Vancouver Report - 1996/03/02

[scottsdale_joe]

New Management for Mounties
Quick Change Unlikely

by Rich Michaels
Vancouver Sun Sports Reporter
March 2, 1996

As the free agent season comes to a conclusion, the Vancouver Mounties of the Montgomery Brewster Baseball Association (MBBA) have announced a change in ownership and management. A spokesman for the new management team issued the following statement”

“We take over ownership and everyday management of the Mounties at a rather inopportune time. We had hoped to be in control early in the off season in order to have maximum ability to take advantage of the free agency process and to participate in the amateur draft. Since we are already at the start of Spring Training, we are pretty much committed to going with what we have. Fans should not look forward to a lot of changes in the short run. We will use the 1996 season to evaluate the team in order to begin a serious rebuilding process for 1997. That is not to say that a trade might not be in the offing, but we will be dealing from a position of weakness. Better days are coming in the years ahead.”

A quick review of the Mounties roster does not bode well for success on the field as Opening Day approaches. This team managed to lose 104 games last year without really trying hard. And this year’s team has made no major changes and will not dress their best player before the last month of the season.

Catching:
25-year-old Dick Eggman will be the starter. He’s a fine defensive catcher with a good arm and who might just improve at the plate. He hit .255 last season over 146 games, adding 12 home runs. Private Bootie stands in reserve, and he has some promise even though he’s now 29 years old. He started last year in double A and hit well there and in triple A before being recalled to the majors. He can catch (and play the outfield), and he hit over .300 for his 17 game trial run.

First Base:
33-year-old Jimmy Dugan will be the main man here. His average fell off to .242 last year, but he contributed his usual 30 plus home runs. He needs to hit because he’s a defensive liability. His competition, Dave Grafton, has never had a major league at bat, but he hit well in double A last season. Unfortunately he won’t help much as a defensive replacement. Outfielder Sam Palos is the best defensive first baseman on the team.

Second Base:
A crap shoot at best. Mark Delancy, listed as a shortstop, may be the most probable starter. But he hit a lusty .189 last season. Julian Vallejos has a shot at the starting job as well. Raymond Smith is still around but just can’t make the plays at second any more. In fact, all three are less than adequate keystone sackers. The hope for the future here is young Doug Newhouse who will be in AAA this season where he hopes to start realizing his outstanding potential.

Third Base:
Sam Hamm is currently listed as the leading candidate, but he’d be much more comfortable in the outfield. He spent all of last year in AAA. Larry Lashbrook and Craig Paquette are in the running if they can hit, but neither is anywhere near a gold glove candidate. Once again the future lies at New Westminster in the person of Nick Mannerden who hit close to .390 in AA ball last year in his professional debut.

Shortstop:
Young Tony Lawnmeier missed twelve weeks with injuries last year. His batting average fell off from his .272 with Las Vegas in 1993 to .225 in 1994 with Vancouver to an anemic .177 last season. He’s great defensively and has speed to burn, but he has to get his average up to a respectable level to be able to help.

Outfield:
Bobby Bonds in center field is the closest thing the lineup will have for a star when the season opens. Blazing speed and great defense are his best attributes. He has tremendous power potential although he had only 22 home runs last year. He needs to get his average up about 50 points to be considered a legitimate all star candidate. The aforementioned Sam Pallos will most likely start in right field. He’s improved every year in the bigs and another improvement would be highly welcomed. Jimmie Joe Janero is only 19 years old but he hit .293 as a rookie last year and is being counted upon to patrol left field. Unlike the infield, the outfield is solid defensively. Eric Lindros and Phil Plantier are the most likely reserve outfielders although a trio of others will try to get noticed during Spring Training.

Rotation:
The club’s certified marquee attraction, starting pitcher Shane Wookey, won’t be around to help before September at the earliest as he recovers from a torn flexor tendon in his elbow. Ouch! Alan Bartlett and Blama Baker are solid at the top of the rotation. Niles Renfock will be the number three man and he is capable of not embarrassing himself. Then the talent level drops off precipitously. Carlos Reyes, Leo Villar, and Richard Jones will battle for the last two spots. Everyone will be watching Ben “Martini” Walsh in AAA as he tries to reach his potential. And there are a trio of guys to watch in AA and two potential stars in A, so the future is not totally bleak.

The Pen:
Duane Ward returns as closer, and while he doesn’t strike fear into the opposition, he managed 27 saves last year on a team than won only 57 games. Al McCrory and Matt Whiteside will be the ones who try to get the game into Ward’s hands for the ninth inning on those rare occasions when the club manages to have a lead. Iffy Egbuna, Roger Swinford, Andre Higa, Augustine Aichele, Larry Degerick round out what can only be described as a weak bullpen overall. Horatio Colonel at New Westminster is probably a year away from helping. It will take longer for AA closer William Govea to develop.

Bottom Line:
Missing its best pitcher, the club will uses veterans waiting for talent to develop in the minors where there is a lot of potential for a strong rotation in the future. The bullpen will probably need help from some other avenue, perhaps in trade or via judicious waiver acquisitions. In the infield the club can only hope Newhouse and Mannerden in AAA will quickly develop into major leaguers. There are question marks everywhere, and matching last year’s disappointing win total will be a challenge.