The 2005 baseball season ended on Sunday, and, for quite a few cities, the action on the field kept fans interested into late August, at least. However, that can't be said everywhere. That was especially the case in Seattle, Tampa, Denver, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City.
For those that follow the Mariners, Devil Rays, Rockies, Pirates, and Royals, any sort of hope for a return to glory (or a place in it) left by the All-Star Break. By the last out, none of the teams mentioned above won 70 games.
But in this vision of darkness, each of these organizations must have a bright spot — somewhere. I mean, even the threat of eating all your brussel sprouts had the prospects of dessert afterwards.
Well, as bleak as this task may be, someone has to try and kick the door of possibilities open. Might as well be me. Here's one thing that each of these five teams can use as a building block heading into next season.
Seattle: A Mound Fit for a King
The best thing about the M's poor play under the scope of the Space Needle was that the majors got to see the next "out of this world" pitching talent. Felix Hernandez isn't 20-years-old yet, and loads of baseball scholars are already praising his talents. A searing fastball. A nasty curveball. And he's still got a lot of room to develop.
If Seattle is going to improve next year, it very well may have to depend on a lot of solid outings by the starters on the mound. There are people in my neck of the woods that trust Joel Piniero (although I'm still not convinced). Plus, don't forget about 58-year-old Jaime Moyer. I may over exaggerate his age, but he remains a viable option on the bump in his advanced years. If those three pitchers can combine quality starts together, some life might be pumped back into Safeco Field.
Tampa Bay: Early to Bed, Late to Rise
For the last eight years, the Devil Rays have been the most consistent laughing stock in the majors. You can point to several reasons. They haven't finished with more than 70 wins in a season. Their home (Tropicana Field) is a verified dump. Plus, don't they play against those juggernauts from the AL East?
However, if you take a closer look at the current talent on the field, there are some positives. This squad's got two burners (Joey Gathright and Carl Crawford) who can roam the outfield and set the table at the top of the lineup. The club also had three players with 20-plus home runs (Jorge Cantu, Jonny Gomes, and Aubrey Huff).
Perhaps the most encouraging sign is that this D-Ray team never threw in the towel. After winning 28 games through the beginning of July, they went 39-34 after the All-Star Break. Most of this came while being a thorn in the playoff chances of the Yankees, Red Sox, and Indians. That kind of plucky effort can lead to better chemistry and, possibly, team play. It will be interesting to see if they can keep fanning the flames without "Sweet" Lou Pinella.
Pittsburgh: A Duke For All Summers
The Pirates are one of only eight franchises to win five world championships. Having said that, the Bucs have definitely seen better times. Since Francisco Cabrera and Sid Bream broke Steel City hearts in 1992, Pittsburgh hasn't witnessed a winning season. A record of 55-81 got Lloyd McClendon fired early last month, and the team didn't play much better to close out the season.
One thing they may have found, though, is an ace of the future. 22-year-old sensation Zach Duke started off the season blistering opposition in the minors. At Triple-A Indianapolis, the southpaw went 12-3 and compiled a 2.92 ERA before his call-up in July.
In his 14 top-level starts, Duke turned quite a few heads, winning his first six decisions and ending the year at 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA. He lasted at least seven innings in nine of those outings and gave up more than three runs just twice. All of this is well and good. Question is, can he hold up for an entire season? The next question ... if he does, can the Pirates keep him?
Colorado: Going On the Offensive
While Coors Field provides a great natural setting, its thin air is the place where pitchers stats go to die. Pitchers like Mike Hampton, Denny Neagle, and the recently-departed Shawn Chacon are proving again and again that Denver is not the place for the kind-hearted hurler. Five out of the last seven seasons, the team has had the NL's worst ERA. The two years not spent in last place (2000 and 2005) were reserved for second-to-last.
In short, to win near the Rockies, you'll need to hit. That's something the Rockies did this season, whether at home or away. Colorado finished the year as the NL's fifth-best squad in batting average, runs scored, and on-base percentage (well, T-5 for that one).
With perennial all-star Todd Helton leading the charge, the Purple and White should continue to smack pitches around most parks. Unfortunately, for an organization that's only finished 10 games over .500 once, there doesn't seem to be any pitching help in sight.
Kansas City: From the Ground Floor Up
There's not much you can say that's positive about the Royals in '05. They stunk in all three phases: hitting, pitching, and fielding. Their record was the worst in the club's 37-year history. Along the way, K.C. developed a 19-game losing streak, the worst in baseball since 1988. (Seriously, are you getting the worst theme here?) Honestly, I am struggling to find anything on the sunny side of life for them, but I'll take a stab at it.
K.C. could have folded up their tents and made a serious run at the worst record of all-time. However, after losing 19 in a row, the Royals, just like the Devil Rays, showed that they are still professional ballplayers. They even ended up winning a couple of series, taking two out of three against the A's and Red Sox in August, as well as the White Sox last month. It's a stretch, but every team has to find some sort of silver lining.
As a matter of fact, that's what all of these teams need to do over the next five months. My suggestion: watch as much of the 1991 Braves and Twins as you possibly can. It might not be the most effective answer, but it sure could provide some needed inspiration.
Leave a Comment