1992 Los Angeles Dodgers - OOTP18 Replay

[LivnLegend]

My past two short lived dynasty threads here were both centered on the Dodgers. However, I chose successful teams each time, drawn to managing a team that went on to the World Series in both cases (1988 and 1977) winning one and losing one.


This time I decided to pick a team that was far less successful. In fact, it was the worst performing Dodgers team of my lifetime. The 1992 Boys in Blue lost 99 games, finishing dead last. In actuality, the expectations for this team was rather high. The club was loaded with talent, at least on paper.

Tommy Lasorda was still at the helm, ready to begin his 17th full season as manager of the Dodgers.

This team featured the so-called “Outfield of Dreams”, with LA-bred childhood friends Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis flanking Brett Butler. Orel Hershiser, supposedly now fully recovered from his 1990 torn labrum surgery, led the rotation that included other vets Tom Candiotti, Bob Ojeda, and Kevin Gross. Young talent, led by Eric Karros, Ramon Martinez, and Jose Offerman, were expected to be big parts.

This was no slouch of a team and a division title was a reasonably obtainable goal, especially after the previous year’s team won 93 games and finished in second place to the 91 Braves in the pre-Wild Card, two division era.

So what went wrong? Tons of things. There were key injuries and poor performances from key players. Two-thirds of the Outfield of Dreams was a nightmare. Additionally, the LA riots following the Rodney King verdict caused the cancellation of four games.

The Dodgers lost 15 games on walk-offs by the opposing team. Vets Davis, Strawberry, and Juan Samuel (one year removed from being an All-Star) were all ineffective. Offerman was an error machine at short. The bench, made up of guys like Todd Benzinger, Dave Hansen, Kal Daniels and Lenny Harris was bad. With one last road trip at the end of the season, the Dodgers had to win 2 of 6 to avoid a 100-loss season. They barely did it, winning just two games to finish 63-99, the most losses in franchise history since 1908. They finished 35 games behind the Braves.

The few bright spots included Karros, (Rookie of the Year), Butler, and Mike Sharperson (the club’s lone All-Star rep). Candiotti was the most reliable starter and Jim Gott was the most dependable reliever. But overall, the season was one to forget.

Will my replay make it one to remember? Will the OOTP fates deal the 1992 Dodgers a different hand?

[LivnLegend]

The Plan

I will play the 1992 season like my previous attempts at a replay, staying true to the original roster as much as possible. Injuries and prolonged slumps kept the club from fielding any common lineup more than 7 times, but I will stick with what would have seemed sensible at the time and avoid bringing up top prospects like Mike Piazza and Pedro Martinez, since they played very minor roles with the club.

The 1992 club made very few in-season transactions, other than promoting/demoting players due to injuries. John Wetteland and Tim Belcher had already been traded before the season. Kal Daniels (Cubs) and Stan Javier (Phillies) were each dealt in June and Tommy Lasorda, tired of his second baseman’s complete ineffectiveness in the field and at the plate, cut Juan Samuel in July. That was it. Reinforcements were called from Triple-A for injury replacement, so I will stick with those players as much as possible. Should be fun!

[LivnLegend]

The Outfield of Dreams

The stacked outfield is led by right fielder Darryl Strawberry, looking to build off a solid first season with the Dodgers in 1991 (.265/.361/.491, 28 HR, 99 RBI). He is joined this year by childhood pal Eric Davis, who came to LA in a trade with the Reds for pitchers Tim Belcher and John Wetteland. Belcher was reliable, but just hitting his 30s, and young Wetteland has not impressed as a starter (maybe some salvage can be gained as a reliever?). The Dodgers are counting on Davis to bounce back after his career worst 1992 campaign. Davis has displayed an impressive combination of power and speed throughout his career so far, in addition to being a great defender. Positioned in between the two Angelinos is Brett Butler in center field. Though 35, Butler has improved with age. He was an All-Star last year (.296/.401/.343) and finished 7th in the MVP balloting, leading the league in walks and runs scored.

The highly credentialed trio gives the Dodgers perhaps the top outfield in the NL West, stacking up well against the Braves’ David Justice, Otis Nixon and Ron Gant.

In reserve, the Dodgers will draw from journeyman Mitch Webster, Stan Javier, son of Julian, and perhaps young farm products like can't miss Billy Ashley, speedy Tom Goodwin, and Dominican Henry Rodriguez.

[TheMaus2]

Cool to see a legendary screenname make a return. I'll be following this.

[LivnLegend]

Who’s On First? I Don’t Know’s on Third.

While the middle of the infield is set with second baseman Juan Samuel, an All-Star with LA last year, and young Jose Offerman, perhaps the next Maury Wills, at shortstop, the corner spots are anything but settled heading into spring training.

