[PilotMan]

1984 Playoffs Preview


LA blasted through September with a 20-7 record. A fantastic recovery for the team from August. Even with the losing streak and the big drop in offense for a while, the last part of the month they really made up for it.


In the AL, the defending champs are out. This year the top team in the AL was the Blue Jays. Toronto was the last team to clinch a division beating the Yankees at the wire. They've been contenders, but suffered behind the Tigers recently. The Jays rank 3^rd or 4^th in most offensive categories in the AL, including stolen bases. Their pitching is also very good, 2^nd in runs against and starters ERA, while having the best bullpen. Mike Schmidt was the big offseason acquisition on offense, and while he didn't have an MVP type year he still lead the team in HR and RBI. Tony Fernandez lead in WAR. Mostly due to his 24 steals and insane defensive skills. He still had a slash line of .313/.371/.420, but is going to miss the series rehabbing from a broken wrist. Right behind him were Mike Schmidt (.237/.341/.454, and 31 HR and 110 RBI) and George Bell (.309/.343/.542) and 24 HR and 87 RBI. The Blue Jays pitching staff is anchored by 25 game winner Dave Stieb. Steib (3.23 ERA) benefited from 4.58 runs of support per game and had 25/36 Quality Starts. His 25-8 record was the best in baseball. The #2 pitcher is Luis Leal who went 18-6 with a 3.92 ERA. Leal got 4.88 runs of support and had 20/32 QS.


They will face the Twins, who are making a return to the ALCS. They've been able to keep the youth movement strong and growing. The Twins finished the year very strong going 37-20 to run away with the division. While they have the worst record among playoff teams they do have some good qualities. They were 2^nd in the AL in AVG. OBS, H, and HR. They were #1 in runs scored, and last in stolen bases. The pitching staff isn't quite on the same playing field, but they were 4^th in team ERA and runs allowed. They were 5^th in others and 8^th on defense. The top offensive player was Kent Hrbek. Hrbek has quickly become one of the best players in the Major Leagues with over 30 homers for 3 years, and and has missed only 1 game in the same time frame. He's all of 24 years old. His numbers are .323/.398/.529 along with 33 HR and 124 RBIs. Not to be out done Gary Gaetti (.272/.320/.472, 26/93) and Tim Teufel (.294/.366/.466, 21/77). The pitching staff is anchored by another 24 year old, Frank Viola. Viola went 21-7 on the year with a 2.63 ERA. Viola also got 5.06 runs of support per game and had a QS in 23/34 starts. He's got a good chance at the AL Cy Young Award. The #2 in Minnesota is Jerry Koosman (15-10, 3.70 ERA, 3.74 RS, 22/35 QS) who signed a 1-year deal from the Astros and picked up his 200^th win with the Twins. His 240.2 innings were the most for him since 1980. The Twins also have a uniquely deep bullpen featuring 4 pitchers who at one time or another have been closers. They are Goose Gossage, Gene Garber, Kent Tekulve, and southpaw Gary Lavelle. At 33, Gossage is the youngster of that group.


In the NL we have a rematch of the same 2 teams for the third year in a row. With the series split at 1-1 this is the rubber match. This will be the 4^th year in a row where it's either the Dodgers or Expos in the World Series.


The Expos are a powerhouse of a team as I've mentioned earlier. They are the #1 offensive team in all of baseball with the #1 record. The team is the #2 pitching staff and #3 defense. As I've mentioned before, the Expos have 4 of the top 5 NL leaders in WAR, and the top 3. They are SS Robin Yount (.312/.367/.503, 23/108) Gary Carter (.299/.360/.530, 32/111) and Tim Wallach (.288/.340/.472, 22/92) and that doesn't include the #5 guy, and probably league MVP, Andre Dawson (.290/.320/.540, 40/131 and 23 SB). Their lineup has 4 guys who have won a Silver Slugger, and all of them have been to an All-Star game at one point or another in their careers. It's a ridiculous, embarrassment of riches to say the least. If that wasn't bad enough, the pitching staff isn't bad either. John Candelaria isn't the top in WAR, but he should be the Cy Young winner (20-2, 1.93 ERA, 4.06 RS, 32/35 QS). Backing him up is Bob Knepper (22-6, 2.61 ERA, 4.71 RS, 27/34 RS) and Scott Sanderson (17-5, 2.65 ERA, 4.17 RS, 25/35 QS). The bullpen is anchored by Jeff Reardon (90 IP, 2.90 ERA, 74K, and 47 S). They also were able to grab Bob Stanley who blew his elbow out at the end of 1983 and spent the entire year rehabbing. He still pitched 19 games with a 2.25 ERA, then signed a 3-year extension. It just doesn't seem fair.


LA comes in #2 in batting and #1 in pitching and defense. The Dodgers won a career high in games. Our top 3 in WAR were Willie Randolph (.335/.430/.416, 6/46), Dwight Evans (.291/.383/.493, 29/108) and Dwayne Murphy (.278/.361/.435, 23/88). Top pitching was Alejandro Pena (19-6, 2.01 ERA, 4.64 RS, 30/33 QS), Fernando Valenzuela (20-10, 2.75 ERA, 4.74 RS, 26/34 QS) and Rick Rhoden (16-9, 2.99 ERA, 3.49 RS, 27/35 QS). The bullpen will be missing Niedenfeur for a week though. The team will be able to add him, but he's going to miss the first few games. Steve Howe has moved into the closer spot and he's been strong, but not completely reliable all year. Burt Hooton will back him up.


I'll say it now, even with 111 wins, our boys do not match up with the Expos well at all. We were the favorites last year, I hope we can return the favor. There are no 2 better teams in baseball though. However, I can't feel good about this. The Dodgers just didn't have the good numbers against lefties this year and Montreal comes at us with two of the best. Montreal just killed lefties (31-9) and Valenzuela was 1-1 in 3 starts with a 2.86 ERA.


The final Power Rankings were:


1^st Dodgers
2^nd Expos
4^th Blue Jays
5^th Twins


Here we go!