|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Familiar faces in new places
Posted: Thursday April 06, 2000 05:32 PM
Every offseason some teams try to use free-agency or a big trade to pick up an impact player -- the kind of guy who can turn an also-ran into a contender, or a contender into a champion. Here is my take on some of those players this year. Juan Gonzalez is being counted on to get the Tigers into the playoffs -- and there's no doubt he'll make Detroit's offense better, but he can't do anything about the team's weak pitching. Gonzalez's situation is similar to what Mo Vaughn and Kevin Brown faced last season. Vaughn hit below .300 for the first time since 1993 and the Angels finished in last place. Brown's 18 wins weren't enough for L.A. to contend because the rest of the staff underachieved. The Dodgers also had a lot of internal problems, which was a big reason Raul Mondesi was traded to Toronto for Shawn Green. The Dodgers hope Green can be a calming and consistent force, but it's unrealistic to think that Green can carry this team to the playoffs by himself. On the other hand, the Cleveland Indians are virtually a lock for the playoffs each year -- but they've lacked the pitching to capture that elusive World Series title. So the addition of Chuck Finley brings not only 14 years of experience but a lifetime record of 16-9 against the Yankees. That will help Cleveland's confidence if it meets New York in the playoffs. For the Mets, I think it's unfair to expect Mike Hampton to win a league-high 22-games again this season, but that's OK. More importantly, you can't win a World Series without a bona fide ace -- and that's just what Hampton gives this team. If there's such a thing as an "offensive ace" it's Ken Griffey Jr. Griffey has the ability to carry a team for weeks -- plus he's a proven .300 hitter in the postseason. When the spotlight shines brightest, Junior is at his best -- and there is no brighter spotlight than the World Series. Remember, these guys aren't saviors, they're ballplayers. For a difference-maker it's not about stats, it's about the playoffs. Because of that, we can't truly judge this group until October.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