At first base, the Dodgers have Kal Daniels who dropped to 17 homers in 1991 after hitting 27 for LA the season before. He was displaced from left field after the trade for Davis. Additionally, the Dodgers signed Todd Benzinger, coming back to the NL where he previously played for the Reds prior to a trade to the Royals. Complicating the issue is young prospect and former UCLA walk-on Eric Karros, who looks ready to go (.943 OPS, 22 HR, 101 RBI at Albuquerque). All three are looking to be the one to replace departed vet Eddie Murray.

Third base seems to be an even more complicated mess. The Dodgers have had trouble establishing anyone at the positon since the days of Ron Cey ended 10 years prior. In fact, the Dodgers have already cycled through eight different regulars over the previous ten seasons. The hopefuls heading into the 92 season are yet another former Red (like Davis, Daniels, and Benzinger, so far) Lenny Harris; former Blue Jay Mike Sharperson; and in-house product Dave Hansen, just 23. Harris and Sharperson provide versatility at multiple positions but neither has established himself as an everyday player to this point. Hansen has just 63 major league at bats, but despite showing no aptitude for power, has batted well in the minors.

[LivnLegend]

The Dean Behind the Plate

Mike Scioscia, the current dean of the Dodgers with a service record stretching back to 1980, having had a hand in both the 1981 and 1988 Championship seasons, is well-established behind the dish. His previous season included a solid 112 OPS+ and reliably strong defense. However, at age 33 the Dodgers have to start thinking about his successor. That may come in the form of 25-year old Carlos Hernandez, who has had limited action the two previous seasons at the top level. However, he batted .345 at Triple-A and has little left to prove down there. If not Hernandez, a longshot kid named Mike Piazza, drafted in the 62nd round, has battled his way up to Triple-A and is drawing attention for reasons well beyond being Lasorda’s godson.

[LivnLegend]

Starting Pitching: Always a Dodger Strength

The Dodgers rotation features for grizzled vets and one grizzled youngster. Though just 24, Ramon Martinez has already been in the big leagues for four seasons. Martinez has already been an All-Star, won 20 games, and struck out 18 batters in one game. Still, Orel Hershiser is the most accomplished current Dodgers pitcher with a Cy Young award (and three other top four finishes), a World Series MVP, a 59-inning scoreless streak, three All-Star appearances, and many more accolades. However, all of that was before he underwent shoulder reconstruction surgery in April 1990. He came back in May of 1991 and pitched in 21 games. There were still questions about his recovery heading into 1992 but most feel the Bulldog will be ready to lead the rotation yet again.

The rest of the five man staff is a collection of well-traveled veterans. Tom Candiotti, 34, is getting his first taste of NL action after spending time with Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Toronto, where he honed his skills as a knuckleball pitcher. Former Mets and Red Sox lefty Bob Ojeda (34) was 12-9 (3.18 ERA) in his first season with the Dodgers last year. Ojeda won a championship ring with the Mets in 1986. Kevin Gross (31) has spent his career in the NL, pitching for the Phillies and Montreal prior to coming to LA in 1991, where his record was 10-11 (3.58 ERA). Gross was an All-Star back in 1988, a year after getting caught with sandpaper in his glove and suspended for 10 games.

Gone from last year’s rotation are Tom Belcher (traded for Eric Davis) and 14-game winner Mike Morgan (free agent, on to the Cubs). The team is noticeably thin on reinforcements, should injuries come along. First up would be 23-year old Pedro Astacio or perhaps swingman Kip Gross, yet another former Reds player. Other than that, the team would have to scour the waiver wire, make a trade, or look at 20-year old Pedro Martinez, brother of Ramon, though skipper Lasorda has his doubts that young Pedro has the strength to be a starter in the majors.

[LivnLegend]

Bullpen By Committee

The Dodgers didn’t utilize a set closer the previous season and it worked effectively. Duties were split between Jay Howell (16 saves), Roger McDowell, (7) saves, and Tim Crews (6 saves). All three are back again in 92. Howell is in his 5th season with LA, having been the primary closer on the 1988 championship team. McDowell was a teammate of Ojeda’s on that 86 Mets Championship team. He came to the Dodgers in a deadline deal last July. Crews is in his 6th year as a Dodgers pitcher, and has been steady, though never spectacular.

Righty Jim Gott and lefties John Candelaria and Steve Wilson round out the bullpen.

Candelaria has been in MLB since 1975. He was a starter for a good many years, including as a member of the 1979 Pirates World Series winning team, but he has pitched primarily out of the pen since 1989. With the Dodgers he’s pretty much expected to be a situational lefty reliever. Gott is in his third season as a middle innings reliever. During his one season as a primary closer, he saved 34 for Pittsburgh in 1988. He signed as free agent prior to the 1990 season. Wilson was part of a large Cubs trade that bought Jamie Moyer and Rafael Palmeiro to the Rangers in 1988. He came to LA in a minor trade in 1991.

