October 1, 1990
Red Sox wrapped up their season with a 1-4 homestand this week to finish with the worst record in baseball at 53-109. They will select first in the 1991 MLB amateur draft this December.
After finishing the season yesterday, the Red Sox wasted no time in dismissing the coaching staff earlier this morning. This comes as no surprise after manager Joe Morgan was fired in August. Al Bumbry went 11-26 as the interim manager and was never considered to be a serious candidate going forward. Pitching coach Bill Fischer and hitting instructor Richie Hebner were also informed that they would not return for next season.
Yesterday’s season finale proved to be an emotional affair at Fenway Park. Red Sox veteran outfielder Dwight Evans likely played his final game for the club yesterday. After ripping a two run triple in his final at bat yesterday, he was lifted for a pinch runner. The Fenway crowd gave Evans a prolonged standing ovation while Evans saluted them.
The Red Sox have a $1.5 million option on the soon to be 39 year old outfielder, which they seem likely to decline. Evans hit just .213 with 11 home runs this season in what was easily the poorest season in his 19 year career with the Red Sox. The three time All-Star earned 8 Gold Gloves in his career.
Lynchburg’s manager Mike Duran earned the Carolina League Manager of the Year award. Lynchburg finished the season 81-59, and won the league’s championship in an epic 7 game series against the Peninsula Pilots.
Around the League
Two division races came down to the final weekend. In the National League West, Cincinnati clinched the division on Friday night with a win over San Diego. The Padres finished the season on a disappointing 7 game losing streak. The teams had been nip and tuck for much of the last couple of months, with San Diego last holding a lead in mid-September. The NLCS will kick off on Wednesday.
In the AL West, Seattle made an inspired charge over the last two months. Oakland had held a lead as large at 11 games leading up to the trade deadline, but Seattle closed hard. Unlike San Diego, they finished the season strong, winning the last four games of the season. However, Oakland was able to hold them off and clinch with a win on Saturday over the Texas Rangers. Game one of the ALCS is set for tomorrow.
The playoffs are now set with the Baltimore Orioles taking on the Oakland Athletics in the American League Championship Series, while the Pittsburgh Pirates will be opposed by the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Championship Series.
Minnesota’s Shane Mack won the American League batting title, hitting .353 and finishing 6 points ahead of Seattle’s Ken Griffey Jr. On the NL side, it was Philadelphia’s Lenny Dykstra who hit. 356 to win the title. Toronto’s Fred McGriff finished with 50 home runs to lead the American League in homers, and his 141 RBI were good for the league lead as well.
On the pitching side, Boston’s Roger Clemens earned the ERA crown at 2.08, but had just 17 wins to go along with the sparkling statistics. Chuck Finley (CAL) and Erik Hanson (SEA) finished tied for the AL lead in wins with 21, while John Smiley of the Pittsburgh Pirates had 22 wins to lead all of baseball. David Cone of the New York Mets led baseball with 248 strikeouts, and Cincinnati’s Randy Myers led the league with 45 saves.
American League Leaders
National League Leaders
A major career milestone was reached this weekend by Houston’s Nolan Ryan. In a win over the Atlanta Braves, the surefire first ballot Hall of Famer earned victory #300 of his career. Ryan turned in a masterful performance in which he tossed 8.1 innings, allowing 1 run of 4 hits while striking out 11.
The final set of monthly awards were handed out this morning, with Detroit’s Cecil Fielder earning AL Player of the Month with an eye popping 12 home runs and 28 RBI in September. In the NL, Sid Bream of the Pittsburgh Pirates carried them to the finish line in September, hitting .411 with 8 home runs and 33 RBI. While Fielder’s season has come to an end, Bream will have an opportunity to continue his strong play in the NLCS against the Reds.
Erik Hanson earned AL Pitcher of the Month for September by going 5-1 with a 1.19 ERA. His efforts to lead Seattle to the playoffs came up short, but he finished the season with 20 wins and will have a strong case for the AL Cy Young award. Houston’s Jim Deshaies went 5-0 with a 2.06 ERA this month to earn the honor in the NL for the month of September.
Texas’ Rusty Greer was named AL Rookie of the Month, hitting .295 with 4 home runs. In the National League, Montreal’s Jerry Goff hit .337 with 5 home runs.