De-Centralized

Dave Paisley

In my wade through the divisions, I'm weaving my way eastward from last week's article on the National league West and landing in the dim confines of the NL Central. Both Central divisions are curious beasts with good teams few and far between and crappy teams a dime a dozen. Last year the Cardinals romped the NL Central, but not without some problems. Of course, with a healthy Mark McGwire they could easily have won 100 games. The Cincinnati Reds, coming off a fluke season in 1999 predictably failed to repeat, despite the addition of Ken Griffey Jr. and (ahem!) Dante Bichette. The Brewers lived down to expectations, the Astros self-destructed early, the Pirates were the Pirates of late - cheap and bad, despite the solid comeback of Jason Kendall, and the Cubs returned to a degree of suck not seen since, oh, 1980 when they only managed to win 64 games.

But let's see what changes their genius GMs have been able to make in the off-season and examine the prospects of this particular bunch. Let's take them in the order of last year's finish, which means the Cards go first.

St. Louis Cardinals	2000 record: 95-67
Traded For	Traded Away
P's Dustin Hermanson and Steve Kline from Montreal	3B Fernando Tatis and P Britt Reames
Signed	Lost
3B Shane Andrews (signed as free agent)	1B Eduardo Perez (sold to Japan)
C Mike Matheny (option picked up)	1B Will Clark (retired)
OF Bernard Gilkey (signed as free agent)	INF/OF Shawon Dunston (signed with Giants)
OF Bobby Bonilla (signed as free agent)	OF Eric Davis (signed with Giants)
OF John Mabry (signed as free agent)	P Jesse Orosco (option declined)
OF Quinton McCracken (off waivers)	P Pat Hentgen (option declined)
Re-signed C Eli Marrero to one-year contract	P Scott Radinsky (option declined)
Re-signed P Alan Benes to one-year contract
Re-signed P Darryl Kile to three-year contract
Re-signed P Jason Christiansen to one-year contract

Apparently desperate for left handed relief pitching, they dump slugging 3B Fernando Tatis for Steve Kline. Oh, and let's just say they throw in Britt Rheames for Dustin Hermanson. Now pitching is valuable, but slugging 3B are like gold dust right now (and pretty much always have been) so I really don't get this move at all. I also don't understand the desperate attempt to corner the market on washed-up, injury-prone weak-hitting position players. Bobby Bonilla, Bernard Gilkey, John Mabry, Shane Andrews and Quinton McCracken? Are they seriously trying for guest spots on ER or something? The medical bills alone could ruin the Cards chances of turning a profit this year.

Really, there's nothing on the list of moves that jumps out at me as a smart move. Signing Darryl Kile is OK, but of course he looked good after getting shelled in Colorado for two years. Even with a healthy Mark McGwire, this team is going to have a hard time repeating, and could easily fall back to the mid-80s in wins, especially if they play the above mentioned stiffs very much. I must say I'm quite disappointed. I'd like to see them win the division again, but this isn't the way to do it.

Meanwhile the Reds' off-season looked like this:

Cincinnati Reds	2000 record: 85-77
Traded For	Traded Away
INF Donnie Sadler and OF Michael Coleman from Boston	C Eddie Taubensee
P Seth Etherton from Anaheim	INF Chris Stynes
P's Clayton Andrews and Leo Estrella from Toronto	P Ron Villone
P's Jim Brower and Robert Pugmire from Cleveland	P Steve Parris
Two minor league pitchers to be named later from Colorado	SS Wilmy Caceres
Signed	Lost
C Kelly Stinnett (signed as free agent)	LHP Justin Atchley (released)
INF Wilton Guerrero (signed as free agent)	OF Brian Hunter (released)
P Frankie Rodriguez (signed as free agent)	OF Deion Sanders (option declined)
P Jeff Wallace (off waivers)
Re-signed OF Alex Ochoa to two-year contract
Re-signed P Dennys Reyes to one-year contract
Re-signed P Mark Wohlers
Re-signed P Scott Sullivan to three-year contract

Not exactly any blockbuster moves there, and especially not in the pitching staff. Trading away Ron Villone and Steve Parris for what are essentially prospects isn't the way to bolster an already thin starting staff. Nor is adding Frankie Rodriguez by way of free agency. On the other hand, there is one sign of intelligent life in the Bowden household, with the release of Brian Hunter. Oh, but then he re-signed Mark Wohlers. Too bad. Overall, not much to rejoice about here if you're a Reds fan. On the other hand, the team could do about as well as last year, which means they'd be level with the Cards.

But what of the footsteps behind them? Could that be the Milwaukee Brewers creeping up from behind?

