[PilotMan]

1987 Playoff Preview


NLCS


Los Angeles Dodgers (96-66) v. New York Mets (99-63)


This is a great series on paper. Both teams are the best in the NL after the All Star break and the series was split between them at 6-6. Since you should be familiar with the Dodgers roster and line up the most important thing to know is that Ricky is almost healthy. He wasn't given a clean bill of health for the series, but he's close. Second, Tom Byers was left off the playoff roster as he didn't qualify, in favor of Doug Jennings. Jennings hit .263/.358/.351 in 41 games and 57 at bats.


Lasorda also announced his starters for the series and John Denny was left out in favor of Tanana. He could change his mind, but Denny was much more consistent over the season, but maybe the lefty was needed against the Mets lineup.


So the Mets had 4 guys with over 30 HR's this year. They were Strawberry (36), Mitchell (37), Bonilla (33) and Rueben Sierra (34). Sierra is out dealing with a wrist injury and looks like he might miss the entire series. The Mets have replaced him with Carmelo Martinez. Sierra, he is not. In fact, the Mets are a near mirror image of the Dodgers. They have great hitting in the outfield, good fielding in the infield Donnie Hill and Gerald Young manning 2^nd and short respectively.


Where they differ though is that their pitching is better than their hitting. Lead by 2 (soon to be 3) time Cy Young winner Dwight Gooden (won another pitching triple crown this year) (23-7, 2.22, 269K) and quite simply the best bullpen in baseball. Their other starters aren't as good as what we have in LA, (Darling 11-14, 4.17; Terrell 14-13, 4.72l Wegman 12-7, 4.02), but the bullpen more than makes up for it. They have Roger McDowell closing (31S, 3.14) and Orosco (4-4, 2.98) and Myers (5-2, 2.11) setting the table. It gets deeper. Gene Nelson (5-2, 3.74) and Rick Aguilera (1-1, 4.63).


The Mets have homefield. There's very little to separate us. Ricky will be back soon. Maybe he'll be able to make the difference. If not him, it's going to be very, very close. Nice not to see the Expos for once.


ALCS


Seattle Mariners (99-64) v. Toronto Blue Jays (104-58)


The Mariners had to win a playoff game against the Angels to get here. They come into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They got here with some good hitting, speed, average pitching and average fielding. They can't match the Blue Jays in power, but they do have some.


Top hitter, first basemen, Alvin Davis (.290/34/128), followed by new signing this year, LF Brian Downing (.283/37/116), DH Phil Bradley (.321/29/111) and Dan Pasqua (.281/30/90). Pasqua, interestingly enough came over to the Mariners, along with RF Vince Coleman (81 SB) as part of a 5 player acquisition when the Mariners traded now Dodger, Jim Beattie, to the Yankees, back in '83. Also interesting, is that all 5 players the M's got in that trade, had ML playing time with the M's this year.


I don't think that anyone expected the M's to get here after they lost ace, Sid Fernandez (16-9, 4.67) to an elbow injury in late August. The rest of the rotation does feature some workhorses though. Mike Boddicker (17-13, 4.04), Mark Langston (16-8, 4.68), Mike Moore (13-10, 4.59) and Nolan Ryan (19-9, 4.89, 208K). The M's closer is Jeff Robinson (3-4, 32 S, 4.40).


The Blue Jays are an offensive juggernaut.


Every member of the starting lineup had at least double digits in HR's, except Mich Webster, who is playing for George Bell, who is still out. Bell only had 41 dingers, batted .343 and had 142 RBI's. The Blue Jays may not even miss him.


Corey Snyder lead the team with 44 HR's. Franklin Stubbs was second with 41. Slick fielding shortstop Tony Fernandez hit 14, which was more than 2-time Silver Slugger, Ryne Sandberg had (13). I could go on and on about them. They are heavy favorites to repeat as Champions. Even former Dodger RF'er Dwight Evans is getting time at DH (19 HR's). Evans, coincidentally, played for the Mariners last year.


If this team has a weakness it's on the mound. Top starter Jim Clancy (18-13, 4.62), isn't really a top starter. Danny Darwin won 20 games, and Allen Ripley won 21, but both had high ERA's (4.92, and 4.40) Dave Smith closes games on the back end and finished with 36 saves and a 3.13 ERA. Jim Gott (4-2, 2.24) and Larry Andersen (5-0, 2.06) hold down a strong bullpen. The Blue Jays have 0 lefties on their roster. That will play to the M's advantage as both Davis and Pasqua are lefties.


The Blue Jays went 8-4 against the M's this year. This is a battle between the #1 and #2 in runs scored in the AL, and #5 and #6 in pitching. The Jays have to be favored with homefield, but it might be closer than we think.