"You have to wonder a bit about the Yankees when you see their leading hitter last year was Bob Watson at .307. Whatever happened to the Bronx Bombers? Reggie Jackson continues to carry his share of the load, hitting .300 with 41 home runs and 111 RBI last season. And Willie Randolph hit .294. Rick Cerone did a better job behind the plate than most dared hope, hitting .277 with 14 homers and 85 RBI. But Lou Piniella, while batting .287, drove in only 27 runs, and Graig Nettles hit a mere .244 with 45 RBI before his season was curtailed by hepatitis. Seven teams- five of them from the Eastern Division- outhit the Yanks last year. But now the Yanks have slugger Dave Winfield, baseball's biggest free agent ever. And at these prices ($15 million and all else), he'd better escalate his Padre figures of .276, 20 home runs and 87 RBI."
-Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1981 Edition
PITCHING
"Even without free agents Don Sutton and Dan Spillner, who elected to sign elsewhere, the Yankees have a staff that is the envy of nearly every team in the league. They're amazing. Journeyman Rudy May was 15-5 last year with the best ERA (2.47) in the league. Ageless Tommy John won 22 and lost nine. Ron Guidry was a disappointing (only for him) 17-10. And, of course, in the bullpen there was Goose Gossage with his 33 saves. Only Oakland outpitched the Yanks last season and many believe the iron man performance of the A's may have been something of a fluke. In contrast to the A's, the Yankees only completed 29 games- second lowest in the league. But they led all comers with 50 saves and they also shut out the competition a league leading 15 times."
-Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1981 Edition
FIELDING
"Utility man Larry Milbourne, acquired from Seattle, replaces Fred Stanley. Otherwise everything stays about the same. And why not? Bucky Dent led all shortstops in the league with his glove last year, and Randolph is second only to Kansas City's Frank White at second base. Cerone emerged as a top-flight catcher, although he was charged with 14 passed balls. Everywhere you look, the Yankees are sound."
-Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1981 Edition
OUTLOOK
"Can Gene Michael stay friends with George Steinbrenner for a full season? Can Gene Michael win 103 games? Will Dave Winfield find success in New York to match his fabulous salary? Stay tuned as the pinstriped soap opera continues. Many believe Michael may have embarked on a 'Mission Impossible,' trying to win a division and keep Steinbrenner happy at the same time. As Dick Howser proved last season, accomplishing the first feat doesn't necessarily assure the second. And there is certainly no guarantee that the aging Yankees will be able to win in the East again, even with the addition of Winfield. If they don't, it is a cinch Steinbrenner will not be smiling."
-Jim Hawkins, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1981 Edition
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
"'Take Reggie Jackson away from the Yankees, and I don't know where they'd finish,' said Sparky Anderson, manager of the Tigers. 'I think he is one the great hitters of our time. Nobody puts more fear into the other team.'
Jackson more than justified Anderson's faith in 1980, when he not only tied for the league lead with 41 homers, but also enjoyed his fifth 100-RBI season and his first .300 season.
In July, he shared Player of the Month honors with George Brett after hitting 11 homers and knocking in 32 runs. Jackson, who will be 35 in May, heads an offense that produced 189 homers, second in the league last year. But the power was distributed so evenly that only Jackson, of the nine Yankees who homered in double figures, exceeded 20.
Yankee principal owner George Steinbrenner obviously agreed with Anderson and did something about it. He signed free-agent outfielder Dave Winfield to a ten-year $15 million contract. Winfield, .276, 20, 87 in 1980 with San Diego, will play left field and appears to have Jackson's blessing. The Yankees hope that Winfield, 29, 6-6 and 220, reverts to his form of 1979 when he hit .308 with 34 homers and 118 RBI.
Graig Nettles, back from a bout with hepatitis did hit a round-tripper in the Championship Series- but it was an inside-the-park shot, the first of his 13-year career. Count on Nettles to increase his 1980 output of 16 homers in 89 games.
Rookie manager Gene Michael could have a geriatric problem if age begins to erode the talents of his three big hitters. In addition to Jackson's advancing years, Nettles is soon to be 37 and Bob Watson is 35.
