CLEVELAND
INDIANS |
| Grade: |
B-
Won a bad division, but hardly in smooth or dominant
style. |
| Good News: |
Right fielder David Justice (.329, 33 HR, 101 RBI) showed
he can still
play. |
| Bad News: |
If the Tribe flounders in the playoffs, manager Mike
Hargrove could be in
trouble. |
MVP:
|
Catcher Sandy Alomar hit
.324. |
| Needed for '98: |
A second
baseman. |
CHICAGO WHITE
SOX |
| Grade: |
D Under .500, with that lineup. We're so sorry, Uncle
Albert.
|
| Good News: |
Third baseman Robin Ventura made an inspired midseason
comeback from a badly broken right
ankle. |
| Bad News: |
Jerry Reinsdorf still owns the team (and Terry Bevington
still manages it, but that might change). How early will
Jerry give up next
year? |
MVP:
|
Frank Thomas. Another incredible
season—.347 batting average, 35 HR, 125
RBI. Jimmie Foxx has returned from the
grave.
|
| Needed for '98: |
A No. 1 starting pitcher. Jaime Navarro (9-14, 5.79 ERA)
is a No. 4 on a good
team.
|
MILWAUKEE
BREWERS |
| Grade: |
B+
Amazing that they stayed in the race despite season-ending
injuries to first baseman John Jaha and leftfielder Marc
Newfield. Manager Phil Garner did a tremendous
job.
|
| Good News: |
40-year-old closer Doug Jones (36 saves), left for dead so
many times, had another big
year. |
| Bad News: |
Same old story—the Brewers have no money and not enough
punch. And the weather is
rotten. |
MVP:
|
Rightfielder Jeromy Burnitz (.281, 27 HR, 85 RBI). Boy,
did the Mets and Indians make a mistake letting this guy
go.
|
| Needed for '98: |
A new stadium (ground has been broken, but Miller Park
won't open until 2000) and a payroll about $25 million
higher.
|
KANSAS CITY
ROYALS |
| Grade: |
D
When is GM Herk Robinson going to be
fired?
|
| Good News: |
Second baseman Jose Offerman finally had more RBIs (39)
than errors
(9). |
| Bad News: |
This team hasn't been a factor in any race since '87. The
futility continues, and there's no end in
sight. |
MVP:
|
Shortstop Jay Bell showed uncommon power (21 HR), but he's
a free
agent. |
| Needed for '98: |
Two outfielders who can
play.
|
MINNESOTA
TWINS |
| Grade: |
D
Should have been way, way better than 30 games under .500.
Time for manager Tom Kelly to go to a big-market team with
a chance to win, a la Jim
Leyland.
|
| Good News: |
Third baseman Ron Coomer got a chance to play, and showed
he can hit (.298, 13 HR, 85
RBI). |
| Bad News: |
Paul Molitor is considering retirement. Please, Paul, one
more
year. |
MVP:
|
Pitcher Brad Radke won 20 games after winning 22 in the
past two years
combined.
|
| Needed for '98: |
Send money and
pitchers.
|
The season is over, and the grades are in
