Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site sdchema.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!sdchema!mmf From: mmf@sdchema.UUCP (Marsha Fanshier) Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball Subject: Re: Trade Musings (Part II, including Free Agents) Message-ID: <322@sdchema.UUCP> Date: Mon, 14-Jan-85 10:44:30 EST Article-I.D.: sdchema.322 Posted: Mon Jan 14 10:44:30 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 17-Jan-85 13:13:01 EST References: <479@fisher.UUCP> Reply-To: mmf@sdchema.UUCP (Marsha Fanshier) Organization: U.C. San Diego Chemistry Dept Lines: 78 Summary: David Rubin posted the following comments on Padre trades and aquisitions along with an array of interesting comments on other personnel changes in both leagues. >Salazar (sp?) [I think that's it--we call him "Saladbar"] et al for Hoyt > > Padre fans ought not get too excited about the acquisition of >Hoyt from the White Sox. First of all, Hoyt has never had a truly >outstanding season (the year he won the Cy Young award, for example, >he had an ERA in the upper 3's while his teammates were kind enough to >score seven runs a game for him. With that kind of backing, it isn't >an amazing feat to win 24 games), and the loss of Whitson to free >agency leaves the Padres with no substantial improvement to show in >what has got to be the weakest starting rotation ever to capture a >divisional title. The White Sox needed a third baseman after trading >Law to Montreal, and did good to trade Hoyt rather than Bannister or >Dotson. With Seaver apparently still effective, the Sox could afford >to give up the starter. > >Stoddard Signs with the Padres: > > Gaining some welcome depth in the bullpen, but without some >better starters, it's unlikely Stoddard's and Gossage's arms will make >it though the season. It seems the Padres indulged in a luxury before >satisfying a necessity. > David seems to be implying that the Padres will be coming into the new season with a net loss in their pitching staff. I think we could all agree that that would spell disaster for the Pads. But when you look closer you can see that David hasn't weighed the gains and losses closely enough. Hoyt is a replacement for Lollar. Lollar was great fun to watch: he gave up scads of runs but he often got them back with his bat. It is just too bad they sent him to the American League. Anyway, it is safe to say that Lollar was the weakest link in Padre starting pitching last year and I think that the Padre organization had finally given up on him. I would be very surprised if a Cy Young winner could not top him. (Lollar's ERA for last year -- 4.06) There is no denying that Whitson is a loss to the Pads. I would have been much happier to have seen Show take a hike. Whitson's position is now up for grabs between Hawkins and Dravecky. You know them -- they're the two who carried the Padres in the playoffs and series. For the last two years they have been shuttled between starting and the bullpen. There is no doubt but that they are *very* talented. What they have lacked is consistency and maturity. I know they both want that starting position and I'm sure they're both working for it. Maybe they'll both end up starting, maybe one will be in the bullpen. I'm betting that they will both have great years. (Returning starters: Show -- 15-9, 3.40; Thurmond -- 14-8, 2.97) What's left of the bullpen? Besides Gossage and Stoddard lets not forget Lefferts. He was also a big game saver for the starting staff last year. Lefferts was so consistent (2.13 ERA) it is hard to think of him having a bad year. DeLeon is due back after a year of injuries and there are a couple others who might improve. I think the Padre pitchers will be able to take on anyone in the league. Other than the pitching staff and coaches there are no substantive changes planned for the Padres. Not only are they going with the same starting staff but the lineup will also be the same (starting off with the one-two punch of Wiggins and Gwynn). There is a great deal of room for improvement in the hitting performances of Kennedy and Martinez. I think we'll see that. It might be a bit much to expect another .351 season out of Gwynn but he is just too good not to be productive. As it now stands I don't see who in this division is going to take the title away from the Padres. The Mets and Cubs would do well not to underestimate their opponent to the West. See ya all in Spring, Marsha Fanshier UCSD {decvax,sdcsvax}!sdchema!mmf