Milwaukee Brewers	2000 record: 73-89
Signed	Lost
Re-signed INF Luis Lopez to two-year contract	OF Lyle Mouton (released)
Re-signed P Curtis Leskanic to three-year contract	3B Charlie Hayes (signed with Astros)
Re-signed OF James Mouton
Re-signed C Raul Casanova
Re-signed P Jeff D'Amico to one-year contract
OF Jeffrey Hammonds (signed as free agent)
Re-signed C Henry Blanco to two-year contract
Re-signed P Jamey Wright to one-year contract

Well, the only creeping going on here is the fact that Bud Selig creeps me out. Absolutely nothing happened over in Brewer land, apart from an extremely dangerous park and the arrival of Jeffrey Hammonds. Not exactly time to start chilling the champagne. Heck, it's not even worth chilling the Miller High Life. But when has that ever been true? To be honest, the Brewers may pick up a little boost from the new park smell. On the other hand, the smell from a certain new park last year was anything but sweet. And yes, we're moving on to the Houston Astros?

Houston Astros	2000 record: 72-90
Traded For	Traded Away
C Brad Ausmus, P Doug Brocail, P Nelson Cruz from Detroit	OF Roger Cedeno, C Mitch Meluskey, P Chris Holt
Signed	Lost
INF Bill Spiers (option picked up)	3B Ken Caminiti (signed with Texas)
INF Jose Vizcaino (signed as free agent)	P Jason Green (waived)
P Mike Jackson (signed as free agent)
3B Charlie Hayes (signed as free agent)
P Kent Bottenfield (signed as free agent)
Re-signed OF Richard Hidalgo to four-year contract

It's tough to read the Astros. On the one hand they traded away a young, promising catcher, a starting pitcher and a decent outfielder for a well-traveled veteran catcher and a couple of journeymen pitchers. And they signed a host of infield scrubs in Vizcaino, Spiers and Hayes. Then they latched onto an overrated Kent Bottenfield and signed the risky Mike Jackson. Hmm, maybe not so tough to read after all. Really, doesn't anyone want to win this division?

Maybe the Pirates want to win the division. Maybe they picked up the right blend of prospects and veterans to break through the 70 win barrier?

Pittsburgh Pirates	2000 record: 69-93
Traded For	Traded Away
	OF Alex Ramirez (traded to Japanese Central League)
Signed	Lost
OF Derek Bell (signed as free agent)	P Brad Clontz (released)
P Terry Mulholland (signed as free agent)	P Jeff Wallace (waived)
Re-signed INF Enrique Wilson	P Marc Wilkins (waived)
Re-signed P Francisco Cordova
Re-signed P Jason Schmidt to one-year contract
Re-signed P Rich Loiselle to one-year contract

Let's see - Derek Bell? Terry Mulholland? I don't think so. What a sad state of affairs. I can appreciate Jason Kendall's loyalty and desire for stability, but when that stability comes at the cost of finishing out of the running by the end of May every year it just starts to look like stupidity. And speaki9ng of stupidity (or is that futility?) here come last year's doormats. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you... the Chicago Cubs!

Chicago Cubs	2000 record: 65-97
Traded For	Traded Away
3B Bill Mueller from San Francisco	P Tim Worrell
OF Matt Stairs from Oakland	P Eric Ireland
Signed	Lost
1B Ron Coomer (signed as free agent)	P Jerry Spradlin (released)
C Todd Hundley (signed as free agent)	P Ben Ford (released)
P Jason Bere (signed as free agent)	1B Mark Grace (signed with D-Backs)
P Jeff Fassero (signed as free agent)	3B Shane Andrews (signed with St. Louis)
P Julian Tavarez (signed as free agent)	P Jamie Arnold (signed with Giants)
P Tom Gordon (signed as free agent)
Re-signed P Jeremi Gonzalez to one-year contract
Re-signed P Todd Van Poppel to one-year contract
SS Ricky Gutierrez (option picked up)

Actually, of all the NL Central clubs, the Cubs, while imperfect in many ways, may have improved themselves the most. Bill Mueller and Matt Stairs are decent additions (better than the guys they replaced anyway, which isn't necessarily saying much.) Ron Coomer is no great shakes, but he replaces perennial underachiever Mark Grace. The additions of Fassero, Gordon and Tavarez are risky, but if Kerry Wood returns to form, the Cubs could improve quite a bit. To maybe 75 wins.

Overall this is an ugly division. Much like the AL Central, but with one more team. Last year's good teams got worse and most of the others didn't get any better. Sadly, one of these teams will win the division. Fortunately, they'll probably get bounced pretty fast by the NL East and West teams. And if the wild card winner comes out of this division I'll eat my hat. Fortunately for me, it's made from recycled Big Macs. So I can hardly lose.

about the author

Decentralized? Dave Paisley laughs at all decentralization plans. Why, it's one of the funniest words he knows. Why not tell him what a sicko he is at drdjp@strikethree.com.