"The ghosts of former Yankee greats haven't deserted the Stadium after all. Some of them showed up last September, climbed into their pinstripes and proceeded to click off a ten-game winning streak that did more than give the 1968 Yankees their first first-division finish in four years. It also gave Yankee fans illusions of better things to come. They have a right to expect better things but lumped as they are in the American League's tougher division, progress may be slow.
Optimism always runs high as a team embarks on a new campaign. But this time the Yankees have something to shout about. Their two prized prospects, Bobby Murcer and Jerry Kenney, are out of the service, and manager Ralph Houk spent a winter fantasizing on the various lineup shifts these two open up for him. Both are shortstops by training, though Murcer may be better suited to third base or the outfield. Kenney still has the throwing problems he exhibited in his brief hitch with the club in 1967. He, too, could be switched elsewhere. That isn't all. For the first time since 1962, the Yankees came up with a Rookie of the Year last season in righthander Stan Bahnsen. These young kids, in addition to those who moved up last year, give rise to Yankee hopes that they are at last out of the doldrums.
The Murcer-Kenney returns complicate Houk's infield plans. But pleasantly. Assuming Mickey Mantle will do the first-basing and Horace Clarke the second-basing, there are returning shortstop Tom Tresh and third baseman Bobby Cox to consider. Tresh came back to his old position from the outfield last year and did a good job. Whether or not he stays put there or returns to the outfield depends completely on whether Murcer or Kenney can take the job away from him. Speculation is that Kenney will play short. That would leave Murcer to battle it out with Cox at third, where his good bat makes him the likely regular. Others in the infield picture include holdover Gene Michael, rookie Len Boehmer, who knocked in 75 runs at Syracuse last year, and Nate Oliver, who came over from the Giants. His biggest asset is speed on the bases, but he doesn't get on too often.
The situation in the outfield also depends on what happens in the infield. The outfield Houk has in mind for this year has Roy White in left, Joe Pepitone in center and Bill Robinson in right. Tresh's possible return to the outfield would move people around, though Houk would like to leave White alone. It's taken four years for White to find himself, and Houk doesn't want to lose him now. Pepi could always come in to play first base when Mantle takes a day off. Other outfield candidates will be farmhands Tom Shopay, Jim Lyttle, Joe Pactwa, and journeymen Dick Simpson and Billy Cowan who were picked up at the winter meetings.
That old Yankee hallmark, pitching, will rear its head proudly again in 1969. Mel Stottlemyre, one of the most professional hurlers in either league, Bahnsen, Fritz Peterson, and Al Downing will comprise the starting rotation, with the fifth job open. This will be contested for by Mike Kekich, a hard-throwing young lefthander acquired from the Dodgers for Andy Kosco, John Cumberland, Mickey Scott, Alan Closter, Bill Burbach, Steve Kline, and Jim Fink. The bullpen will be manned by Lincolnesque lefthander Steve Hamilton, Lindy McDaniel, Joe Verbanic, Don Nottebart, and Fred Talbot.
Behind the plate, Jake Gibbs, who really never became the star the Yankees hoped he'd be, will share the catching load more and more with Frank Fernandez, a polished receiver who could develop into a hitter.
Murcer and Kenney aside, others rookies Houk will inspect are shortstop Frank Baker, first baseman Tony Solaita, outfielder Ronnie Blomberg, and catcher Charlie Sands. Chances are they need an extra year on the farm. But things are looking up at last."
-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1969
IN BRIEF
Probable 1969 Finish: 5th (East)
Strengths: an improved hitting attack overshadowed by Mantle, the pitching of Stottlemyre and Bahnsen and promising rookies Murcer and Kenney.
Biggest Needs: stabilizing the left side of the infield, adding another hard-hitting outfielder and another reliever.
