. 5.

The club turned a profit for the fifth year running, as Gudim effectively controlled costs. An aging pitching staff will be a concern in the offseason, as the top three innings-eaters (Drabek, Glavine, and Brown) are all over 31.

WAR Leaders: Shane Andrews (2.9), Adrian Beltre (2.6), Chris Haney (2.2)

The second year of Tim Widholm's reign at Arroyo Seco Stadium resembled scorched earth. The club spent under $30 million on payroll, a record low, resulting in a $33 million profit, of which $25 million was surrendered to the league per the max-cash rule. Of the eight regulars, only CF Stan Javier returned from last year, and he and Van Slyke were the only players earning more than $2.5 million.

The result was a predictable crash-and-burn of the likes not seen in decades. The Outlaws lost 114 games, second most in league history, shattering the former club record of 96 losses, set last year. For a fanbase just three years removed from a record run of 15 consecutive playoff seasons, including four league titles, the comedown was too much to take. Attendance plummeted to 2.1 million, less than half that of the 1995 title season, 20 percent below league average, and the lowest since 1974.

L.A. does have a raft of 1999 picks, including three first rounders, and fans and Widholm alike will be hoping for a quick rebuild. For context, after Widdy took the helm at Brooklyn in 1977 his Superbas were in the playoffs in his third year and he put together nine straight winning seasons including four playoff appearances.

WAR Leaders: Jim Thome (4.7), Julian Tavarez (3.5), Mike Piazza (3.5), Ron Darling (3.4)

After back-to-back playoff appearances, including the league title in 1996, the Feds finished in their division for the first time since 1986. Both their offense and defense were third-worst in the league, but the offensive collapse was almost unprecedented. Last season's #2 offense finished 16th in the scoring table this year. Jim Thome moved from third base to first base, usually a favorable move for hitting, but saw OPS shrink 100 points to .853. Albert Belle's OPS also dropped 100 points to .800, and Sammy Sosa's plummetted 140 points to .728, below the league average. Mike Piazza hit 30, but still only hit .241, making last year's down year look more like a career inflection point.

Julian Tavarez, last year's win leader with 21, won just 4 this year and former ace Jon Lieber suffered his first losing campaign (9-18) and led the league in losses.

League Leaders

Batting Average
N. Garciaparra SEA .365
Vladi Guerrero MON .352
Bobby Abreu MPS .342
Kevin Millar KEY .341
Juan Gonzalez TOR .339
Tony Gwynn ATL .338
David Ortiz SEA .338
Ben Grieve FLO .327
Chipper Jones STL .325
F. Catalanotto CHI .325

RBIs
Juan Gonzalez TOR 133
Alex Rodriguez CLE 131
David Ortiz SEA 129
Carlos Delgado CLE 121
N. Garciaparra SEA 118
Wil Cordero KEY 117
Raul Mondesi TOR 115
Chipper Jones STL 112
Scott Rolen MPS 111
Reggie Jefferson STL 110

Infield Zone Rating
Rey Sanchez STL 27.3
Tony Batista STL 24.6
Benji Gil SEA 23.3
T. Graffanino MAN 21.1
Jose Valentin ATL 19.1

Home Runs
Juan Gonzalez TOR 51
Chipper Jones STL 45
Raul Mondesi TOR 43
Alex Rodriguez CLE 40
Wil Cordero KEY 37
Carlos Delgado CLE 37
Vladi Guerrero MON 35
Derrek Lee ATL 35
Jeff Bagwell KEY 34
Tony Batista STL 34
Ellis Burks SEA 34

bWAR
Tony Batista STL 9.1
N. Garciaparra SEA 8.8
Chipper Jones STL 8.3
Juan Gonzalez TOR 7.5
Michael Tucker   STL 7.3
Vladi Guerrero MON 7.0
Scott Rolen    MPS 7.0
Ellis Burks SEA 6.6
Ken Griffey Jr   BRO 6.6
Raul Mondesi TOR 6.5