The youths of the infield are 26-year-old Willie Randolph (.294, 30 SB) and 29-year-old shortstop Bucky Dent (.262). Watson, a right-handed batter whose .307 mark led the regulars last year, will play first most often, but will be spelled on occasion by left-handed batter Bobby Murcer (.269). Murcer, normally an outfielder, learned the art of first base play during the off-season. Both he and Watson hit 13 homers last season, with Murcer chipping in with 10 game-winning RBI. Lefty Jim Spencer is also in the first base situation.
Expected to join Jackson in the outfield are switch-hitter Bobby Brown (.260, 14 HR, 27 SB) in center and a platoon of Lou Piniella (.287) and lefty Oscar Gamble (14 HR in 78 games) in left.
Also to be considered are Ruppert Jones, who was leading the team in runs batted in when sidelined with a severe stomach problem, and strong-armed Joe Lefebvre, who homered in his first two games to tie a league record.
With Fred (Chicken) Stanley gone to Oakland, Michael's backup infielders figure to be Larry Milbourne, a switch-hitter who hit .264 for Seattle, and third basemen Eric Soderholm and Aurelio Rodriguez.
Rick Cerone blossomed into the top American League catcher last season and, at 26, has his best years ahead of him. He hit .277 with 14 homers and 85 RBI and displayed dynamic defensive talents that eclipsed those of the late Thurman Munson.
Dennis Werth (.308 in limited action) and Bruce Robinson, a rookie up from AAA Columbus, are substitute catchers. Werth can also play several positions.
Yankee pitching should stay strong if the primary heroes refuse to acknowledge the advance of Father Time. Left-hander Tommy John, who will be 38 before Memorial Day, heads a rotation that includes fellow southpaws Rudy May (15-5, 2.47), Ron Guidry (17-10, 3.56) and Tommy Underwood (13-9, 3.66), plus one of several young right-handers. Prospects include AAA Columbus alumni Bob Kammeyer and Greg Cochran plus AA Nashville graduates Andy McGaffigan and Brian Ryder. All but Cochran won 15 each in 1980.
Fireballer Rich Gossage, a fireballing 29-year-old right-hander still smarting from the painful gopher ball he threw to George Brett in playoff Game 3, heads a deep bullpen that also includes Ron Davis (9-3, 2.95, seven saves) and rookie southpaw Tim Lollar (2-1, 2.57, five saves in AAA). Gossage, who will be 30 in July, worked 64 games last year, while winning six of eight decisions, saving 33, and posting a 2.27 ERA. He fanned 103 in 99 innings."
-Dan Schlossberg, Baseball Illustrated 1981
"PROBLEMS: A possible shortage of starting pitching depth, the age of left-hander Tommy John, the slump of once super-sharp Ron Guidry and the total absence of a proven right-handed hurler for the starting staff- are problems sure to have concerned new manager Gene Michael over the past winter.
Another factor in the failure of the Yanks to make it out of the A.L. Championship Series against Kansas City last fall was the lack of speed and sharp glove work in the outfield. With Ruppert Jones sent to the sidelines by two severe injuries, there was no one around who could cover much ground in center. Jones' full recovery is still a question mark as spring training approaches.
An ailment sidelined third baseman Graig Nettles for much of '80 and hampered his effectiveness when he did play. Add to this the advancing baseball age of regulars Nettles, Bob Watson, Reggie Jackson and Bucky Dent and it's easy to see that although this roster is loaded with talent, the club could fall completely apart in a hurry if the veterans start to seriously slip before the kids from the farms are ready to take their place in the lineup.
PITCHING: A great bullpen led by right-handers Rich 'Goose' Gossage and young Ron Davis keeps the staff from being top-heavy to the port side. Starters Ron Guidry, Tom Underwood, Rudy May and Tommy John are all southpaws. The club cleaned out some of the age hampering the mound effectiveness by dealing or waivering away Jim Kaat, Gaylord Perry and Luis Tiant. Unfortunately, this leaves the proven rotation only four deep, which could really hurt if there are injuries or if Guidry is slow in recovering his once devastating form.
