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Baseball '00: Midseason Update

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Posted: Monday July 10, 2000 04:20 PM

CNNSI's midseason baseball reports are designed to update you in a flash. Find out what you missed in the first half of the season, what to look for down the stretch and who the top prospects are for each team. Select a division from the menus below and get in the game.

Plus, we have second-half predictions and storylines to follow from Sports Illustrated's baseball writers, and Jeff Pearlman's Hot List. And don't miss "Who Would You Choose?", a photo gallery with polls allowing you to vote on everything from the biggest surprise of the season to the best player never to make an All-Star team.

Chicago White Sox

Prospect Watch Jon Garland, RHP The team had been reluctant to rush the 20-year-old right-hander but finally made the move July 3. Garland, who was tearing it up at Class AAA Charlotte (9-2, 2.26 ERA), was roughed up in his debut against Kansas City, allowing seven runs in just three innings while suffering the loss. However, GM Ron Schuler stated that the highly touted prospect will remain in the rotation all season. The 6'6", 205-pound Garland relies on a nasty sinker and has added a changeup to his repertoire to keep hitters off balance.

Flashback. The White Sox have been one of baseball's biggest surprises this season. A young team with the fifth-lowest payroll in the majors on Opening Day ($31.2 million), they weren't expected to get within striking distance of the Indians in the AL Central. But the South Siders have owned the best record in baseball since mid-June, thanks to their dominating play against the game's best. The White Sox took 19 of 28 games from three of last year's AL playoff teams -- the Indians, Yankees and Red Sox -- winning 11 of 14 against the Tribe and Yanks in back-to-back-to-back series (including successive sweeps June 12-18). Chicago has done it with a combination of slugging (the Sox are on pace to set club records with 994 runs and 238 home runs) and pitching (they have the third-best team ERA in the AL at 4.48, tied with Seattle). First baseman/DH Frank Thomas, who is swinging the bat like he did when he won back-to-back MVPs in 1993-94, is on pace to hit 49 home runs and drive in 141. And starters James Baldwin (11-4, 4.28 ERA), Cal Eldred (10-2, 4.76 ERA) and Jim Parque (8-2, 3.81 ERA) all are among the league leaders in victories and winning percentage.

Fast Forward. Barring a second-half surge from an intradivision rival, the Sox are headed to the postseason for the first time since 1993. Since the advent of the wild card in 1995, no team has come back to win the division after starting July more than five games out of first place. By the All-Star break Chicago established an eye-opening 55-32 record -- the second-best start in franchise history -- and a 10 1/2-game lead over the Indians. The Sox and Tribe square off only three more times this season, Sept. 8-10 in Cleveland. If right-handed prospect Jon Garland doesn't pan out, look for general manager Ron Schueler to trade for a veteran starter to lend leadership during the playoffs.

You Oughta Know. The team's middle infielders have been a defensive liability at times this season -- both second baseman Ray Durham (10) and shortstop Jose Valentin (20) already have hit double digits in errors. Still, the duo has overcome their shaky individual defense by becoming one of the best double-play combinations in the league. Through the team's first 87 games, they turned two 80 times.

Cleveland Indians

Prospect Watch C.C. Sabathia, LHP Perhaps the most untouchable player in the minors, the 6'7" left-handed fireballer held opponents to a .198 batting average at three levels of Class A ball in 1999. This year he made the jump to Class AA Akron, where he is 3-3 with a 3.80 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings. Cleveland officials are hesitant to promote the '98 first-round pick, who's just 19, to the majors until he's ready.

Flashback. Was Tigers skipper Phil Garner correct in saying during spring training that the Indians were "vulnerable" this year, or does a rash of injuries better explain the Tribe's struggles? More than half of Cleveland's pitching staff -- most notably starters Jaret Wright, Charles Nagy and Bartolo Colon -- has been sidelined at some point this season. Mega run-producer Manny Ramirez continues to battle a nagging hamstring injury that shelved him for parts of May and June.

Fast Forward. Cleveland's streak of five consecutive AL Central titles could be in jeopardy if the team doesn't get healthy soon. Robbie Alomar, Travis Fryman and free-agent pickup Chuck Finley have kept the Indians afloat. But they'll need more out of starter Colon (9-5, 4.28 ERA) and for Nagy to provide quality starts. On the offensive side, left-fielder Richie Sexson (15 HRs, 37 RBIs) must return to his '99 form, when he hit 31 homers and drove in 116 runs.

You Oughta Know. Seven-time Gold Glove winner Omar Vizquel has yet to make an error at shortstop. What's more, third baseman Travis Fryman has just two bobbles. Since Jacobs Field opened in 1994, the Indians have boasted a .600 winning percentage at home. This year they've struggled to keep that number above .500 (20-21 at the break). If highly touted DH-third baseman Russ Branyan continues to put up huge numbers he has an outside chance at Rookie of the Year. If he wins it would be the third consecutive year ending in zero that an Indians player took the award ( Joe Charboneau '80, Sandy Alomar Jr. '90).