Outfield Zone Rating
Michael Tucker STL 21.6
Ruben Rivera ATL 20.2
Darin Erstad DEN 19.3
Andruw Jones WAS 19.2
Matt Lawton HAV 18.3

Earned Run Average
Dwight Gooden SEA 2.20
Franc Cordova FLO 2.71
Britt Burns STL 3.01
Scott Bankhead HAV 3.06
Pedro Martinez ATL 3.09
Mike Mason MON 3.16
Steve Cooke CHI 3.22
Frank Viola STL 3.22
Erik Hanson SEA 3.29
Matt Morris MAN 3.30

Strikeouts
Pedro Martinez ATL 275
Steve Cooke CHI 240
Chan Ho Park MON 217
Bartolo Colon FLO 207
Mike Mussina FLO 195
Justin Thompson DET 194
Joe Magrane DEN 193
Sean Bergman HAV 186
Tom Glavine WAS 186
Hideo Nomo DEN 186

Wins
Erik Hanson SEA 20
Britt Burns STL 18
Steve Cooke CHI 18
Kelvim Escobar MPS 18
Dwight Gooden SEA 18
Frank Viola STL 18
Bartolo Colon FLO 16
Joe Magrane DEN 16
J. Isringhausen MPS 15
Hideo Nomo DEN 15

pWAR
Pedro Martinez ATL 6.7
Dwight Gooden SEA 5.9
Kelvim Esocbar MPS 5.8
Ismael Valdez CLE 5.7
Bret Saberhagen STL 5.6
Matt Morris MAN 5.4
Greg Swindell BRO 5.4
Derek Lowe TOR 5.3
Erik Hanson SEA 5.2
Steve Cooke CHI 5.2

Awards

Batter of the Month
APR Juan Gonzalez TOR

MAY Vladi Guerrero MON

JUN Bobby Abreu MPS

JUL Kurt Abbott HAV

AUG N. Garciaparra SEA
SEP David Ortiz SEA

Pitcher of the Month
APR Hideo Nomo DEN

MAY Greg Swindell BRO

JUN Dwight Gooden SEA

JUL Joe Magrane DEN

AUG Franc Cordova FLO
SEP Butch Henry KEY

Rookie of the Month
APR Carlos Beltran CHI

MAY Carlos Beltran CHI

JUN Roy Halladay HAV

JUL Troy Glaus HAV

AUG Kevin Millar KEY
SEP Kevin Millar KEY

Player of the Week
4/6 Tony Gwynn ATL
4/13 Ken Griffey Jr BRO

4/20 Tony Batista STL

4/27 Scott Rolen MPS

5/4 N. Garciaparra SEA

5/11 Todd Helton DET

5/18 Carlos Beltran CHI

5/25 Shawn Green WAS

6/1 Bobby Abreu MPS

6/8 Chipper Jones STL

6/15 Jermaine Dye MON

6/22 Sean Casey MPS
6/29 Kevin Millar KEY

7/6 Kurt Abbott HAV

7/13 Ellis Burks SEA

7/20 Kurt Abbott HAV

7/27 Vladi Guerrero MON

8/3 N. Garciaparra SEA

8/10 Gary Sheffield WAS

8/17 Jim Thome BOS

8/24 Ben Grieve FLO

8/31 Tony Gwynn ATL

9/7 Tony Batista STL

9/14 Vladi Guerrero MON
9/21 Ben Grieve FLO
9/28 Ken Caminiti SEA

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Circuit CloutsHome of United League • Purveyors of Fine Fake Baseball Since 2003*Contracts Page • TotalUL • TotalULPlayers • BNN • Live Sim • Rules • Clubs

Oct. 1?, 1998 • Semi Series Issue

Oct. 12, 1998 • Hex Series Issue

Oct. 1, 1998 • Season Summary Issue

West Division

East Division

League Leaders

Awards

Circuit Clouts
Home of United League • Purveyors of Fine Fake Baseball Since 2003*
Contracts Page • TotalUL • TotalULPlayers • BNN • Live Sim • Rules • Clubs