Dodgers set playoff roster, rookie left-hander included
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 1999
While Los Angeles wobbled to the finish line, none of that matters now. The playoffs begin later this week, and the Dodgers will be among the four National League contenders.
They'll be the heaviest underdog after finishing with a modest 87-75 record. Their opponent, the Atlanta Braves, will be the heavy favorite after whipping through the NL East at a 103-59 clip.
Game One comes Thursday night in Atlanta. It will be LA's Ramon Martinez (16-6) getting the ball against the Braves' Greg Maddux (17-7). Atlanta won six of the 10 meetings with the Dodgers this season.
"We realize that we're the long shot in this deal," LA manager Davey Johnson said during yesterday's press conference. "But we're here and we're surely going to battle. I think we're playing some pretty good baseball but then again so are the Braves. They've been hot all season."
There were no real surprises as the Dodgers trimmed its roster back down to 25 players, except for maybe the inclusion of 18-year-old rookie pitcher Andrew Zarzour. Johnson picked the 7-foot-2 tower, who won his only Major League start late last month against the Cubs, over veteran Butch Henry (3-2, 6.75 ERA). Zarzour will essentially be an emergency starter behind Martinez, Darren Dreifort, Chan Ho Park and Ismael Valdes, or possibly a situational or mop-up reliever.
Johnson said the decision to include Zarzour came down to match-ups.
"We don't have a single left-handed starter in our bullpen without Andrew," he said. "Plus, I think he could be a wildcard for us in a pinch. We obviously want to give the ball to guys like Dreifort and Martinez as much as possible. But they haven't seen Z yet, and he's got pretty wicked stuff. He showed he could stand in against the pressure when he faced the Cubs."
Eric Karros (31 HRs, 92 RBIs), Mike Piazza (.326, average, 21 HRs, 90 RBIs) and Edgar Renteria (.306, 65 RBIs) form the backbone of LA's offense that will try to challenge stalwart pitchers like Maddux. Atlanta will counter with an array of hard-hitters, including Chipper Jones (.312, 33 HRs, 101 RBIs), Javy Lopez (28 HRs, 85 RBIs), Erubiel Durazo (.301, 31 HRs, 94 RBIs) and Gerald Williams (.294, 21 HRs, 98 RBIs).
If an Atlanta lead gets to Kerry Lightenwood in the late innings, he's pretty much going to close the deal. He has 45 saves on the year, with only three blown opportunities.
"Their whole lineup makes me sweat," Johnson said. "But I think ours is pretty good, too."
In other playoff match-ups:
• Cincinnati Reds (89-73) at Houston Astros (95-67)
• Anaheim Angels (93-69) at New York Yankees (106-56)
• Chicago White Sox (93-69) at Boston Red Sox (100-62)
Here are complete standings from the 1999 season for those interested. The AL East was a barn-burner for sure, whew...
Code:
American League Standings
Eastern Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
New York (A) 106 56 .654 - 105-57 1 55-26 51-30 7-5 27-23 * L1 4-6
Boston 100 62 .617 6.0 98-64 2 42-39 58-23 7-3 29-13 - L1 7-3
Toronto 82 80 .506 24.0 90-72 -8 44-37 38-43 6-7 17-29 - W1 6-4
Baltimore 81 81 .500 25.0 81-81 0 35-46 46-35 8-5 29-19 - L2 3-7
Tampa Bay 62 100 .383 44.0 65-97 -3 22-59 40-41 5-3 13-30 - L3 4-6
Central Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Chicago (A) 93 69 .574 - 93-69 0 48-33 45-36 9-4 23-24 * W3 7-3
Cleveland 78 84 .481 15.0 82-80 -4 43-38 35-46 7-11 20-32 - W2 5-5
Minnesota 75 87 .463 18.0 77-85 -2 39-42 36-45 6-6 25-23 - L5 2-8
Kansas City 64 98 .395 29.0 56-106 8 30-51 34-47 7-10 25-23 - W1 3-7
Detroit 62 100 .383 31.0 59-103 3 30-51 32-49 9-9 25-28 - L3 4-6
Western Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Anaheim 93 70 .571 - 94-69 -1 44-37 49-33 4-7 17-17 * W2 7-3
Seattle 92 71 .564 1.0 91-72 1 42-40 50-31 7-9 22-19 - L1 5-5
Texas 75 87 .463 17.5 68-94 7 32-49 43-38 9-7 27-17 - L1 7-3
Oakland 72 90 .444 20.5 76-86 -4 40-41 32-49 7-12 21-23 - W2 5-5
National League Standings
Eastern Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Atlanta 103 59 .636 - 97-65 6 50-31 53-28 11-7 30-16 * L1 7-3
Montreal 87 75 .537 16.0 84-78 3 43-38 44-37 9-9 23-15 - L1 6-4
Philadelphia 81 81 .500 22.0 86-76 -5 44-37 37-44 5-7 17-23 - W1 4-6
Florida 77 85 .475 26.0 80-82 -3 43-38 34-47 10-10 24-27 - L1 1-9
New York (N) 73 89 .451 30.0 73-89 0 38-43 35-46 9-10 21-27 - L1 4-6
Central Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Houston 95 67 .586 - 95-67 0 44-37 51-30 8-9 26-18 * W6 8-2
Cincinnati 89 73 .549 6.0 91-71 -2 41-40 48-33 12-4 20-18 - W1 5-5
Chicago (N) 83 79 .512 12.0 84-78 -1 44-37 39-42 10-9 22-27 - L2 5-5
St. Louis 82 80 .506 13.0 81-81 1 44-37 38-43 5-9 27-23 - W1 5-5
Milwaukee 76 86 .469 19.0 73-89 3 38-43 38-43 6-11 24-22 - W2 7-3
Pittsburgh 65 97 .401 30.0 64-98 1 33-48 32-49 8-8 20-26 - L2 5-5
Western Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10
Los Angeles 87 75 .537 - 95-67 -8 48-33 39-42 9-9 23-33 * W1 4-6
Colorado 83 79 .512 4.0 81-81 2 47-34 36-45 9-4 26-23 - L1 5-5
Arizona 74 88 .457 13.0 72-90 2 37-44 37-44 5-9 20-25 - W1 4-6
San Diego 72 90 .444 15.0 72-90 0 35-46 37-44 7-7 22-25 - W2 5-5
San Francisco 69 93 .426 18.0 67-95 2 31-50 38-43 4-5 24-21 - L2 5-5