Vancouver Report - 1996/05/21

[scottsdale_joe]

Mounties Add Battle Scarred Veterans

by Rich Michaels
Vancouver Sun Sports Reporter
May 22, 1996

The Mounties have reverted to form and fallen far off the pace in the Monty Brewster Baseball Association (MBBA). After a promising 6-4 start, the club quietly dropped 27 of their next 36 games. No big surprises as this team seems outmanned when matched against almost any other team in the league. The “Wait ‘Til Next Year” banners have been pulled out of off-season mothballs and are again prominent at the Northwoods Outpost ball yard.

There isn’t a lot management can do to make things this year. Rebuilding looks like a multi year project that will test the patience of everyone involved, especially the fans. In an attempt to keep fans involved, the club has gone out and signed two grisly veterans who should provide at least some help at the bat and in the field.

Roach Kidd (age 34) has been around for a long time. He’s a fine first baseman and can fill in anywhere in the infield if needed. He’s got over 220 lifetime home runs and 909 batted in. He should be able to hit somewhere in the .270 range. He joins the club on a one-year contract worth just under $1.9 million. Will he play first and replace slumping and grossly overpaid Joe Dugan? Dugan has two years left on his contract after this year at a ridiculous $9.5 million per annum. At his best he may have been worth that. Now he definitely is not. Kidd can certainly outfield the klutzy Dugan and may be able to outhit and outpower him.

Glen Groves (age 36) may be getting up there in years, but he can still patrol left or right field very well and he can still steal bases. And just maybe he can still hit. He’s a .326 lifetime hitter although he fell off to .272 in just 88 games last year. He inked a two year deal worth $3.0 million this year and a mutual option $2.78 next year. Groves will immediately take over in left field and bat in the leadoff spot, moving JJ Janero to center.

These moves won’t turn things around, but they will add a little excitement to the lineup and bring a few fannies into the seats.

[recte44]