1968 finish: 5th
-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1969
1969 Yankees Depth Chart
C Jake Gibbs, Frank Fernandez
1B Mickey Mantle
2B Horace Clarke
3B Bobby Murcer, Bobby Cox
SS Tom Tresh, Jerry Kenney
LF Roy White
CF Joe Pepitone
RF Bill Robinson
UTILITY:
Gene Michael
Len Boehmer
Dick Simpson
Nate Oliver
PITCHERS:
Mel Stottlemyre Steve Hamilton
Stan Bahnsen Lindy McDaniel
Fritz Peterson Mike Kekich
Al Downing Joe Verbanic
Fred Talbot Don Nottebart
-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1969
"Through their recent struggles and tribulations, the Yankees have clung doggedly to one link to their Murderers' Row past. They hold the record for most seasons hitting 100 or more home runs, 45, and they have hit 100 or more home runs in each of the last 23 seasons. Dating back to 1920, they have failed to make 100 only in 1922, '24, '44 and '45.
However, in the last couple of years, they've come mighty close to seeing that streak ended. In 1967 the team finished ninth in the standings and made their 100 without a single homer to spare. Last year they improved to fifth in the standings but just barely got over the century with 109. The team batting average was the lowest in the league, a feeble .214.
That the team did pick up in the standings was based on a final realization that this was not the Bronx Bombers of old. Manager Ralph Houk started with fine pitching and then reinstated some of the techniques of the 'scufflers,' like bunts and stolen bases. The Yankees, in fact, stole 87 bases last season, compared to only 63 the year before. Much of the difference involved Roy White.
White first came up to the Yankees in 1966 and hit a few early home runs. But when he started to go for the long ball all the time, his whole game fell apart. The next season he was back in the minors.
Later in 1967, however, the 25-year-old switch-hitting outfielder was brought back and he made himself the regular left fielder in '68. White led the team with a .267 average, 61 runs batted in and 20 stolen bases. Even his home runs improved. He hit 17, second by one on the Yankees only to Mickey Mantle.
As the season progressed, the Yankees found themselves more and more happy with another outfielder, Bill Robinson. Robinson, obtained from the Braves two years ago, was an unbelievable flop with a .196 average in 1967. It looked like more of the same last year when he was batting .179 at the All-Star break. But then he started hitting, ending up at .240 and, at age 25, promises more good seasons.
Joe Pepitone had another of his disappointing years in center field, missing 54 games because of injuries and batting just .245 with 15 homers. Outfield depth can come from rookie Jim Lyttle (.234 at Syracuse)or wandering Dick Simpson, the man who was once traded (along with others) for Frank Robinson.
The infield situation is fluid. The only man sure of his job is second baseman Horace Clarke. Mantle, of course, will play first until he retires. Tom Tresh, moved in from left field and did well enough at short but his feeble .195 batting average continues to mystify.
Bobby Cox had a pretty good rookie year at third. However, two returning servicemen could shake everything up. Both Bobby Murcer and Jerry Kenney left as shortstops. That's the position to which Kenney will return. Murcer gets his first look at third or in the outfield.
The catching is in fair hands with Jake Gibbs and Frank Fernandez, but pitching is the pride of the Yankees. Mel Stottlemyre (21-12) is a proven 20-game winner and one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball. Stan Bahnsen (17-12) comes off an outstanding season in which he was American League Rookie of the Year. Fritz Peterson (12-11) is the third starter but a fourth must be found from among Al Downing (3-3 because of a sore arm); Fred Talbot (1-9); rookies Bill Burbach, John Cumberland and Alan Closter; and Mike Kekich, the former Dodger.
Lindy McDaniel, 4-1 with 10 saves after being obtained from the Giants almost as a gift in mid-season, made the bullpen solid. He's backed by Steve Hamilton."
-Larry Fox, Baseball 1969 Yearbook
TOUGH YEAR AHEAD FOR BRONX BOMBERS
"There are plenty of people who think that manager Ralph Houk's feat of moving the New York Yankees into fifth place last season was more difficult than winning pennants with the team in the early 1960s.
Houk must work as hard this year to keep the team in a respectable position in the Eastern Division. The Yankees are far from being a solid club, with problems cropping up at various spots.
How well they fare depends to an extent on Mickey Mantle, although the wearer of No. 7 is clearly diminishing with each season. Yet, he assures the Yankees of a fixture at first base if he can play as much as he did last year. And his power threat does keep the lineup 'honest' to an extent.