[LivnLegend]

Fight To the Finish

The Reds and the Braves, baseball's two best teams, will battle all the way to October

By Tim Kurkjian

Welcome to the National League best, home of the two best teams in baseball (Reds and Braves), the two best rotations (Reds and Braves) and the two best bullpens (Reds and Braves), No division can match it for quality starting pitchers (10 pitchers have a legitimate shot at 20 wins), lefthanded hitters (seven of baseball's 13 best play here) or off-season improvement

Everyone's bitter, too. Baseball's most contentious division the last two years will become only more intense with the off-season trades within the West of pitcher Tim Belcher (Dodgers to Reds), reliever Randy Myers (Reds to Padres) and outfielders Bip Roberts (Padres to Reds) and Eric Davis (Reds to Dodgers).

The West will feature a catcher now playing second base, a shortstop with 60-error capability, a team with a 26-game road trip, Dibble and Deion, Orel and Roberts, and—together at last—Davis and Darryl. All this plus Reds and Braves, a duel that will go the distance.

Predictions:
1. Reds: Their top four starters—Greg Swindell, Tim Belcher, Tom Browning and Jose Rijo—threw 882 innings last year. All have 20-win stuff. "When I saw who we got in trades, I couldn't believe it," says Rijo. "I said, 'No way, Jose.' " Equally delirious is Swindell: In his six years with the Indians, his winning percentage was .522, while the team's was .432. In 1991 he was burned by the most unearned runs (20) in baseball.

But the Reds' most important winter deal was for Bip Roberts, a lifetime .291 hitter who can play the outfield and the infield, hit leadoff and steal bases.

2. Braves: Everyone knows these guys now. Steve Avery is being compared to Sandy Koufax, Ron Gant is the new Bobby Bonds, and David Justice is looking more like Billy Williams with an attitude. We know all about the Lemmer's size, John Smoltz's shrink, Tom Glavine's slap shot, Terry Pendleton's MVP and Deion Sanders's progress. The Braves won't sneak up on anyone this year.

3. Dodgers: Grounder to Daniels, he boots it, the ball ricochets to Samuel at second, he bobbles it, throws to Offerman covering second, he drops it, then throws way over third base and into the Dodger dugout. Two runs are in. Tommy is steaming....

Let's hear Vin Scully make that sequence sound poetic. He'll have plenty of opportunities this year. The Dodgers, one of the very few organizations that has consistently chosen pitching and offense over defense, will pay for it this season. Oh, they'll be a factor in the race because they have firepower (the Davis-Butler-Darryl Strawberry outfield should hit 60 homers and score 270 runs) and good pitching. But with the Dodger defense, the pitching has to be great to win. The only chance of that happening is if Ramon Martinez snaps his slump (he got rocked the last two months of '91 and again this spring) and his brother Pedro, a 20-year-old phenom, pitches his way out of the minors and into the rotation before June.

4. Padres: The Padres finished third last year, and they could finish in the top half of the division again if Gary Sheffield hits and new second baseman Kurt Stillwell makes a successful switch from shortstop. But "if we have injuries, we have problems," says manager Riddoch. "We're not deep. We don't have anyone on our bench with more than a year's experience."

5. Giants: Kevin Mitchell, traded to Seattle last December, will be missed. The Giants finished 19 games out of first last year and scored 100 fewer runs than Atlanta. The Giants' '92 Opening Day outfield—Darren Lewis, Willie McGee and Kevin Bass—collectively hit 15 homers and drove in 98 runs in '91. That puny production will put a strain on the number 3 and 4 hitters, Will Clark and Matt Williams. "I'd walk Clark every time I possibly could," says one NL scout. "Like in high school, just wave him down to first base. You can pitch to Williams, but not Clark."

6. Astros: We're calling for a moratorium on Astro-bashing this year. This isn't the time for bashing, it's a time for pity. The poor 'Stros are stuck in this monster division while they're in the middle of a massive rebuilding program. Last place is a lock no matter how hard they play. Manager Art Howe deserves better. So does coach Ed Ott, who in March underwent the 10th operation on his knees. ("There should be something like frequent-flyer points once you get to double figures on surgery," Ott says.) And on July 27 the Astros will begin a 26-game, 28-day, 9,186-mile road trip so that the Republican party can hold its convention in the Astrodome. (If you want to bash Astro owner John McMullen, the man responsible for that ridiculous schedule, go right ahead.)

"We will be better than last year," says Howe, "but it might not show in the win column." Ah, but it will next year. The National League is expanding.

[LivnLegend]

While Tim Kurkjian truly wrote in Sports Illustrated in April 1992 that the division belonged to the Reds and Braves, OOTP does not fully agree.

Preseason predictions have the Dodgers at the top, in a near dead-heat with Atlanta and Cincinnati.

