University of Virginia Library

Pre-Campaign Peek
Sees Cards In NL

By Randy Wert

Early April cases of pennant
madness have broken out in twelve
National League cities as the second
annual run for the playoffs (?)
begins in the professional baseball
leagues. Spicy and rejuvenating
trades have given many clubs a new
look while others will go with
proven formulae. In as much as no
one knows who will end up where
in the four divisions, we will take
our shot at pre-playoff
prognosticating.

Let us begin with the National
League Eastern Division. Certainly
not solely because the bookies have
installed St. Louis as the favorites,
it is obvious to us that the
elimination of the "fat-cats" and
the acquisition of one Richie Allen
(who will undoubtedly break all
existing Cardinal home run and RBI
standards in his dozen or so
appearances in the Redbird
uniform) in addition to already
sound pitching will bring the
Pennant to the Gateway to the
West. Miracle or no, the Mets of
New York have the calibre of team
to press the Cards if their young
fireballing pitchers don't leave their
arms on the mound. Ron Swoboda
is reportedly trying to earn his
money this year. Lately, Chicago
can be counted on to throw a brief
scare into someone, but they'll have
to battle with the hard hitting
Pittsburgh Pirates for third. Can
Leo the Lip throw the Cub jinx?
Can Danny Murtaugh make
lightening strike once at the
beginning of each decade in the
Smokey City? The Philadelphia
Phillies, even without Richie, John
Callison and Curt Flood, will win
more, but not enough to push the
front four. Maybe GM John Quinn
will find some contract loophole to
get 20-game winner Ferguson
Jenkins back from the Cubs. The
Montreal Expos will have to expose
more talent than Rusty Staub and
Coco Laboy to escape the cellar,
Nous aimons nos Expos!

Things in the NL West are a bit
more unsettled with either
Cincinnati or Atlanta taking it,
depending on whose weak pitching
comes through first with the most.
Los Angeles and Houston (Yes)
appear to rise to the top of the four
leftovers. Neither are outstanding
but both are solid enough to take
up the middle of the division. But
then, if the Mets can do it, so can
the Colt 45-Astros. Perennial
runner-up San Francisco has
problems and may slide to fifth
unless ebullient Willie Mays can
platoon himself between lead off,
cleanup, and shortstop. It is
rumored that Juan Marichal will
pitch every game, and that he will
not room with Mays. The Padres of
Southern California may wish to
forget their fate with frequent trips
to Tijuana as they will most
certainly finish last.

Tomorrow: The American League