Kansas City Royals

Prospect Watch Dee Brown, LF Scouts are touting the 22-year-old '96 first-round pick as a 30-30 threat. Word is Brown -- currently at Class AAA Omaha -- could be posting those numbers in Kansas City as early as next year.

Flashback. If the Royals' first half had a title, it would be Flirting With Disaster, a reference to an atrocious bullpen that started more fires than it put out. Through the first 85 games closer Ricky Bottalico had blown more than half his saves (5 of 12), setting the tone for a bullpen that has blown 20 saves in 35 chances. Relievers Jerry Spradlin (3-2, 3.40 ERA, 6 saves) and Jose Santiago (6-3, 3.99 ERA, 1 save) provided a ray of light, but they don't offset a major league-worst 5.83 team ERA.

Fast Forward. The outcome of the AL East race could hinge on the Royals. Between August 1 and September 7, Kansas City squares off against the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays a total of 20 times. DH-first baseman Mike Sweeney may be the real deal. The first three years of his career were lackluster, but Sweeney turned it on in '99 (.322, 22 HRs, 102 RBIs) and had a monster first half this season (.360, 15 HRs, 78 RBIs).

You Oughta Know. The Royals have surrendered 146 home runs so far this season -- allowing at least one dinger in 70 of their first 85 games. At the midpoint last season, Kansas City had allowed fewer than 90 to leave the park.

Detroit Tigers

Prospect Watch Eric Munson, 1B A converted catcher, Tigers scouts are high on the bulky 6'3", 220-pound power hitter to make it to the majors as early as 2001. At Class AA Jacksonville this season, he's battled through minor injuries to hit .256 with 12 home runs and a team-high 57 RBIs in 270 at-bats.

Flashback. Detroit started 5-17 under new manager Phil Garner, perhaps proving to the front office that the dismissed Buddy Bell and Larry Parrish weren't the only ones at fault the past two seasons. It hasn't helped the Tigers that Juan Gonzalez has struggled in crucial situations -- maybe it had to do with the pressure to be Detriot's savior while the team christened a new ballpark. He reportedly turned down a $148 million contract offer, vetoing the trade because he prefers "quiet cities". Heading into the break Gonzalez had one of the worst averages in the majors with runners in scoring position (.164 based on 73 at-bats) and his 33 RBIs through the first 84 games put him on track for 64. That's a far cry from the 140 he averaged with the Rangers the previous four seasons.

Fast Forward. Same mundane story since their last playoff appearance in '87: finish the year near the cellar and head into the offseason full of optimism. The Tigers have played better of late and the goal is to climb back to .500, but they will only get there if their starting pitching holds up. Other questions include whether the much-maligned Bobby Higginson can maintain his new-found stroke and if Tony Clark can be more of a contributor. If Gonzalez does leave via free agency, it could be the beginning of the end of the Randy Smith era in Detroit.

You Oughta Know. In their first 84 games, the Tigers were 3-40 when trailing after seven innings. Since joining the organization in '97, Todd Jones has converted 113 saves in 129 chances, an impressive 88 percent success rate. By saving 24 of the Tigers' 38 victories (63 percent) this year, Jones has a chance to break Bryan Harvey's record for saving the greatest percentage of his team's victories. Harvey set the mark in '93 when he sealed 45 of the Marlins' 64 victories, a 70 percent success rate.

Minnesota Twins

Prospect Watch Michael Cuddyer, 3B The Twins are slowly developing this above-average third baseman at Class AA New Britain. He hits for average (.275) and has some pop, but scouts don't envision him chalking up more than 25 home runs a year.

Flashback. The trade that brought shortstop Cristian Guzman, 22, and left-handed starter Eric Milton, 24, to the Twins for Chuck Knoblauch in 1998 is starting to yield dividends. Guzman, who hit .226 and committed 24 errors last year, has improved at the plate and in the field. His 12 triples put him on pace to challenge Shoeless Joe Jackson's major-league record of 26, set 88 years ago. As for Milton (8-4, 5.30 ERA), he's developed into an inning-eating starter who had equaled a career-high in victories (eight) by the All-Star break.

Fast Forward. The biggest name, Butch Huskey (.223, 5 HRs, 27 RBIs), among this no-name bunch also has been the biggest disappointment. Last year, in limited at bats, the DH-outfielder belted 22 home runs with the Red Sox and Mariners. Huskey could rebound with a strong second half, but it still wouldn't do much for the hapless Twins. It looks as if Minnesota's biggest trading chip is off the market as well. Ace Brad Radke signed a four-year, $36 million contract extension July 3, making him the richest player in Twins history.

You Oughta Know. Minnesota has not finished higher than fourth since 1992. Tom Kelly, the winningest manager in Twins history, picked up his 1,000th victory earlier this year. He entered the 2000 season 464 victories ahead of Sam Mele, who managed the club to 522 victories from 1961-67.

 

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