ATLANTA
BRAVES |
| Grade: |
A- Posted baseball's best record (101-61) in winning their
sixth straight division
title. |
| Good News: |
The Braves' top starters—Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John
Smoltz and Denny Neagle—are baseball's best foursome, and
all are signed long
term. |
| Bad News: |
The bullpen still has holes. Why didn't
GM John Schuerholz trade for a reliever in
July? |
MVP:
|
Third baseman Chipper Jones quietly drove in 111
runs. |
| Needed for '98: |
A quality setup man to help get to—and occassionally fill
in for—closer Mark
Wohlers. |
FLORIDA
MARLINS |
| Grade: |
B+ Won 92 games even though rightfielder Gary Sheffield hit
fewer homers (21) than Tigers second baseman Damion Easley
(22).
|
| Good News: |
The Marlins swiped second baseman Craig Counsell (.299
batting
average) from Colorado, solidifying their
infield. |
| Bad News: |
Florida was running on empty at the end of the season. The
Marlins lost their last four, and seven of
nine. |
MVP:
|
Catcher Charles
Johnson—no errors, no passed balls, 19
HR.
|
| Needed for '98: |
A first baseman. Jeff Conine's days as a good hitter seem
over. His batting average was an anemic
.242.
|
NEW YORK
METS |
| Grade: |
B+
We laughed when then-GM Joe McIlvaine predicted 90 wins. The Mets won 88. |
| Good News: |
Rightfielder Butch Huskey turned the corner and became a
power source (24 HR, 81
RBI).
|
| Bad News: |
The team's injured young pitching prospects (notably Bill
Pulsipher) showed no signs that they'll be effective next
year—or
ever. |
| MVP: |
Third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo hit .315 and was brilliant
with the
glove. |
| Needed for '98: |
Two more starting pitchers, including a true
ace.
|
MONTREAL
EXPOS |
| Grade: |
C
Too many players have to play above their ability to make
up for a tiny payroll. That's why
the undermanned Expos struggled the last two
months.
|
| Good News: |
Righthander Dustin Hermanson (8-8, 3.69 ERA) can be an
effective starter, and Anthony Telford (65 games, 4-6, 3.24
ERA) can be an effective
reliever. |
| Bad News: |
The franchise lost money, which means even more cutbacks
are on the
way. |
MVP:
|
Righthander Pedro Martinez, the probable NL Cy Young Award
winner (17-8, 1.90 ERA, 305 K). But he can be a free agent
after next season, and the Expos might not have the dough
to afford
him. |
| Needed for '98: |
An owner who is willing to spend money to improve the
team; otherwise, the Expos should move to Washington,
D.C.
|
PHILADELPHIA
PHILLIES |
| Grade: |
D+
At midseason the Phils were steaming toward 115 losses,
but they managed to finish with only
94.
|
| Good News: |
Third baseman Scott Rolen, the soon-to-be NL rookie of the
year, was as good as advertised (.283, 21 HR, 92
RBI). |
| Bad News: |
The Phillies have a toothless offense and weak
pitching. |
MVP:
|
Curt Schilling (17-11, 2.97) struck out 319 batters, an NL
record for a
righthander.
|
| Needed for '98: |
A new outfield and three more starting
pitchers.
|
The season is over, and the grades are in