NL PREDICTED STANDINGS WEST DIVISION												
Team	                 W	L      	PCT	GB	Runs	AVG	HR	SB	ERA	K	BB
Los Angeles Dodgers	86	76	0.531	-	612	0.239	90	602	3.3	988	528
Cincinnati Reds	        85	77	0.525	1	685	0.256	107	641	3.55	1045	508
Atlanta Braves	        85	77	0.525	1	708	0.254	132	647	3.51	965	506
San Francisco Giants	81	81	0.5	5	650	0.249	107	620	3.5	923	515
San Diego Padres	79	83	0.488	7	647	0.249	111	701	3.89	1055	510
Houston Astros	        74	88	0.457	12	621	0.247	102	684	3.64	991	564

No Dodgers listed among the top ten hitter predictions, though.

TOP 10 HITTERS									
Player	        Team 	G	AB	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG
B. Bonds, LF	PIT	158	605	24	89	38	0.313	0.415	0.507
J. Kruk, 1B 	PHI	158	616	17	100	4	0.324	0.412	0.489
D. Justice, RF	ATL	158	603	30	100	2	0.283	0.374	0.476
L. Dykstra, CF	PHI	161	658	12	57	69	0.269	0.373	0.408
B. Larkin, SS	CIN	158	633	17	83	19	0.295	0.368	0.447
W. Clark, 1B	SF	161	629	26	107	4	0.283	0.355	0.471
M. Alou, LF 	MON	158	601	19	93	29	0.306	0.346	0.502
A. Van Slyke,CF PIT	159	631	9	101	14	0.297	0.364	0.439
R. Gant, LF     ATL	157	614	26	86	32	0.266	0.341	0.448
G. Sheffield,3B SD     159	626	23	83	29	0.279	0.341	0.454

However, the Dodgers do have a pitcher showing in the top ten. Not Orel. Not Ramon Martinez.

TOP 10 PITCHERS											
Player   	Team	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	HA	BB	K	K/9
T. Candiotti	LAD	33	19	10	0	2.21	262.2	183	78	189	6.47
Z. Smith    	PIT	29	18	8	0	2.34	217.2	182	31	101	4.18
D. Cone     	NYM	34	16	10	0	2.73	235.2	170	85	202	7.74
J. Rijo        	CIN	31	14	9	0	2.88	214.2	181	63	167	7.03
C. Leibrandt	ATL	32	15	9	0	3.05	215.2	204	50	141	5.89
B. Saberhagen	NYM	33	13	12	0	2.78	241.1	202	47	173	6.46
D. Drabek	PIT	34	13	9	0	3.09	249	220	60	137	4.97
J. Deshaies	SD	33	15	8	0	3.34	208.1	194	71	132	5.69
S. Avery	ATL	32	14	10	0	3.01	219.2	188	62	127	5.22
J. Burkett	SF	34	14	12	0	3.06	234.1	215	54	124	4.79

Interestingly, the Braves have two pitchers listed and neither is Smoltz or Glavine. Remember, Maddux (also not shown) is still with the Cubs; he comes to Atlanta next year.

[LivnLegend]

Opening Day 1992 occured on a Monday, April 6, with 18 teams on the docket, including the Dodgers hosting their rivals from The Bay, the San Francisco Giants.

The Dodgers held a nice ceremony on the field commemorating the 30th anniversary of the opening of Dodger Stadium in 1962. Players will wear a special patch on their jerseys all season long.

Plenty of Opening Day coverage, including local columnist Bill Plashke...

When the Dodger Stadium gates open today for the 30th year, an anniversary party will begin. It will feature the typically orchestrated fare of memories, standing ovations and laughter.

But making an unscheduled appearance will be suspense.

It could be difficult for many to cherish the last 30 years not knowing what the home team is going to do beyond the next 30 minutes.

The Dodgers will open their 102nd season against San Francisco, but nothing else about them is certain.

The Dodgers finished one game behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League West last season after leading Atlanta by 9 1/2 games at the All-Star break.

They have spent the last six months trying to figure out how to pick up that one game.

And so it goes, the eternal optimism (and cynicism!) associated with Opening Day shows now bounds nor restraint.

And neither does rookie hazing, at times...

The Dodgers resorted to shenanigans when informing Eric Karros that he made the opening day roster. Per the 4/6/02 LA Times:

Baseball has no conscience when it comes to roster reductions. The hearts of Angel catcher Lance Parrish, a 14-year veteran, and Eric Karros, a wide-eyed Dodger rookie first baseman, beat equally fast as Sunday's deadline approached for reducing opening-day rosters to 25.
...
Karros had his bags packed to Albuquerque, home of the Dodgers' triple-A affiliate, when Manager Tommy Lasorda and Vice President Fred Claire summoned him for a meeting before the game.

Told by Claire that he was being sent down, Karros said he expected as much.

Then, the punch line.

"Fred said, 'We're sending you down to Vero Beach (the Dodgers' Class-A affiliate) and you're going to start all over,' " Karros recounted.

