CNN/SI Preview: Philadelphia Phillies
Posted: Friday March 05, 1999 04:49 PM
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Old kid on the (trading) block: Schilling could be the next big-name pitcher to be traded to a title contender. Craig Melvin/Allsport |
By Greg Auman, CNN/SI
Curt Schilling has been almost traded more than anyone in baseball.
It's practically a sign of autumn in Philadelphia -- the Phils fall out of
contention and the rumors fly as to which contender will give up prospects
to bring the right-hander in for the home stretch.
Amazingly, Schilling's entering his eighth season in Philadelphia, after
leading the majors with 300 strikeouts last season. The Phillies scored 27
runs in his 14 losses, scoring two runs or fewer in all but four. Playing
in Philly, it's easier to lead the league in strikeouts than victories --
just ask five-time league leader Steve Carlton.
Despite reaching 300 strikeouts, Schilling's K-rations actually dropped off
as the year progressed. He had 10 or more strikeouts in eight of his first
11 starts, then reached double digits only eight more times in his
remaining 24 starts. A good barometer of the Phils' season will be if
Schilling's on the roster in October -- if he's not there for the playoff
run, there's a good chance the Phils won't be there either. 1998 Recap
(75-87, 3rd in NL East)
Last season marked the start of a new era in Philadelphia, as most of the
remaining ties to the club's 1993 World Series team were replaced by a
younger, faster lineup.
Behind the strong bat of second-year third baseman Scott Rolen,
Philadelphia shed its last-place image. In late July the Phils were 55-50,
inexplicably still in postseason contention, when a seven-game losing
streak put them under .500 for the rest of the year. Another 4-14 stretch
couldn't keep them from finishing with the most wins since their World
Series team of 1993.
Rolen wasn't the only young leader in the Phils' lineup, though his 31 home
runs and 110 RBIs gave the team its first real slugger since Mike Schmidt.
Several inexperienced players stepped up -- leadoff man Doug
Glanville, acquired from the Cubs, finished with 189 hits, while first
baseman Rico
Brogna hit 20 home runs for the second straight year and drove in 104
runs. Outfielder Bobby Abreu batted .312 with 17 home runs of his own. What
doomed the Phils was a total lack of dependable pitching -- aside from
Schilling, veteran Mark Portugal
was the only other starter with an ERA under 5.00. 1999 Forecast
Despite a low-key offseason, there's a new level of optimism in a city
whose fans are pretty hard to please. If Philadelphia can find depth on the
mound to match its surprising chemistry at the plate, this could be a .500
team with an outside shot at a wild card. Of course, that's a large, large
if.
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Roster roundup |
Who's new
OF
Ron Gant, P Jeff Brantley,
P Chad Ogea, P
Paul
Spoljaric, P Cliff Politte, P Jim Poole, C Tom Prince, OF Rob Ducey.
Who's gone
P Ricky
Bottalico, P Mark Leiter, P
Mark Portugal, P Jerry
Spradlin, P Garrett
Stephenson. | | | |
The Phils hope Chad Ogea, acquired from the Indians, is healthy enough to
show the same stuff that made him a 10-game winner for the Indians in 1996.
Paul Byrd,
picked up off waivers late last season, went 5-2 with a 2.29 ERA. If he can
come close to that success over a full season, that gives the team another
starter it can count on.
The team's biggest difference should be in the bullpen, where Ricky
Bottalico and Mark Leiter are gone and Jeff Brantley and Wayne Gomes will
take their place. Outfielder Ron Gant quietly had 26 home runs in 121 games
last season for the Cardinals and brings a much-needed veteran bat to the
lineup.
The most promising addition this year looks to be Pat Burrell, the No. 1
overall pick in last year's draft, a former NCAA batting champion who won't
stay in the minors long. The Phils used their other first-round pick, given
as compensation for losing J.D. Drew, on former UCLA slugger Eric Valent,
the Pac-10's all-time home run leader and another potential mid-season
callup.
The days of Lenny Dykstra,
Darren
Daulton and John Kruk are now distant past as the 1999 Phillies give
their fans a reason to stop reminiscing and starting looking to the future.
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