Christen tabbed for Opening Day
April 1, 1997
WASHINGTON D.C. — The Bobwhites will host their neighboring Baltimore Monarchs on Opening Day and staff ace Shane Christen is ready to toe the rubber.
Christen, 26, will be Washington's Opening Day starting pitcher, according to Bobwhites manager Rip Torn.
"This isn't exactly news," Torn said. "He's clearly the best we've got and I think the best in the game. There is no reason he wouldn't be the guy taking the mound for the opener."
Christen went 27-3 with a 2.74 ERA in 34 starts for Washington last season, posting a 0.98 WHIP and holding the opposition to a .225 average against him.
"We see see and hear a lot about the Monarchs and they hear a lot about us through the local media, and then we're in the same division, so yea, there is a big rivalry there for us," said Christen. "We're playing for local and regional bragging rights, we're playing for standings."
Torn also announced that the Bobwhites will send right-hander Ken Howell against Baltimore in the second game of the brief two-game series at Presidential Ball Park. Howell, 36, went 18-12 with a 3.27 ERA in 37 starts last year and the veteran is eager to get the 1997 campaign underway.
"This is my favorite time of the year," said Howell. "Coming to the park for the first games of the season, knowing that everyone has a shot and that we've got a full season ahead of us."
Baltimore is expected to throw Larry Lasalle and Javy Cordero against Washington in the series. Lasalle went 11-12 with a 3.89 ERA in 33 starts for Baltimore last year while Cordero went 12-11 with a 4.72 ERA for the Monarchs in 1996.
"Our goal is to sweep this series and every series," said Torn. "The good thing is that its a two game series and I like our pitchers in those two games, so we'll see what we can do."