Lasorda and Claire then broke into laughter and told Karros he had made the final 25.

"They were chuckling," Karros said. "I don't know how funny I thought it was."

Much of the baseball world is fixated on the NL West, with plenty of coverage on the competitive balance seen between the Reds, the Braves, and the Dodgers.

USA Today Baseball Weekly has run a couple articles suggesting that the Braves are the best of the West but the Reds and Dodgers can compete, so long as Paul O'Neill (CIN) and Eric Davis (LA) contribute.

ONWARD TO OPENING DAY....

[TheMaus2]

This dynasty layout/style is awesome. Can't wait for the opening day write-up.

[LivnLegend]

San Francisco Giants @ Los Angles Dodgers

The afternoon began in spectacular opening-day style Monday, with dozens of pigeons leaving the Dodger Stadium field in a soaring finish to the national anthem.

By the third inning, Ramon Martinez had followed them. Fortunately, for the team and Martinez, the abdominal strain he suffered that caused him to exit with one out in the 3rd wasn't thought to be serious and Martinez may be available for his next start. In the meantime, the Dodgers bats were slow to get going, and the team fell 4-1 to the hated rivals from the north.

Cory Snyder and Kevin Bass launched solo homers to propel NoCal to the victory, spoiling a pleasant afternoon for 54,000 Angelinos.

The winning pitcher was Bill Swift.

[LivnLegend]

Manager's Notes: So Opening Day was a snoozer for LA fans. I used the actual Dodgers opening day lineup (and actual Giants starting pitcher from 1992). I'm going to play out many of the games, and others I will sim through 5 or 6 innings and check to see if its worth jumping into.

Martinez having to leave in the 3rd made me hold my breath, as the Dodgers didn't end up using many SPs that season, so their OOTP depth is shallow.

Around the rest of the league on Opening Day:
Jose Rijo threw a shutout against the Padres, scattering 5 hits in the 2-0 win.
Jim Eisenreich went 5 for 5 in the Royals win over Oakland.
Bob Tewksberry went 6 innings for the Cardinals before leaving with an injury that turns out to be a season ender. Tough break for St. Louis. The Cards beat the Mets in extra innings.

[LivnLegend]

At Los Angeles
April 7: John Burkett vs. Tom Candiotti
The Dodgers closed out their brief 2-game set with San Francisco and avenged their opening day loss by beating the Giants 4-1. Candiotti’s knuckleball confounded the NoCals. He allowed just four hits and two walks while piling up 10 strikeouts.

Trivia Alert: It was Candiotti’s National League debut and with it he became the first knuckleball pitcher to win in the National League since Joe Niekro in 1987.

At San Diego
April 9: Orel Hershiser vs. Jim DeShaies
The Dodgers traveled the short trip south to San Diego for the Padres’ home opener. Neither starting pitcher was effective, as they combined to surrender 20 hits and 12 runs. The Dodgers were constantly playing catch-up and never held the lead. Four Padres relievers combined to shutout LA over the last four frames.

April 10 : Bob Oejda vs. Adam Peterson
The Dodgers obtained their first blowout win of the season, building up a 10-0 lead through the first 6 1/2 innings while cruising to an 11-2 victory. Brett Butler and Jose Offerman each had three hits as the Dodgers pummeled the Padres without the aid of any homers. Ojeda wasn’t overpowering but made it into the 7th with a shutout intact. Darrin Jackson had three hits for the losing side.

Manager’s notes: I had to look up Peterson, having not remembered him. Turns out he was not actually part of the Padres’ plans in 1992. He was 3-4 (4.35 ERA) in 11 starts the previous season but spent 92 in Las Vegas waiting for a call-up that never came. He was a swingman for the White Sox in 90 and then traded for Joey Cora and Warren Newsome, who both turned out to be useful. The ChiSox clearly got the better of that trade.


April 11: Kevin Gross vs. Andy Benes
In the third game of the set, Benes blew the Dodgers away with 7 shutout innings in the 4-0 San Diego win. The Padres escaped a bases loaded, one out jam in his last inning of work. Brett Butler had to leave the game on defensive play. He was placed on the DL with an oblique strain with Stan Javier taking his place on the roster.

April 12: Tom Candiotti (1-0, 1.00 ERA) vs. Bruce Hurst (1-0, 1.46 ERA)
The final game of the series matches up two pitchers who were rock solid in their 92 debuts. The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead early but the Padres had a big four run 7th, though just one run as earned thanks to an error by Jose Offerman. With a 4-1 lead, Larry Anderson came in for the Padres. He surrendered two singles, a double to Strawberry, and then Eric Karros' first career home run, which gave LA a 5-4 lead. Surprisingly, it was also the first homer for the Dodgers this season. Roger McDowell pitched the 9th for the first Dodgers save of the season. The win allowed LA to balance their books at 3-3 before heading to Houston.