There's a big chance that the New Yorkers will make another trade or two during the spring inter-league dealing period. [Because] owner George Steinbrenner was successful in his wooing of free agent Dave Winfield, there are now some spare outfielders around to dangle as bait for a winning right-hander and possible help for the left side of the infield.
HITTING: The signing of Winfield after his free agent defection from San Diego improves this already strong attack. Age might be slowing Jackson in the field, but Mr. October still wields one of the most potent bats in the game. Reggie tied Milwaukee's Ben Oglive for the A.L. home run title (41), drove in a big 111 runs and hit .300 for the first time in his illustrious career. Winfield will probably start in left, with Oscar Gamble and Lou Piniella platooning in the DH spot.
The bat heroics of Bob Watson last season helped to alleviate the absence of Nettles from the lineup, and catcher Rick Cerone developed into a solid hitter in addition to steadying in his work as a defensive receiver. There is good hitting depth and balance on the bench, especially among the outfield reserves. And perhaps the key man in the attack, swift and steady Willie Randolph, is really just beginning to enter the prime years of his diamond life.
The Yankees scored a big 820 runs last year, second only to Detroit in the junior circuit. They've added the bat of Winfield, and have hopes that Jones and Nettles will [each] regain their former hitting stroke as their health returns. This is a lineup that could come close to scoring a fantastic 900 runs for the '81 campaign.
INFIELD: The slowing of age is the only real trouble likely to hurt. Watson and Nettles are well into their thirties. But the club is well protected at third in the form of Eric Soderholm and Aurelio Rodriguez, and at first where Piniella, Gamble and a couple of the young spare outfielders can play in a pinch.
The biggest worry would be if Dent begins to slow too much. No Yankee farmhand is strong and ready for the bigs at this position.
OUTFIELD: Should be much improved with Winfield around and if Jones can make it back. Even if Ruppert is slow to return to form, Winfield can probably patrol center better than slow-footed Bobby Murcer and rookies Joe LeFebvre and Bobby Brown last year. The presence of these two fine young gardeners should keep the regulars on their toes. Both have good power and will push Jackson and Gamble for playing time if there is any sign of some lengthy slump.
The six outfielders heading the spring roster combined for 105 home runs last season. That kind of power can help to ease the pain of slowness afoot, even should Ruppert not be ready to go by the opening bell this year.
PROGNOSIS: Playing in perhaps the toughest division in the game today, New York is the defending East titlist. But always feisty Baltimore will be hanging in there again in '81. Milwaukee has been very active in the trade market in an attempt to shore up weaknesses, and Detroit and Cleveland may finally be ready to seriously compete with their young and talented squads.
With the addition of reliever Rollie Fingers and catcher Ted Simmons, the Brewers just may have come up with enough new talent to make up 17 games- the distance they finished behind the Yanks last fall.
New York is older, Milwaukee is young and hungry. The hunch here is that the Suds will finally make it to the top of the East in '81 with the pinstripers fading down to second- even with the addition of fresh baseball multimillionaire Dave Winfield.
Maybe even Steinbrenner will want Billy Martin back to manage before the season is over."
-Tommy Kay's Big Book of Baseball, May 1981
1981 Yankees Depth Chart
C Rick Cerone (.277-14-85)
1B Bob Watson (.307-13-68)
2B Willie Randolph (.294-7-27)
3B Graig Nettles (.244-16-45)
SS Bucky Dent (.262-5-52)
LF Dave Winfield (.276-29-87)
CF Ruppert Jones (.223-9-42)
RF Reggie Jackson (.300-41-111)
Designated Hitter: Oscar Gamble (.278-14-50) or Lou Piniella (.287-2-27)
Starting Pitchers: Ron Guidry (17-10), Tom Underwood (13-9), Tommy John (22-9), Rudy May (15-5)
Relief Pitchers: Rich Gossage (6-2, 33 saves), Ron Davis (9-3, 7 saves), Dave Righetti (rookie)
Key Reserves: Aurelio Rodriguez, Bobby Murcer, Eric Soderholm, Joe Lefebvre, Bobby Brown
-Tommy Kay's Big Book of Baseball, May 1981
No comments:
Post a Comment