73 - 81, .474 pct. 3rd in Effa Manley Division, 13 games behind.
Overall
Just a very average performance. There are some good pieces here, and the organization as a whole is quite young, but until the pitching is sorted, nothing else is going to really matter.
What Went Right
Most of all, Johnny Bench. Bench is a superstar C, giving Indianapolis an edge in a difficult position to fill.
Beyond that there were a few surprises–neither Jake Stenzel or Dennis Menke were on many preseason lists to be strong offensive players, and Joey Votto was excellent in limited action after being recalled from the minors–and there was some promise for the future, most of all in Joe Morgan and Oscar Charleston, who were fine this year, but were also quite young (Charleston began the season as a teenager).
Dave Henderson, Bob Bescher, and Danny Hoffman were all perfectly acceptable in the OF.
Robin Ventura finally showed some promise after arriving via trade.
Willie Mitchell and Doc White, both of whom started the season in the bullpen, were the ABC’s best pitchers by the end of the season. Johnny Cueto was fine as a starter as well.
Rob Dibble was a first rate closer for Indianapolis.
ALL STARS C Johnny Bench
What Went Wrong
1B was a right mess until Votto showed up; 3B Ed Charles faded badly after promising starts. Barry Larkin and Davey Concepción–one of whom is supposed to be the SS of the future–were awful.
But most of what went wrong was on the mound. The trio of Red Faber, Rube Foster, and Dolf Luque were thoroughly mediocre as starters, and Rob Murphy and Lefty James the same out of the pen.
Transactions
March
IF Miller Huggins & OF Willie Montañez to Baltimore for P Rube Foster
Foster wasn’t great, but he was a WBL player all season, so this seems fine.
June
C Ernie Lombardi to Detroit for IF Donie Bush, IF Jorge Orta, P Brandon League, OF Gene Martin & 2nd Round Pick {Matt Chapman}
It looks like more than it is, but with Lombardi blocked by Bench in Indianapolis, moving him is fine.
July
P David Price and IF Jorge Orta to Chicago for 3B Robin Ventura, P Tyler Clippard, 4th Round Pick & 5th Round Pick {Pete O'Brien}
It all hinges on whether the Ventura who showed up for Indianapolis in September is a mirage or not.
Looking Forward
SP
Such a random assortment of good-but-not-great here. Luis Padrón, Eppa Rixey, and Dolf Luque should be the long term front of rotation guys, but that doesn’t exactly strike terror in the hearts of the opposing team. An area of need.
RP
Solid, with Rob Dibble at closer and some mix of Clay Carroll, Rob Murphy, Octavio Dotel, and Norm Charlton behind him.
C
For as long as he’s healthy, it’s all about Johnny Bench.
1B
Joey Votto did well, but he’s 31 and unlikely to improve making this an area of need long term.
2B
Joe Morgan should be here for quite some time.
3B
Unknown. If Robin Ventura shows up, it’s his; if not, this is a bit of a black hole.
SS
Right now, it’s Dennis Menke; longer term, this should be either Barry Larkin or Davey Concepción, with the other being expendable. My bet would be on Larkin, despite his struggles this year.
LF
Some mixture of Bob Bescher and Adam Dunn are keeping this spot warm for George Foster.
CF
This should be Oscar Charleston‘s home for a long time.
RF
Unknown, although many in the organization see Pete Rose stepping up here.
The Rookie Draft
Rounds 1-4
There are a few pitchers who look to be only a year or two from helping their WBL franchise, with Tom Glavine probably the best of them. That made the ABC’s pick in the first round pretty easy. In the 2nd round, franchise arm Jim Maloney was still available, who projects as a rotation starter, maybe.
Looking for some insurance in case Ventura doesn’t pan out, the ABC’s picked up 20 year old 3B Matt Chapman at the end of the 2nd round.
In the 3rd round, they took Maloney, version 2: another franchise arm with an outside shot at being useful, Bob Ewing; and in the 4th, slick fielding MI Leo Cardenas.
Rounds 5-8
These rounds should focus on position players: in the 5th round, 3B Oliver Marcelle and OF Pete O’Brien; in the 6th, OF Chris Dickerson and C Admiral Schlei; OF Adam Duvall in the 7th, and IF Pokey Reese in the 8th.
Rounds 9-12
P Jack Billingham; Pete Schourek; C Patsy Gharrity; and P The Only Nolan.