Around the League:
Another season-ender, this time to Montreal’s Mark Gardner. A torn ligament will have him sidelined for at least 12 months.

The Cardinals are the only undefeated team with a 6-0 record.

Eddie Murray hit his 400th career homer as a member of the Mets. The Dodgers let him go to free agency where the Mets handed the 36-year-old Baltimore legend $7.5 million for two years. Murray came to the Dodgers in 1989. He had a monster season in 1990 (5th in the MVP voting) before regressing in 1991. The Dodgers offered Murray a one year deal, which he rejected. The Mets now have five switch-hitters in their lineup, with Murray, Howard Johnson, Vince Coleman, Gregg Jeffries and Todd Hundley. As a footnote, shortly after signing Murray, the Mets signed Bobby Bonilla to a $29 million deal, making him the richest man in baseball. Quite the parlay, by Mets GM Al Harazin.

[LivnLegend]

The 1991 Houston Astros were 65-97 under third year manager Art Howe. Although they finished last in the West, there was reason for some optimism heading into the 1992 season. Several young players formed a strong nucleus ready to lead the charge toward the top of the division, including, including infielders Jeff Bagwell (25) & Craig Biggio (23), and outfielders Luis Gonzales (23), Eric Anthony (23), & Steve Finley (26). Another key offensive player is third baseman Ken Caminiti.

The Killer B's aren't an official thing until 1995 but the first couple are firmly in place in 92

The key would be whether the 2nd from last ranked pitching staff would improve along with the emerging offensive force. Pete Harnish leads the rotation, along with Mark Portugal, Darryl Kile, Jimmy Jones and Butch Henry. Veteran closer Doug Jones was added via free agency during the off-season. While expectations for the 92 Astros are tempered, the prevailing thought is that this team could, and should, rise above .500. Attendance in the Astrodome was last in the NL in the previous season. The emerging young stars should be able to bring the fans back if all goes to plan.

April 13: Ramon Martinez (0-1, 3.86) vs Mark Portugal (0-1, 4.26)
Both teams plated two runs in the second inning. The Astros got two runners aboard in the 5th, and Craig Biggio’s deep fly ball scored the go-ahead run. Doug Jones earned his second save in relief of Portugal (1-1), who surrendered just two hits. Fortunately for LA, Martinez did not show any lingering effects from his first start where he had to leave in the third.

April 14: Orel Hershiser (0-1, 4.26) vs Darryl Kile (0-0, 1.29)
The Dodgers prevailed 4-1 behind strong pitching from Hershiser (8 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 5 K). LA also capitalized on three Astros errors. More bad news for Houston - Luis Gonzalez was injured and should miss about 3 weeks.

Disturbingly, through 8 games the Dodgers have hit just one home run. The West seems to be in a power drought as Houston and Atlanta also each have just 1 dinger, while San Diego is looking for its first.

April 15: Bob Ojeda (1-0, 2.70) vs. Jimmy Jones (0-1, 7.11)
Darryl Strawberry (.091 average) was given a seat on the bench to start the game. He later had a pinch-hit single. Still, the Astros prevailed 7-5. Eric Anthony and Eddie Taubensee each had a pair of hits and RBI. Doug Jones retired three left-handed hitters in the 9th for his second save in three days.

The Dodgers leave for Atlanta now 4-5, while Houston is a game ahead in the standings at 5-4.

Around the league:
Mike Bordick had 5 hits in a game for the Athletics. They were all singles but helped Oakland defeat Kansas City, 9-4.

Terry Mulholland (PHI) and Trevor Wilson (SF) each tossed shutout gems.

Don Mattingly is batting .515 (17 for 36)

Candy Maldanaldo (TOR) leads all hitters with 5 homers.

After starting out 6-0, the Cardinals lost four straight.

[LivnLegend]

Up next is the NL West rival Atlanta Braves as the Dodgers travel to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

The Braves are led by Bobby Cox, who is in his second full season after talking over midway in 1990 after Russ Nixon was fired. The Braves were the pick by most prognosticators to win the West this year after winning 94 games and capturing the NL pennant the season before. However, they are off to a slow 2-6 start so far in '92.

April 16: Kevin Gross (0-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. Steve Avery (0-0, 1.35 ERA)
The Dodgers picked up a run early on Eric Karros' RBI single. Mike Scioscia's 5th inning homer made it 2-0, through the Braves scrapped together a run in the 6th to make it 2-1. IN the 9th, Roger McDowell was summoned for the save but gave up a double to catcher Greg Olson, and a single to Mark Treadway to tie the game. After a passed ball, Jeff Blauser walked to bring up Deion Sanders, who entered earlier as a pinch runner. Neon Deion grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Treadway for a 3-2 lead. However, in the bottom of the 9th, Darryl Strawberry walked, Jose Offerman tripled, and Scioscia came through again, this time with a walk-off single to give LA a 4-3 win.

