CHICAGO CUBS
1990: 77-85, tie for fourth, 18 GB. MANAGER: Don Zimmer (867-839 career). PLAYERS TO WATCH: SS Shawon Dunston (.262, 17 HR, 66 RBI, 25 SB); 1B Mark Grace (.309, 9 HR, 82 RBI, 15 SB); 2B Ryne Sandberg (.306, 100 RBI, 25 SB, NL-high 40 HR and 116 runs); OF Andre Dawson (.310, 27 HR, 100 RBI, 16 HR); OF Jerome Walton (.263, 14 SB); RHP Mike Harkey (12-6, 3.26); RHP Greg Maddux (15-15, 3.46); LHP Mitch Williams (1-8, 3.93, 16 saves). NEW FACES: OF George Bell (.265, 21 HR, 86 RBI with Blue Jays); LHP Danny Jackson (6-6, 3.61 with Reds); RHP Dave Smith (6-6, 2.39, 23 saves with Astros). PROJECTION: The Cubs appear to have the best personnel in the division now that they've added exactly what they needed: one more slugger, a solid starter and a closer. Try to find a better middle of the lineup than Sandberg, Grace, Dawson, Bell and Dunston. Maddux, Jackson and Harkey should be good, but all are prone to extreme slumps. The bullpen is good, with Les Lancaster and Paul Assenmacher setting up Smith and Mitch Williams (if untraded).
1990: 85-77, third, 10 GB. MANAGER: Buck Rodgers (624-572 career). PLAYERS TO WATCH: 2B Delino DeShields (.289, 45 RBI, 42 SB); 1B Andres Galarraga (.256, 20 HR, 87 RBI); 3B Tim Wallach (.296, 21 HR, 98 RBI); OF Larry Walker (19 HR, 51 RBI, 21 SB); RHP Tim Burke (3-3, 2.52, 20 saves); RHP Dennis Martinez (10-11, 2.95); LHP Chris Nabholz (6-2, 2.83 in 11 starts). NEW FACES: OF Ivan Calderon (.273, 14 HR, 74 RBI, 32 SB with White Sox); P Barry Jones (1-4, 2.31 for White Sox). PROJECTION: The Expos are solid all around, and if their youngsters improve as expected they could cause some trouble. Veterans Dennis Martinez and Oil Can Boyd lead a rotation that has youngsters Nabholz, Brian Barnes and Mark Gardner. The offense has Calderon, Wallach and Galarraga in the middle, with DeShields and Dave Martinez setting the table. Burke now has a trio of good set-up men in Jones, Scott Ruskin and Bill Sampen. Rodgers has kept less talented teams in contention, so watch out for this one.
1990: 91-71, second, 4 GB. MANAGER: Bud Harrelson (71-49 career). PLAYERS TO WATCH: 3B Gregg Jefferies (.283, 68 RBI, NL-high 40 doubles); SS Howard Johnson (23 HR, 90 RBI, 34 SB); 1B Dave Magadan (.328, 72 RBI); OF Kevin McReynolds (.269, 24 HR, 82 RBI); RHP David Cone (14-10, 3.23, NL-high 233 Ks); LHP John Franco (5-3, 2.53, 33 saves); RHP Dwight Gooden (19-7, 3.83, 223 Ks); LHP Frank Viola (20-12, 2.67). NEW FACES: OF Vince Coleman (.292, NL-high 77 SB with Cardinals); OF Hubie Brooks (.266, 20 HR, 91 RBI with Dodgers). PROJECTION: The loss of Darryl Strawberry and the addition of Coleman means a shift in emphasis from power to speed. The only true power threats are McReynolds, Johnson and Brooks, and the first two are good base runners. Pitching, which has not been a problem for the Mets in almost a decade, is again good, but a bit weaker without Sid Fernandez (out until midseason with a broken arm). The bullpen lacks good middle relievers, and virtually all the pressure resides with Franco. For the first time since 1985, the Mets don't appear to be a shoo-in to contend.
