The first week:
Under ordinary circumstances, the pitchers are ahead of the hitters. But because of the strike and the abbreviated spring training, the pitchers are not at full strength. Only one pitcher, Pat Hentgen of Toronto, went into the ninth inning. Of a total of 132 starters in the 66 games, 47 were unable to go five innings.
The most celebrated start was by Kansas City’s Kevin Appier, who departed with a no-hitter and two outs in the seventh. Bob Boone, the K.C. manager, was booed when he lifted Appier. It was the proper decision. Boone was playing it safe. He didn’t want Appier to injure his arm. Furthermore, the odds against finishing a seven-inning no-hitter are probably 100-to-l.
Appier and Mike Moore of Detroit were the only starters to win two games during the first week. The other two-game winners, also from the American League, were relievers Mark Keifer of Milwaukee and Mike Butcher of California. The only two-game losers were Scott Erickson of Minnesota and Cincinnati’s Hector Carrasco.
The combined earned-run average was 4.69. Counting unearned runs, there was an average of 10.6 runs a game, much too high for the purists. But there is this to remember: For most fans, the higher the score, the more entertaining the game. Hitting, not pitching, is the principal attraction.
Last year’s excitement, for example, was generated by the long-ball hitters such as Matt Williams and Barry Bonds of San Francisco, Ken Griffey Jr. of Seattle, Houston’s Jeff Bagwell and the White Sox’s Frank Thomas, all of whom were chasing Roger Maris’ home run record of 61. Williams had 43 when the season was aborted in mid-August.
San Diego’s Tony Gywnn, who hit .394 during last year’s shortened season, got off to a good start, hitting .589 to tie for the National League lead with the Dodgers’ Eric Karros. Seattle first baseman Tino Martinez was the major-league leader at .727.
Jeff Conine of the Florida Marlins had the most home runs with four, and Karros had the most runs batted in with nine. Mickey Tettleton, who wasn’t good enough for the White Sox, hit three home runs for Texas. The early slump of the Sox, who lost their first four games, did not affect Thomas; he had eight RBIs and two home runs. Not all of the big hitters started well. Bonds was 0 for 11.
The Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers were the surprise teams. The Cubs opened with four consecutive victories, their best start since the ill-fated ’69 club, and by week’s end led the NL Central with a 4-1 record. The Brewers, also 4-l, led the AL Central.
Rotation starters Jimmy Key, Jack McDowell and Melido Perez lifted the Yankees to a 3-0 start. Boston, Los Angeles and Seattle also opened 3-0. The Colorado Rockies, a potential contender in the NL West, won their first four games.
The Cincinnati Reds, an NL pennant favorite, were the only team without a victory. The Reds were left at the gate 0-5, suffering mostly from mediocre pitching. Jose Rijo was their only starter to go into the sixth inning.
Larry Himes, the Cubs’ scout, spent the week following the Cleveland Indians, which can mean only one thing–the Cubs and Indians are talking trade. The Indians, who are expected to contend, are short in their bullpen and in pursuit of Randy Myers.
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Houston’s John Hudek, who appears to have good possibilities as a closer, has also been considered by Cleveland General Manager John Hart. But Hart may be losing interest. The Astros are trying to move salaries and want to include starter Greg Swindell in the package. Swindell is signed for the next two years for a total of $8.95 million.
As anticipated, April attendance was down. The surprise was that, according to the “official” figures, the drop was only 4 percent. There is little doubt that the live gate is being padded, and many tickets are being sold at half-price.
A meaningful appraisal can’t be made until June or July, when school is out. Some of the younger fans may be only vaguely aware that there has been a strike. Also, by then some of the ancients may be ready to forgive. It’s too early for conclusions.
Despite severe weather Sunday at Shea Stadium in New York, the Mets played their scheduled game against St. Louis. There were two reasons: The Mets had sold about 20,000 tickets for $1 and, because of the necessity to revise the schedule, it was the Cardinals’ last trip to New York.
Week No. 2 should be much better. The regular umpires return Wednesday. Also, it has been learned that the owners will remit $8 million owed to the players’ pension fund, which should end talk that the players will boycott the All-Star Game.
Trust me, there will be no more strikes, not until the year 2020, if then. The grand old game is here to stay.