April 17: Tom Candiotti (2-0, 1.06) vs Tom Glavine (0-2, 4.61)
The Braves evened the series with a 4-3 win behind doubles by David Justice, Sid Bream and Greg Olson. Stan Javier had a pinch-hit RBI triple to bring LA with one run late but reliever Alejandro Pena closed the door in the 9th and picked up his first save.

April 18: Ramon Martinez (0-2, 3.72) vs. Charlie Leibrandt (1-1, 1.13)
The Brave's lefty shutout the Dodgers on 4 hits and 1 walk in Atlanta's 4-0 victory to take the series. Leibrandt only struck out one batter but picked up 15 ground outs as the Dodgers really only threatened once in the 9th inning. Greg Olson had a homer, capping a string of having an extra base hit in each of the three games against LA.

April 19: Orel Hershiser : (1-1, 2.57) vs John Smoltz (0-2, 3.75)
The Bulldog gave up three in the first ti the Braves with Ron Gant’s first homer of the year doing the most damage. The Dodgers were never able to get things going against Smoltz, who struck out 12 batters and came just one out short of a complete game shutout. He lowered his ERA to 2.12 with his first win of the season.

Atlanta may have come limping into LA off to a slow start but winning the last three puts them back on track. The Dodgers now sit at 5-8, in 5th place with just the 3-10 Padres below them.

With a current streak of 20 straight shutout innings, the Braves rotation is now second in the NL in ERA with a 2.45 mark, though the San Francisco Giants, with a 0.99 rotation ERA, are blowing away everyone right now.

The Dodgers really miss Brett Butler. His replacement, Mitch Webster, is hitting .176. Butler will be out at least another week.

The Dodgers will now host first place Cincinnati for a three game set starting tomorrow.

[LivnLegend]

The 1992 Cincinnati Reds began the season with lofty expectations. Though most scribes had the Braves winning the division, the Reds were definitely expected to make it close. Although they won just 74 games the year before after winning the World Series in 1990, the Reds looked to be greatly improved after bolstering their rotation and re-tooling the outfield. They added veteran hurlers Tim Belcher (from the Dodgers) and Greg Swindell (Indians) in trades, as well as trading for two new outfield starters in Bip Roberts (San Diego) and Dave Martinez (Montreal).

The Reds are led by manager 48-year old Lou Piniella, in his third season with Cincinnati.

The Reds are notable for being the last MLB team still wearing pullover jerseys with sansabelt pants. This trend was adopted by most of the league after the Pirates debuted them in 1970, with just five teams avoiding the look during this era (Dodgers, Expos, Mets, Yankees, and Phillies). By 1988, double-knit uniforms and elastic banded pants were pretty much over, with only the Reds still avoiding buttons and belts by the time 1992 rolled around but the Reds would join the rest of MLB and move to the traditional button-down jerseys next year.

Reserve catcher Troy Afenir models the Reds uni

This year would be also be the last for the current Reds logo, which has featured Mr. Redlegs since 1972. Next year the Reds will go back to the familiar wishbone C without the caricature.

Enough about that, how are they doing on the field? In the young season they have started out 8-4, and come to LA in a three-way tie atop the NL West. Martinez has begun his Reds career well, hitting .358/.419/.538, with another new addition in Swindell also starting strong. The lefty has a 0.34 ERA through three starts. However, the Dodgers will miss on Swindell, though they do face two other pitchers who have traditionally been very tough against the Dodgers.

April 20: Tom Browning (1-0, 1.13 ERA) vs. Bob Ojeda (1-1, 6.39)
Trivia: Browning pitched the 12th perfect game in MLB history against the Dodgers back in 1988.
While the Dodgers avoided the shutout for the first time in the last three games, their anemic offense posted just one run off Browning in a the Reds’ 5-1 win. LA didn’t help themselves in the field, committing four errors on the left side of the infield - two by Jose Offerman at short and two by Mike Sharperson at third - which helped lead to a pair of unearned runs. They now have 13 as a club, with Offerman responsible for 6 of those.

April 21: Chris Hammond (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6 IP) vs. Kevin Gross (0-1, 2.02, 13 IP)
The Reds took a 3-1 lead early, partially in thanks to Barry Larkin’s first inning homer. The Dodgers clawed back to tie it but Larkin parked another dong in the 8th off Jay Howell. This one came with two runners aboard and allowed Cincy to win it 6-3. Closer Rob Dibble picked up his 4th save as the Dodgers dropped their 5th in a row.

