Eastward Ho!

Dave Paisley

By the way, and FYI, the title has nothing to do with Julia Roberts in New York City reprising her role in Pretty Woman. I'm continuing my swing eastward within the National League, and it sure is nice to get the nasty taste of the NL Central out of my mouth. If only millions of midwest fans could say the same... The East division, though, holds some promise. On the other hand it also hosts the Montreal Expos, so maybe the weak of stomach among you should avert your eyes for a paragraph or two. Why not start there and work out way up (although "up" is a dubious term to use when we move on to the Phillies.)

Here's what the Expos have done in the off-season. Don't blink or scroll too fast or you'll miss it.

Montreal Expos	2000 record: 67-95
Traded For	Traded Away
3B Fernando Tatis and P Britt Reames from St. Louis	P's Dustin Hermanson and Steve Kline
3B Ryan Minor from Baltimore	Class A pitcher Jorge Julio
Signed	Lost
Re-signed 2B Jose Vidro to four-year contract
Re-signed P Carl Pavano to one-year contract

Not a lot going on, but what's there is generally positive. I lamented St. Louis' stupidity in letting Tatis go, so I guess I have to think that the Expos pulled off a steal. With so many gaping holes in the starting lineup, the Expos needed a solid lefty setup man like a frog needs a bicycle. So Kline was expendable. As for Dustin Hermanson? No great shakes. Overall, the Expos could turn it up a notch as the younger pitching matures a bit, but that only means that they might break the all-important 70 win barrier. Whoo-hoo. Sacre Bleu. Passez le poutine, s'il vous plait!

If you wanted really dismal in the 2000 season, Philly was the place to be. If you scan quickly down the off-season activity list, thus:

Philadelphia Phillies	2000 record: 65-97
Signed	Lost
OF Brian L. Hunter (signed as free agent)	C Tom Prince (signed with Twins)
P Jose Mesa (signed as free agent)	P Jeff Brantley (signed with Rangers)
P Rheal Cormier (signed as free agent)	P John Sneed (waived)
P Ricky Bottalico (signed as free agent)	P Kent Bottenfield (signed with Astros)
Re-signed 1B Brian Hunter	SS Alex Arias (signed with Padres)
Re-signed RHP Chris Brock to two-year contract

...one comes quickly to the realization that 2001 is going to suck, too. Apparently not satisfied with merely the mediocre 1B Brian Hunter, the Phillies felt obliged to corner the market on Brian Hunters by bringing Brian L. "I'm not paid to walk" Hunter into the fold, too. And if you're a fan of flaky relivers (and we know you Philly Phans love Mitch Williams) you have to love the newly acquired tandem of Jose Mesa and Ricky Bottalico. I'm not sure which is worse - acquiring Mesa after years of demonstrated blechhh, or re-acquiring Bottalico after years of equally demonstrated gaaack. The thing is, these guys could combine for a world record in blown saves. Oh well, it's going to be tough to be a phan in Philly again.

Moving on to warmer climes, the Florida Marlins rebounded last year with an almost .500 performance. Their off-season moves look like this:

Florida Marlins	2000 record: 79-82
Traded For	Traded Away
OF Jeff Abbott from White Sox	OF Julio Ramirez
Signed	Lost
C Charles Johnson (signed as free agent)	INF Chris Clapinski (refused assignment)
Re-signed INF Dave Berg to one-year contract	OF Mark Smith (refused assignment)
Re-signed INF/OF Andy Fox	P Brian Edmondson (refused assignment)
Re-signed INF/OF Kevin Millar to two-year contract
Re-signed OF Mark Kotsay to one-year contract
Re-signed P Jesus Sanchez to one-year contract
Re-signed P Ricky Bones
Re-signed P Vic Darensbourg

Not a lot of initiative shown there. After all, Charles Johnson practically begged them to take him for well under market value, so the only move they made was to go get Jeff Abbott. That's not exactly going to put them over the top. Still, Johnson should add some punch and the Marlins should be able to steer close to .500 again.

Which leaves us with the two good teams that battled for the division title last year. Of the two teams, the Mets were the ones most stricken by changes as most of their starting pitching could have bailed due to free agency and indeed they lost two key guys - Hampton and to a lesser extent Jones.

New York Mets	2000 record: 94-68
Traded For	Traded Away
P Donne Wall from San Diego	OF Bubba Trammell
Signed	Lost
OF Tsuyoshi Shinjo (signed as free agent)	INF Kurt Abbott (option declined)
P Kevin Appier (signed as free agent)	OF Derek Bell (signed with Pittsburgh)
P Steve Trachsel (signed as free agent)	P Mike Hampton (signed with Rockies)
Re-signed INF/OF Lenny Harris	SS Mike Bordick (signed with Baltimore)
Re-signed P John Franco to three-year contract	P Bobby J. Jones (signed with Padres)
Re-signed P Rick Reed to three-year contract
Re-signed P Turk Wendell to three-year contract
Re-signed SS Desi Relaford to a one-year contract

Still, picking up Kevin Appier was a decent move. He at least makes up for Jones. And Steve Trachsel has been one of the real underappreciated pitchers of the last five years. He's had some ugly years for some very bad teams. It will be interesting to see what being on a good team finally does for him. Overall, none of the Mets acquisitions makes up for losing Hampton, but they'll be all right. It could have been a lot worse.

On the other hand, as if they didn't have enough weak hitting shortstop talent with Rey Ordonez due back from injury, why on earth did they pick up Desi Relaford? On the other other hand (home many have I got, do you think?) losing Derek Bell was a smart move. Let him languish in Pittsburgh...

So the Mets are bloodied but unbowed. How 'bout them Braves, though?

Atlanta Braves	2000 record: 95-67
Traded For	Traded Away
INF Jesse Garcia from Baltimore	INF Steve Sisco
Signed	Lost
P John Smoltz (option picked up)	1B Wally Joyner (option declined)
OF Dave Martinez (signed as free agent)	P Andy Ashby (signed with Los Angeles)
1B Rico Brogna (signed as free agent)	1B Andres Galarraga (signed with Texas)
INF Kurt Abbott (signed as free agent)	P Terry Mulholland (signed with Pittsburgh)
Re-signed P John Burkett	OF Bobby Bonilla (signed with St. Louis)
Re-signed INF Keith Lockhart	OF Reggie Sanders (signed with Arizona)
Re-signed C Paul Bako
Re-signed P Kerry Ligtenberg to two-year contract

Not much action, really. Of course you pick up Smoltz, so that's one no-brainer. Picking up Rico Brogna was also a no-brainer, by which I mean it's obvious Schuerholz didn't have his brain turned on when he signed that contract. And, apparently needing a weak hitting middle infielder to fill the gap left by Walt Weiss, he also felt moved to pick up Kurt Abbott. None of these guys are going to help America's Least favorite team to win another 95 games this year. Still, with Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz and Millwood (surely a bounce-back candidate this year) anchoring the rotation, the Braves are going to be the favorites once again. Yawn...

So it looks like the Braves in the low to mid-nineties in wins, with the Mets probably trailing at about 90. The Marlins should be around 80 again, with the Expos creeping up to mid to lo seventies and the Phillies lucky to break 60. Hmm, déjà vu all over again.

about the author

Dave Paisley can sympathize with those poor Philly fans. Jose Mesa and Ricky Bottalico is more incendiary fuel than any two teams should have to put up with. Why not send him barbecue recipes at drdjp@strikethree.com.