Aces Wild
Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, and Kevin Brown, each considered to be an elite pitcher, all experienced rude awakenings in their first starts of the season last week.
Pedro, fresh off an awful spring, continued his misery in Fenway Park last Monday, allowing seven earned runs in just three innings to Buck Martinez’s hungry Blue Jays. Clemens posted similar numbers, allowing eight earned runs in Baltimore, including a grand slam to Tony Batista. Out in L.A. Kevin Brown was rocked for 7 earned runs, two of them coming on a mammoth blast by home run king Barry Bonds.
Critics were quick to cite Pedro’s shoulder injury and bad spring as the cause of his trouble against Toronto. Clemens and Brown’s age were mentioned as factors in their debacles. The three returned baseball to equilibrium on Sunday, as they all had masterful starts.
Brown snowed out the Rockies in a 6-4 victory, Pedro quieted the hapless Orioles in Baltimore and Roger harpooned the Devil Rays in New York. Combined, they did not give up an earned run.
Fans let out a sigh of relief after Sunday’s happenings, assuring themselves that all is back to normal on the diamond.
Contract This
After baseball’s failed attempt to contract two of the less popular franchises, the Montreal Expos and Minnesota Twins, each team was out for vengeance.
The ‘Spos opened their season at Olympic Stadium to more than 34,000 screaming Canadians. After the Expos won on a game winning single, Frank Robinson, interim manager extraordinaire, waved thumbs up to the fans and asked for the large crowd to return the next night. In usual fashion, less than 5,000 fans showed up for the encore, which was a loss to the Florida Marlins.
The Expos did not let the attendance disappointments follow them into Cincinnati. Montreal took two of three against Griffey’s boys and held a 3-3 record at weeks end, much to the spite of contraction supporters.
The Twinkies are off to a solid start at 5-2, looking to easily win the weakest division in baseball. The Royals and Blue Jays were no match for Minnesota, who have thus far duplicated last season’s hot start. In such a poor division, the Twins believe that with an 85-90 win season, a playoff berth will be automatic.
If the Expos finish above .500 and the Twins win a division title, those who support contraction might have to swallow the big rejection pill next winter, again.
Baseball Best/ Worse Thus Far
Biggest Surprises
Barry Bonds
(that’s right, 5 hr in three games is still shocking)
Carlos Pena
(4 homeruns and great plays all over the field.Jason who?)
David Justice
(.429 BA)
Alex Gonzalez
(.556 BA)
Biggest Busts
Jason Giambi
(3 hits in 6 games, 1 RBI)
Braden Looper
(blown saves, 13.50 ERA)
Dmitri Young
(.182 BA)
Phil Garner
(0-6, unemployed)
contact Sal at [email protected]