{Each week, we pick one club at random and give them a bit more depth–how they thought the season would go, how it’s going, and what the future might hold. In a nice bit of luck, defending champion Brooklyn is up first.}
The defending champions are 13–12, sitting fifth in the Effa Manley Division but only 3.5 games behind Ottawa. They have scored 124 runs and allowed 117.
| BRK | WBL rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — |
| Batting average | .260 | 4th | 5th |
| On-base | .323 | 5th | 15th |
| Slugging | .433 | 9th | 5th |
| OPS | .756 | 7th | 10th |
| Runs scored | 124 | 8th | 10th |
| Homeruns | 31 | 13th | 4th |
| ERA | 4.38 | 12th | 2nd |
| WHIP | 1.25 | 8th | 1st |
| Strikeouts per 9 | 9.6 | 5th | 6th |
| Walks per 9 | 3.6 | 16th | 7th |
| Homeruns per 9 | 1.64 | 16th | 3rd |
Such a had league. The offense has improved, even with some significantly poor performances from key people. But the pitching … yeah, they’re still striking people out, but that’s about it when compared to last season.
#How We Thought it Would Go
Brooklyn’s season preview called the job “not to defend a title, but to turn a surprise into a dynasty.” A decent summary: Brooklyn was lightly regarded going into 2001; 2002 sees them wearing Whirled Series rings.
They did not stay still, with pouting ace Don Drysdale and continual surprise John Briggs being the biggest names sent on their way, while Mookie Betts is the most significant new addition to the lineup.
With Drysdale gone, they are betting big on the trio of Orel Hershiser, Fernando Valenzuela, and, perhaps especially, Smokey Joe Williams to provide a rotation core, and for the bullpen to continue to dominate. There is also pressure on Duke Snider to justify Briggs’ departure, and general concern over offensive regression–especially Mike Piazza and Ron Cey have to land closer to their 2001 levels than what they did in 2000.
#How It’s Going
It’s … OK. Not great, but not an implosion for sure; or, at least, not yet. Here are the current answers to the questions asked in the season preview:
- Can the rotation hold? Maybe? The peripherals are good, but the staff has caught a case of homeritis: young Dick Redding has given up 3 per 9 innings, Williams 2.7, and, of the starters, only Hershiser (1-2, 3.74) is doing a decent job of keeping the ball in the park. Still, WHIPs are solid across the board, and 5 starts isn’t enough to get too concerned about. But the overall ERA is high enough for there being some rumbles of complaint.
It doesn’t help that Drysdale is doing very well for Memphis (a 2.82 ERA with 12.9 strikeouts per 9).
- How much of Duke Snider is real? This is a concern. Snider is slashing 202/253/404 with 4 homeruns and 30 strikeouts in 95 plate appearances. That’s … not great.
- Where does the Whirled Series MVP play? The answer might be AAA. Ray Dandridge has 45 plate appearances as the roving infielder and is slashing 162/244/297. The plan was to find him a near-everyday load without a fixed position; now, he’s struggling to find time anywhere.
That all sounds pretty dire, but the Royal Giants are being carried by the core of Jackie Robinson (323/368/515), Roy White (303/402/487), and Dan Brouthers (337/398/584), with Vern Stephens (270/316/483, 17 RBI) continuing to mash at SS.
In the bullpen, Terry Forster (11.57 in 7 innings) has struggled and Trevor Hildenberger is just recently returned from injury, but Darren Dreifort (1.10 in 16.1) and Ralph Branca (2-1, 3.86) have made up for it, and Eric Gagné (1.00, 5 saves, 16 strikeouts per 9) continues to be a truly elite closer.
The concern is really that Betts (205/261/301)–the return for Drysdale–is struggling mightily, Piazza (257/288/405) has regressed, and Brooklyn’s best player last season, Cey (198/275/383, 24 strikeouts in 91 PA), is yet to really find his bearings.
#The Crystal Ball
Nobody is reaching for the panic button. But …
The focus is on the offense–there is enough signal that the pitching will stabilize. But if the team isn’t able to find more runs in May, look for Dandridge’s time to continue to be reduced, and George Hendrick (200/256/225) to get some of Beals Becker‘s PAs as the team tries to find something new.
#Buy or Sell?
Who knows? The team is committed to contending this year, but not willing to break the bank: they passed on FA Sudden Sam McDowell due to the size of contract he demanded. It was an understandable move, but it also points to Brooklyn not being willing to do anything to improve their chances.
#Stories
CF
The door is open. Snider is at .202 with a strikeout every third trip, and the obvious tactical fallback — sit him against lefties, slide Betts to center, Hendrick to right — isn’t really on the table with Hendrick hitting .200 and Betts .205. The three men who can play center for Brooklyn are hitting a combined .203 with 7 homers. Al Simmons, 21, is hitting .340 at AA and plays all three outfield spots. He may not wait.
Going Gentile Into the Night
Jim Gentile came up to cover Pedro Guerrero and is 5-for-8. Ten plate appearances is nothing — but the DH slot was supposed to be a rotation built on Becker (195/298/341 in 47 PA) and Guerrero. Guerrero started the year very hot, but is on the disabled list. Gentile is a left-handed power bat, not the best fit for Ebbets Field. Still, if he keeps hitting, he’s a DH even after Guerrero’s return.
The Staff
Redding (0-1, 5.57) was the question coming into the year, but Valenzuela (1-1, 5.16) has struggled and those two, along with Smokey Joe (2-1, 5.13), all sport an ERA over 5.00. All 3 are also averaging more than a strikeout per inning, so it’s not clear this is anything more than noise.
The Royal Giants would be in much worse shape if Dutch Leonard (3-0, 3.71) hadn’t shown up somewhat surprisingly.
#Down on the Farm
The preview called this “the best farm system in baseball — it isn’t close.” The names that matter are mostly at AA.
Al Simmons (CF, 21, AA): 340/386/415 in 57 plate appearances, after .262 with 9 homers at A-ball last year. The clock is ticking a bit faster.
Ed Delahanty (2B, 21, AA): 312/380/453 with 2 homers, after .262 and 15 homers at A. He’s a year away, and may end up in LF.
Sonny Jackson (SS, 21, AAA): 316/355/421 in 62 PA, on .341 and .302 at A and AA last year. There’s not any pressure on him due to Stephens’ performance, but he still looks like the long-term solution at shortstop.
Note that none of those are pitchers: there is some good veteran depth, but the promising arms are still a few years away.
#One Number
10. Homeruns allowed by Smokey Joe Williams in 33.1 innings. He is striking out 11 men per 9 and carrying a 5.13 ERA. As The Cyclone goes, so go the Royal Giants.