1990: 77-85, tied for fourth, 18 GB. MANAGER: Nick Leyva (144-180 career). PLAYERS TO WATCH: C Darren Daulton (12 HR, 57 RBI); 3B Charlie Hayes (.258, 57 RBI); 1B John Kruk (.291, 67 RBI); OF Lenny Dykstra (tied for NL lead with 192 hits, .325, 60 RBI, 33 SB); OF Von Hayes (.261, 17 HR, 73 RBI, 16 SB); OF Dale Murphy (24 HR, 83 RBI); LHP Pat Combs (10-10, 4.07); LHP Terry Mulholland (9-10, 3.34); RHP Roger McDowell (6-8, 3.86, 22 saves); RHP Jose DeJesus (7-8, 3.74). NEW FACES: 2B Wally Backman (.292, 28 RBI with Pirates). PROJECTION: The Phillies are getting better, but so slowly it seems they may never actually contend. The rotation is a collection of unproven talents, the bullpen a bastion of inconsistency. The offense is solid, but lacks young prospects. It won't be long before some trades are made, but until then, they'll have to hope Combs, DeJesus and Mulholland improve, McDowell regains his sinker and Dykstra and Backman set the table like they did for the 1986 Mets. A first-division finish is highly unlikely.
1990: 95-67, first, 4 GA. MANAGER: Jim Leyland (398-410 career).PLAYERS TO WATCH: OF Barry Bonds (.301, 33 HR, 114 RBI, 52 SB, 104 runs); OF Bobby Bonilla (.280, 32 HR, 120 RBI, 112 runs); OF Andy Van Slyke (.284, 17 HR, 77 RBI, 14 SB); SS Jay Bell (.254, 52 RBI); RHP Doug Drabek (NL-high 22 wins, 2.76); LHP Zane Smith (12-9, 2.55); LHP Randy Tomlin (4-4, 2.55 in 12 starts); RHP Stan Belinda (3-4, 3.55, 8 saves); RHP Bill Landrum (7-3, 2.13, 13 saves). NEW FACES: None. PROJECTION: The Pirates had a lot of things come together last season to win the NL East, and it may be tough for them to repeat. Bonds is unhappy, Bonilla wants a new contract and the team mood seems far from harmonious. But they do have good starting pitching with Drabek, Smith, Smiley and Tomlin. The bullpen-by-committee that worked so well last year will probably change, with Landrum and Belinda sharing closing duties. It's doubtful Bonds, Bonilla and Van Slyke can combine for 82 HR, 311 RBI and 70 SB again, and the surrounding lineup is weaker without Sid Bream. Jeff King as a leadoff hitter doesn't inspire confidence.
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1990: 70-92, sixth, 25 GB. MANAGER: Joe Torre (567-683 career). PLAYERS TO WATCH: 1B Pedro Guerrero (.281, 13 HR, 80 RBI); SS Ozzie Smith (.254, 50 RBI, 32 SB); 3B Todd Zeile (15 HR, 57 RBI); OF Ray Lankford (.286, 8 SB in 39 games); OF Bernard Gilkey (.297, 6 SB in 18 games); OF Felix Jose (11 HR, 52 RBI, 12 SB); RHP Jose DeLeon (7-19, 4.43, 164 K's); RHP Lee Smith (5-5, 2.06, 31 saves); RHP Bob Tewksbury (10-9, 3.47, 15 walks in 145 1/3 innings). NEW FACES: 1B Gerald Perry (8 HR, 57 RBI, 17 SB with Royals); P Juan Agosto (9-8, 4.29, 4 saves with Astros). PROJECTION: They may finish last, but they'll be exciting doing it. The speedy new-look outfield of Lankford, Gilkey and Jose is suited for cavernous Busch Stadium, and should help make up for the loss of Vince Coleman. But the Cardinals have so little power, it's hard to imagine how they can score enough runs to win. The loss of Joe Magrane for the season left the starting rotation weak, but at least Lee Smith is around to close.
