DODGERS ANALYSIS: ALOU COULD BE THE MAN : MONTREAL MANAGER IS FRONT RUNNER.Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer Although they will not play again for six months, the Dodgers 1999 season opened Monday. The first pitch was thrown by Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (French: Les Expos de Montréal) were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from 1969 until 2004. After the 2004 season, the franchise relocated to Washington, D.C. and became the Washington Nationals. president Claude Brochu Claude Brochu (born October 29, 1944), is a Quebec businessman. He was named president of the Montreal Expos baseball club by Charles Bronfman in 1986, replacing John McHale. , who said he will not block any attempts to let Felipe Alou ``I am surprised and disappointed,'' Brochu said Monday, responding to speculation that Alou is the front runner front runner n → favorito/a front runner n (fig) → favori(te) front runner n (fig) → . ``If that is his wish, I will not go against it.'' Of all the moves the Dodgers make - or don't make - this offseason, naming a manager who can get the most out of this club after another underachieving season is critical. There are so many issues facing the Dodgers right now, from the $53 million already committed to 12 players to their last-place finish in the NL in on-base percentage to batting with runners in scoring position In the sport of baseball, a baserunner is said to be in scoring position when he is on second or third base. The distinction between being on first base and second or third base is that a runner on first can usually only score if the batter hits an extra base hit, while a runner on . New general manager Kevin Malone
Kevin Malone is a fictional character from the US television series, The Office. He is played by Brian Baumgartner. knows his overall payroll could reach $75 million without making many changes to the team that finished 83-79 and well out of any postseason race. But he also knows he can't sit still, especially after the team's purchase last March by Rupert Murdoch for $311 million. Malone spent much of Monday with Murdoch's Fox people in a season-ending staff meeting. Alou flew from St. Louis, where his team finished the season 65-97 and gave up the last five of Mark McGwire's 70 home runs, to his home in West Palm Beach, Fla. Alou, 63, was scheduled to undergo a checkup check·up n. 1. An examination or inspection. 2. A general physical examination. checkup See Yearly checkup. on his prostate, which required surgery two years ago for a cancerous tumor. His health has been excellent since the surgery. Alou, who has one year at $600,000 left on his Montreal contract, told his coaches Sunday, ``I am ready to go.'' And after Expos GM Jim Beattie James Louis Beattie (born July 4, 1954 in Hampton, Virginia), is a former professional baseball player and executive who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1978-1986. Teams
Malone, however, was diplomatic on Monday when asked about Brochu's comments. Malone still has a manager in Glenn Hoffman Glenn Edward Hoffman (born July 7 1958 in Orange, California) is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball and the current third base coach for the San Diego Padres. Previously, in 1998 he took over the managerial position for the Los Angeles Dodgers final half of the season when , who is not expected to return. But until a decision is made (within a day or two), Malone says it is inappropriate to discuss Alou. ``I need to meet with the manager and coaches first,'' Malone said. ``I plan on doing that in the next couple of days; discuss their futures with with them. Then I'll discuss what happens with our manager and coaching positions.'' Malone, 40, so far has tried to get things done quickly. In his first two weeks on the job, he named a new farm director, Bill Geivett, and new assistant to the general manager, Ed Creech. Malone also has begun interviewing candidates for a position handling the business side of the baseball operation. And on the field, the Dodgers have other issues to resolve. Malone needs to find out from closer Jeff Shaw
Malone also has to try to undo the bottleneck of guaranteed contracts that is choking his ability to build next year's team. The most glaring item is the $11.8 million owed Bobby Bonilla n. Baseball The infielder stationed near third base. Noun 1. third baseman - (baseball) the person who plays third base third sacker who carries all that baggage. Even if Malone convinces Gary Sheffield
Gary Antonian Sheffield (born November 18, 1968 in Tampa, Florida) is a Major League Baseball designated hitter and outfielder for the Detroit Tigers. to move from right field to left, that leaves the Dodgers paying $18 million next year for Sheffield and Raul Mondesi - and they've yet to get a center fielder. The job in center should also include a leadoff hitter In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. Strategy Leadoff hitters must possess certain traits to be successful: they must reach base at a proficient rate and be able to steal bases. . Second baseman second baseman n. Baseball The infielder who is positioned near and to the first-base side of second base. Noun 1. second baseman - (baseball) the person who plays second base second sacker Eric Young played well in spurts, but he also missed almost 50 games with foot and thigh injuries. On-base percentage is critical to driving an offense. Last year, no one was worse than the Dodgers. And Young has three years at $4.5 million per left on his contract. Even if Ramon Martinez could come back before the All-Star game after undergoing rotator cuff rotator cuff n. A set of muscles and tendons that secures the arm to the shoulder joint and permits rotation of the arm. Also called musculotendinous cuff. surgery last June, the Dodgers need a No. 1 starter. The top free-agent candidates, San Diego's Kevin Brown and Houston's Randy Johnson, will command multiyear contracts worth $10-12 million per season. Despite Murdoch's deep pockets, Malone says that is too much. Which brings the Dodgers back to Alou. He has been saddled with some of baseball's smallest payrolls the past few years. He even had to lose his son, Moises, to free agency. ``But without a doubt there is no one who wants to win more than him,'' said Carlos Perez, who came over from Montreal in a six-player trade on July 31. ``He would be perfect here. Nobody makes a team feel better about themselves than him.'' Alou and Malone helped put together the 1994 Expos, who finished with baseball's best record (74-40) before a labor impasse ended the season. Within a 48-hour period the next winter, Malone was forced to unload three of his top players: Larry Walker, John Wetteland and Marquis Grissom. This year he has the money to make a difference. Play ball. 1998 DODGERS March 18 - Team sold by Peter O'Malley to Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp for $311 million. March 30 - Mike Piazza rejects six-year, $77 million contract offer that would have made him baseball's highest paid player. March 31 - Dodgers lose 6-0 to St. Louis on Opening Day on a grand slam by Mark McGwire. April 19 - Hideo Nomo allows eight runs in first inning vs. Cubs and meets with GM Fred Claire to demand a trade. May 15 - Dodgers trade Piazza and Todd Zeile to Florida for Bobby Bonilla, Gary Sheffield, Charles Johnson and Jim Eisenreich. June 3 - Seattle rejects offer of Ismael Valdes and Wilton Guerrero for Randy Johnson. June 4 - Nomo traded to New York Mets
June 14 - Staff ace Ramon Martinez lost for season with torn right rotator cuff. June 21 - Shortstop Jose Vizcaino lost for season with sprained right ankle. June 21 - Claire and manager Bill Russell are fired, replaced by Tom Lasorda and Glenn Hoffman. July 6 - Lasorda acquires closer Jeff Shaw from Reds for rookies Paul Konerko and Dennis Reyes. July 31 - Lasorda acquires left-hander Carlos Perez and SS Mark Grudzielanek from Montreal for Wilton Guerrero and three prospects. Aug. 29 - Shaw blows his fourth save in a six-game stretch, 4-3 to Mets. Aug. 30 - Sheffield lost for season with sprained left ankle. Sept. 11 - Kevin Malone named new general manager; Dodgers eliminated from NL West race. Sept. 14 - Second baseman Eric Young lost for season with broken right foot. Sept. 18 - Dodgers eliminated from NL wild-card race. Sept. 27 - Dodgers end season 83-79 with 2-1 victory over Milwaukee. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO (Color) Right-hander Chan Ho Park posted a 15-9 record with an earned-run average of 3.71 and led the Dodgers with 191 strikeouts. Victoria Arocho/Associated Press BOX: 1998 DODGERS (see text) |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion