Acting Defensively

VirtualGammons

[VirtualGammons is an ANSI C virtual sportswriter emulator, and is fed newspaper baseball columns, news stories, stock phrases and a few parts of speech in order to create the column you see before you. Any resemblance to Peter Gammons, baseball's most respected columnist, who writes for the Boston Globe and ESPN, is unintentional and unfortunate.]

The Orioles seem cursed. After coming a few games of a World Series under manager Davey Johnson they are now at the bottom of their division for the first time. This is new for a team of hard veteran leaders used to winning games. But the team has performed well in both pitching and hitting and may now look to make an early-season trade in time for adjustments to be made in the clubhouse. This is a team that can compete for the division title and it's likely that like the Giants of last year they need another move, any move, to win.

Also surprising is the play of the Colorado Rockies. This is a team of big hitters that hasn't won games. The problem is power. Teams that swing for the fences kill rallies and cost games. Power-hitting teams lose when it comes time to lay down a good bunt. Those games are the difference between a title and staying home in the postseason. Jim Leyland knows this.

The American League, which is more offense-oriented, also needs starting pitching. Look for a number of cross-league trades late this spring. Fundamental pitching is what wins games. This is something teams must learn. I know. Pitchers and infielders make the difference. If you can steal a lot of bases you can win games you might lose with a slower lineup. Baseball isn't softball. Teams need to run and play hard defense. The players that win games aren't Alex Rodriguez. They are defensive players who can steal bases and hit a sacrifice fly like Mike Bordick.

Many pitchers nibble at the plate as if scared. Good pitchers put the ball in play. This is why defense is important. Starters may make good long men in the bullpen but how often is the reverse true? Look for several players to be traded in the coming weeks. One trade involves a potential superstar and the Boston Red Sox but all sources remain silent on details.

Free agent pitchers this off-season include Jeff Fassero, Andy Benes, Chuck Finley, David Cone. Look for them all to be traded to teams that require more starting pitching this year. Teams with good farm systems like the Orioles are looking to pick up one of them, while a pennant contender like Texas that needs more starters could make a blockbuster week with two or more trades. The Yankees could afford to lose Cone and even with recent arbitration wins are looking to keep their payroll down to re-sign Derek Jeter and other young stars in the system.

Many starting pitchers suffer from stiffness and soreness. It's part of the game. It's good that pitchers pitch so hard and want to stay in the game. Would we rather see pitchers taking themselves out of the game every time they felt some sort of discomfort? Reports around the league have starting pitchers scared of overwork. If injury wasn't part of this game it would not be as heroic.

The Giants may be more dangerous than thought. Dusty Baker believes that this is their year, and with good pitching from his starting rotation, it could be. The Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent combination is as good as any in baseball, and their batting order is dangerous down the line. J.T. Snow has decided to stop switch-hitting and it looks to be helping his power. They may not look as good on paper as the Dodgers but paper teams don't play games and they certainly don't win them.

While many teams need starting pitching many also require a veteran closer. One without the other is bad. Look for some of these teams like the Indians to make several trades looking for a strong bullpen to close out the wins racked up by veteran starters. The Indians expectancy has been to win their division. To go farther they'll need starting pitching. They can get this through trades but must not give up their winning defense.

about the author

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