Now The Second Season

BEFORE WE WERE SO RUDELY INTERRUPTED
THE STANDINGS ON JUNE 12
AMERICAN LEAGUE
	W	L	Pct.	GB
EAST
New York	34	22	.607	—
Baltimore	31	23	.574	2
Milwaukee	31	25	.554	3
Detroit	31	26	.544	3½
Boston	30	26	.536	4
Cleveland	26	24	.520	5
Toronto	16	42	.276	19
WEST
Oakland	37	23	.617	—
Texas	33	22	.600	1½
Chicago	31	22	.585	2½
California	31	29	.517	6
Kansas City	20	30	.400	12
Seattle	21	36	.368	14½
Minnesota	17	39	.304	18
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST
Philadelphia	34	21	.618	—
St. Louis	30	20	.600	1½
Montreal	30	25	.545	4
Pittsburgh	25	23	.521	5½
New York	17	34	.333	15
Chicago	15	37	.288	17½
WEST
Los Angeles	36	21	.632	—
Cincinnati	35	21	.625	½
Houston	28	29	.491	8
Atlanta	25	29	.463	9½
San Francisco	27	32	.458	10
San Diego	23	33	.411	12½

Now that the strike is over, it's time to look back at the season past and ahead to the season to come. Weren't those divisional races exciting? Remember how the New York Yankees overtook the Baltimore Orioles in the last week to win the American League East by two games, how the Oakland A's survived by a game and a half in the AL West, how the Philadelphia Phillies caught and passed the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL East by 1½ games and, in one of the most thrilling finishes in memory, how the Los Angeles Dodgers nipped the Cincinnati Reds by a mere half game in the NL West?

Say what? You weren't aware of any pennant electricity last June? Tough. As the game's owners pondered whether to turn Baseball 1981 into something like the Hambletonian, with heats and everything, a "second season" to start next week was a real possibility. The Chicago Tribs would have just as much of a chance to get into the October Classic as the Orioles. Last year, had a second season started on Aug. 10, the Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, Orioles and Phillies would have been divisional winners. Of course, the owners were also considering an unsplit season, but that would make sense. Either way, herewith our 1981 scouting reports Part II.

AL EAST

The strike hit the fan at a most opportune time for the Yankees, who weren't getting optimum performances from pitchers Ron Guidry (foot injury) and Tommy John (back) and Outfielder Reggie Jackson (psyche). Guidry and John are sound again, but Jackson still has to free himself from the torment of a slump in which he was batting .199 with only six home runs. Those are hardly All-Star credentials, but Jackson will still be coming on after Roberto Duran in Cleveland this weekend, thanks to the fans' balloting. The two defrocked Padres next to Jackson in the outfield, All-Star Dave Winfield and Jerry Mumphrey, were more than pulling their weight. Speaking of weight, New York stole Rick Reuschel from the Cubs for Doug (The Fidrych) Bird just before strike time, and he of immense girth should be of immense help. The Yanks, in fact, seem to have everything going for them except incentive. Even if they should win both halves of a split season, there was a ridiculous, but real, possibility that they might still have to play a wild-card team in the quarterfinals.

A split season would take away one of Baltimore's great strengths, which is long-haul pitching. Still, the Orioles may best be able to handle the task of assembling a pitching staff on such short notice. Dennis Martinez could turn out to be the club's strongest starter in the second half. Most of the Orioles have been keeping in good shape, although Third Baseman Doug DeCinces and Shortstop Mark Belanger have been too busy at the negotiating table to do so. There are, however, ready replacements for them at Rochester in the Triple-A International League: Third Baseman Cal Ripken Jr., who had 17 homers and 61 RBIs at the end of last week, and Shortstop Bob Bonner. Baltimore will also benefit from a cake schedule: It plays 31 of its 51 remaining games at home.

Milwaukee, on the other hand, will play 31 of 53 games on the road. If the Brewers are to have half a chance at half a loaf, they will need more typical performances from Catcher Ted Simmons (.207), First Baseman Cecil Cooper (.270) and Outfielder Ben Oglivie (.237). They will also need continued fine form from starter Pete Vuckovich (8-2) and a new form for Reliever Rollie Fingers. Fingers was looking rather roly when he reported last week; in fact, he jokingly asked for Frank Howard's old uniform. At least Milwaukee should have a healthy Paul Molitor back in centerfield. Boston players should be happy to have a second season, partly because the strike wiped out nine games against the Orioles and seven against the Yankees and partly because their relief pitching will serve them well in the short run. Dwight Evans, with a .341 average, 13 homers and 39 RBIs, would have been the league's MVP if the season had ended June 12. Now he has to prove those figures weren't a fluke.

Is Bo Diaz a perfect 10? This burning question will be answered in the next few weeks as the Cleveland catcher tries to maintain his .356 average. The Indians also have perfectionist Pitcher Len Barker and are quite sound fundamentally, but they do lack power—their 22 homers are a league low. The Tigers, too, are solid, but they will need more pitching to go with Jack Morris (9-3, 2.56 ERA). Oh, if only Mark (The Bird) Fidrych could come back a fourth time. The Blue Jays were embarked on a club-record 11-game losing streak at the recess, so they more than welcome a fresh start.

AL WEST

Texas and Chicago would have every right to scream over a split season. Oakland may have won the first half, but the A's played five more games than the second-place Rangers and seven more than the White Sox, who were 2½ games back in third. Had Texas and Chicago been able to make up those missing games, Oakland might well have wound up in third place. The funny thing is, all three teams may finish behind Kansas City and California in the second season.

The Royals are simply too good for a .400 record to be true, and they might have a chance to prove themselves without having to make up a 12-game deficit in the standings. Although Pitcher Larry Gura was bitten while trying to clean a snapping turtle during the strike, the players are hale again. George Brett, who's been sailing in his spare time, should come about and boost his homer (1) and RBI (13) totals, although his average is a respectable .323. The Royals can also get immediate pitching help from the minors, particularly from the unlikely-sounding Atlee Hammaker, who is part Chinese and part Indian, and last week was 10-5 with a 3.72 ERA at Omaha.