April 22: Jose Rijo (2-0, 1.82) vs Tom Candiotti (2-1, 2.25)
The Dodgers tried to shake up their slumping offense by benching three struggling starters, Eric Davis, Mike Scioscia, and Eric Karros. Rijo was sharp, shutting out the Dodgers on 7 2/3 innings and leaving with a 2-0 lead. However, in the bottom of the 9th the Dodgers tied it up against reliever Bryan Hickerson. Offerman and Lenny Harris each reached base and moved up on a double steal. Backup catcher Carlos Hernandez then singled home the runners to tie it up. However, in the 10th, the Reds tacked on a run against Jim Gott when Bip Roberts singled home the go-ahead run. In the bottom of the 10th, with Dibble unavailable due to usage, Hickerson stayed in and allowed a single to Javier, who had replaced Davis in the lineup. In an odd twist of fate, Davis was then sent to pinch hit for Harris and blasted a walk-off 2-run homer to give LA the amazing 4-3 win, snapping the losing streak n the process. What a game!

The Dodgers are now 6-10, while the Reds drop out of first place at 10-5, one game behind Houston.



The National League player of the week is Andy Van Slyke (PIT) who hit .500/.522/.720 for the first place Pirates. He’s one of three NL’ers already to 1.0 WAR.

The American League player of the week is catcher Chris Hoiles (BAL) who hit .500/.560/1.025, including 4 home runs and 8 RBI. He’s tied for second in homers with 5.

[Honny118]

Very nice writing up. Will follow this report closely.

[LivnLegend]

The Dodgers travel to San Francisco to play the Giants for three games. The Dodgers have now played all five of their division rivals and play the Giants for the second time after opening the season at home against the NoCals.

Aptil 24: Orel Hershiser (2-2, 3.00) vs Trevor Wilson (2-0, 0.79)
The 24-year old Wilson is enjoying a very fine start. He comes into the game riding a 16 inning scoreless streak with a complete game shutout of the Padres last week. The Dodgers counter the lefty with an all-right capable lineup, save for Darryl Strawberry.

The scoreless string ended quickly as Mitch Webster smacked the second pitch of the game over the wall for a 1-0 lead. The teams battled it out back and forth, with Webster coming up big again later with a 2-run triple. Hershiser helped himself with an RBI as well. Roger McDowell came on for a four-out save to secure the 5-4 Dodgers win. Webster had 4 hits in all. Darren Lewis and Will Clark each had 3 hits in the losing effort.


April 25: Ramon Martinez (0-3, 4.41) vs Salomon Torres (1-1, 4.34)
Torres is in his first major league season at age 20, which is the same age Martinez broke into the league with the Dodgers four years ago.

Kal Daniels knocked in Strawberry for the lead in the 4th. Strawberry had a solo shot in the 7th and then drove in two more in the 9th. Daniels followed with another RBI to make it 5-0. Jay Howell came on in the 9th and gave up a homer to Clark which made it 5-2 but was able to end the threat and seal the win.

Martinez struck out 6 in 8 innings with 3 hits allowed and 0 walks in picking up his first W of the year.


April 26: Bob Ojeda (1-2, 5.59) vs Bill Swift (3-1 2.38)
Swift, who has a decision in all four of his starts, beat the Dodgers on Opening Day.

The Giants used three singles and a fly ball to score two runs in the first. The Dodgers struck back for one of their own in the next inning. However, San Fran added two more in the 5th and another in the 8th. A late run by the Dodgers didn’t make a difference as the Giants prevailed 5-2. Swift now has four wins, tied for the ML lead.

While the Dodgers missed the sweep, they have to be happy taking two of three with the way things have been going. The end the series at 8-11 while the Giants are 9-9.


Outside the lines: Salomon Torres never actually saw action for the 92 Giants. The game apparently saw fit to elevate him into the rotation over Dave Burba or Kelly Downs. Torres did debut with the 93 Giants. Rather infamously, he started the final game of the season against the Dodgers. He pitched poorly, the Giants lost, and the Braves captured the West by one game. Fickle NoCal fans continued to heckle Torres the rest of his career when he returned as an opposing player. “They come to the park and they pay my salary, so they have the right to heckle me,” said Torres in 2006. “If that's going to make them feel better and get over what happened in 1993, OK. But it's time to move on.... I don't think I was treated fairly by some of my teammates. And I still don't think I'm being treated fairly by the fans."

Torres had a long career, though it was interrupted by a gap where did not pitch anywhere from 1998-2000. He pitched in South Korea in 2011 and then returned to the majors with the Pirates. He appeared in 94 games in 2006 and retired after the 2008 season after finishing the season with 28 saves for Milwaukee.

Torres as a rookie 1993


Darryl Boston was named the NL player of the week. The Mets outfielder has been on a tear and now leads the league with 7 homers, 16 runs scored, and a .727 slugging percentage. Rafael Palmiero of Texas took the honors in the AL. On the season he is hitting .373 with 5 homers and 14 RBI. He went 5 for 6 in a game against Boston.


The Dodgers will next face St. Louis for a pair of games during a 7-game homestand.