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The 1972 season is about to get under way and we've decided to try to make the Angels manufacture runs via the stolen base. Pitching is dominating and we now have 3 youngsters that can get on base and run our way into runs, because we have no power at all.
Just before the season we dealt leading hitter 31 year old Alex Johnson to Pittsburgh for 23 year old 2nd baseman Dave Cash coming off an All-Star year of .297/.341/.372 and a 5.3 WAR. He can run and will hit behind Al Bumbry who can fly and just ahead of Mickey Rivers hitting 3rd who is almost as fast as Bumbry. The hope to get these guys on base for Silver Slugger Jim Fregosi hitting cleanup. The cast behind him are pedestrian, average players like Aurelio Rodriguez, Jim Spencer and Jay Johnstone, so the top of the lineup has to do the work.
Rudy May is healthy and leads a rotation where everyone is under 27 and only 3 bullpen arms are over 30. 32 year old Clyde Wright lost his spot in the rotation and I didn't want to pay $90,000 to a long reliever, so I dealt him for 25 year old Gene Clines who can run, play all OF positions and backup at 3rd base.
Acquiring Dave Cash made Tito Fuentes superfluous, so he was dealt for a 19 year old 1b with a great eye who will start the year in AA and some middle infield depth.
I could totally crash and burn or my young players can get on base and steal 50 bases each. I am starting the year healthy. So we have that working for us.
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