April's Here and So Is Baseball

The first week of the 1987 season is over and as of last night, the Milwaukee Brewers are in first place of the American League East with a sparkling 7-0 record.

That's what I love about baseball in April. Every team in the league thinks it has a chance of winning the pennant. Even the Brewers.

Baseball in April also means two other things: the advent of summer games and predictions.

As for predictions, I'll only make one--Ray Knight of the Baltimore Orioles, who leads the American League in hitting with a whopping mark of .571 after six games, will not capture the AL batting crown.

How's that for stepping out on a limb?

But I still think that the 1987 season could prove to be one of the most exciting in recent years.

Baseball has achieved a certain degree of competitive parity. Except for the Pittsburgh Pirates, no team played under .400 ball last year. In fact, out of the 28 teams, 17 won 75 games or more. The Mets were the only team to win 100 games, and no team lost 100 contests.

Also, none of the 1985 pennant teams were able to repeat in 1986. Unlike other decades, the 1980s have not produced a legitimate baseball dynasty.

The quality of starting pitching has also been surprising. Pitchers such as Houston's Mike Scott and San Francisco's Mike Krukow, who were once mediocre, are now among the best in the majors. Scott came out of nowhere to win the Cy Young.

He finished the season with a 18-10 record, 308 strikeouts and a 2.22 ERA. Krukow won 20 games and lost only nine for the third-place Giants.

The philosophy of the game also has changed. More emphasis has been placed on relief pitching. San Diego's Craig Lefferts, for example, appeared in 83 games. Dave Righetti of the Yankees broke the major league record for saves with 46. Nine relievers finished the season with 25 or more saves.

Managers now seem to value a player who cannot only hit for power but steal bases also. Cincinnati's Eric Davis had 27 homers and stole 80 bases. And he bats cleanup.

The offensive achievements of certain players can be compared to those of such legends as Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio. Boston's Wade Boggs hit .357 last year. Yankee Don Mattingly had 238 hits.

You may not realize it now, but these two players are accumulating numbers that may break some longstanding records. Perhaps 30 or 40 years from now Boggs and Mattingly will be the two players everyone will use as comparisons. Boggs and Mattingly may be two of the greatest hitters the game has ever produced.

Players such as Mike Schmidt, Reggie Jackson and Phil Niekro are now in the twilight of their fine careers. These players once dominated baseball. Now they are playing for final glory and achieving certain milestones.

Baseball is always known for its dramatic endings. Wouldn't it be appropriate to see Jackson end his career by hitting a home run in his final game? It happened to Ted Williams; it might happen to Mr. October.

As a result of the loss of these veterans, baseball is experiencing a changing of the guard. Younger players have begun to take the place of the veterans. Wally Joyner, Jose Canseco, Tony Fernandez and Roger Clemens are part of a younger crop of talented players who will lead baseball into the next decade.

Baseball has also seen the emergence of players who were once considered "flashes in the pan." They are now the superstars of the late 80's. Who would ever think two years ago that Toronto's Jesse Barfield would lead the majors last year in homeruns with 40? Who would have said that Dodger second baseman Steve Sax would hit .332 in 1986? Or that Kirby Puckett would bang out 31 round-trippers?

The trend in baseball is now towards youth, unlike previous years when cutting veterans was generally prohibited. Just look at the examples of California's Bob Boone and New York's Ron Guidry. They still remain unsigned.

That's why this season has the potential for excitement. Will all these trends continue? Will Boggs and Mattingly improve on their numbers? How memorable will be the final games of the retiring veterans?

Above all, will the new young superstars continue their 1986 success or will they flop? These are questions the next six months will answer.

Who knows, maybe the Brewers will stay in first place. Anything is possible in baseball.