University of Virginia Library

THE
SPORTS
SCENE

By Bob Cullen

NOTHING IS MORE certain at this time of year
than taxes-unless it's the start of two more pennant
races in the major leagues. Last season saw a reversal
of the traditional league imbalances, with four clubs in
the American League race until the final day, and the
Cards turning the traditionally frenetic National League
race into a runaway by August.

IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE this season there are a
grand total of five legitimate contenders-the Pirates, Cards,
Giants, Cubs, and Reds. The pick is San Francisco. The
Giants are the strongest where it counts the most-on
the mound. With Juan Marichal, Mike McCormick, Gaylord
Perry, and Ray Sadecki, the Giants have three men
who have won twenty games in one of the last two seasons,
and Sadecki looks ready to pitch well again. Moreover
two of the quartet are lefties. The bullpen and reserve
starters are capable.

Backing up the pitchers will be a slightly revamped
lineup. Notable improvements include the addition of Ron
Hunt at second and a healthy Willie Mays in center field.
The Giants will be going with a rookie behind the plate,
but the defense is solid and Mays, Jim Hart, and Willie
McCovey should supply the power.

THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS have decided to stand
pat with the team that won the world championship last
year. Their biggest weakness is not on the field, it's the
jinx that dogs defending champs in the NL. But the Cards
are solid all around and deserve respect in their attempt to
defend. But several of their big pitchers of last season
had never won in the big leagues before and they must
still prove themselves. The bull pen is no strong point if
the starters should falter.

Pitching is the big problem for several of the other
contenders. Pittsburgh has the best attack in either league
but the Pirates will find that aging Jim Bunning will
not be enough to shore up an already nondescript group
of starters. Chicago's biggest asset, Leo Durocher, probably
won't be able to get the same performances from
his young staff that he did last year in their exciting
rise to third. They should have Ken Holtzman for full
time duty though.

Cincinnati may well have the pitching, and the Reds
could surprise. But they lack even one left-handed starter,
and they still have not found a leader to replace Frank
Robinson.

THE SECOND DIVISION promises to be as closely
knit as the first. Atlanta and Philadelphia have some good
ballplayers but glaring weaknesses in hitting (Phillies)
and Pitching (Braves). Richie Allen is a question mark for
the Phils and the Braves have been further weakened
by the loss of Rico Carty with tuberculosis.

Wiping up the rear will be Los Angeles Houston, and
the Mets. The Dodgers have found no one to replace
Sandy Koufax, and their attack is The Mets
still have too many ballplayers of the Marv Throneberry
genre. Houston has youth, and with a bit of luck from
the pitchers, the Astros could move up.

OVER IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE, the picture
is even cloudier. Four teams will start the season knowing
that they were within a hair of the flag last year,
and all of them can be contenders again this year. The
Orioles should also rebound from their dismal fall of last
year, and California will also be in the race. But Minnesota
should win.

The Twins have all the talent they need, and they
seem to have recovered from the dissension that hurt them
last year. Pitchers Dean Chance and Jim Kaat appear to
be ready for big years, and the batting order features power.
Detroit pitching coach John Sain could be the reason that
Detroit takes the pennant. The Tigers are deep in young
pitchers and they have a strong outfield to go with the
league's best catcher in Bill Freehan.

Chicago's pitching was the White Sox' only strong point
last year, and it is unreasonable to expect that the league's
best staff will improve significantly. The hitting certainly
hasn't. The same is true in Boston, where two men,
Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Lonborg carried the Red Sox
in last year. Lonborg suffered a ski injury and probably
won't have anything like the year he enjoyed in '67.
And how can Yastrzemski improve?

Baltimore and California should be the surprises in the
AL this year. Baltimore has too much talent to remain
in the second division for long, especially if some of their
sore arms respond to treatment. California has youth and
finally jelled at the end of last year.

Washington, Cleveland, and New York have little to
choose among. All are beset by problems at the plate,
and none have much pitching depth. Oakland has a new
town, green uniforms, white shoes, and some young
talent. Unfortunately, they still have Charles O. Finley.

So there they are: the Giants, Cards, Pirates, Reds,
Cubs, Phils, Braves, Astros, Dodgers, and Mets should
finish in that order in the NL, with AL picks reading
Twins, Tigers, Orioles, White Sox, Red Sox, Angels,
Senators, Indians, Yankees and A's. They should finish
that way-but nobody figured on Boston or Chicago.