Mantle (.237, 18, 54) may be more valuable as a gate attraction than as a player at this point. Still, he's keeping the job at first base open for the Samoan wonder, Tony Solaita, who may be a year away. Solaita, 22, hit 49 home runs to lead all baseball while playing in the Carolina League last season. He could be Mr. Yankee of the future.
The rest of the Yankee infield has merit, particularly with Horace Clarke at second base and Bobby Cox at third. Clarke (.230, 2, 26) handles the glove well around second. Cox (.229, 7, 41) may get a challenge for his job from Bobby Murcer, back from the Army.
Murcer and Jerry Kenney, another service returnee, probably won't give shortstop Tom Tresh (.195, 11, 52) much of a battle for his job, but figure to be available as fill-ins. In fact, Murcer could move to the outfield, a land of opportunity with the Yankees.
The only fixture in a nondescript Yankee outfield is Roy White, who came along well as left fielder last season. White (.267, 16, 62) led the club in hitting and runs batted in. The Yanks needed him. Their team average of .214 was by 10 points the lowest in baseball.
But other than White, the Yankee outfield picture is clouded. Bill Robinson (.240, 6, 40), who finished out last season in center field, has yet to prove he can put together a solid term as a hitter. He may get a renewed challenge for the job by Joe Pepitone (.245, 15, 56), who is also available to play first.
Playboy Pepitone has yet to prove he can live up to the New York writers' assessment of his talents. The suspicion is that he is just about as mediocre as he has shown. Even at that, he may take back his job in center, shoving Robinson to right field.
The Yankee catching remains unimpressive. Frank Fernandez may get more of the job this year. Fernandez (.170, 7, 30) filled in a bit for Jake Gibbs (.213, 3, 29), the No. 1 man in 1968.
Fortunately, Houk has a rising pitching staff to work with. It was the pitching that lifted the Yankees into fifth last year and it's the pitching that's going to have to keep them in the running for a first division spot in the Eastern Division.
Mel Stottlemyre (21-12, 2.45) came up with 19 complete games last season and proved again that he's among the top five right-handers in the league. Everything revolves around him.
Stan Bahnsen (17-12, 2.06), the American League Rookie of the Year in 1968, should be able to build on that fine start. And in Fritz Peterson (12-11, 2.63), the Yanks have a solid lefty. The fourth starter is likely to be Mike Kekich (2-10, 3.99), a young lefty obtained from the Dodgers during the winter."
-George Vass, Baseball Digest, April 1969
QUICK RUNDOWN ON THE YANKEES
Strengths: young, developing pitching.
Greatest Need: top catcher, center fielder.
Outlook: in race for third.
-George Vass, Baseball Digest (April 1969)
"There will be few stars in the New York Yankee firmament this season. Once you get past 21-game winner Mel Stottlemyre, Rookie of the Year Stan Bahnsen (17-12) and promising flychaser Roy White, the Bombers are a collection of unproven youngsters, journeymen and bitter disappointments. In the latter category are Tom Tresh and Joe Pepitone. Both did well enough as cogs in the Mantle-Maris-Howard juggernauts, but neither one has demonstrated the ability to take over as team leader. In fact, they've gone backwards in recent seasons.
Now it seems that the noblest Yankee of them all, Mickey Mantle, is on the verge of announcing his retirement. In better physical shape than he's been for years, Mickey has nevertheless reached the stage where he simply can't swing the bat anymore. Spring training figures to be his swan song, and the start of a very long campaign for the rest of the Bombers."
-Vito Stellino, Sports All-Stars 1969 Baseball
1969 Yankees Spring Training Depth Chart
C Jake Gibbs
1B Mickey Mantle
2B Horace Clarke
3B Bobby Murcer
SS Tom Tresh
LF Roy White
CF Joe Pepitone
RF Bill Robinson
UTILITY:
C Frank Fernandez
C John Ellis
1B Billy Cowan
2B Nate Oliver
3B Bobby Cox
CF Jerry Kenney (SS)
RF Dick Simpson (LF)
PH Gene Michael (SS)
PITCHERS:
Mel Stottlemyre
Fritz Peterson
Stan Bahnsen
Al Downing
Fred Talbot
Mike Kekich
RELIEF PITCHERS:
Lindy McDaniel
Steve Hamilton
Joe Verbanic
No comments:
Post a Comment