PITCHING - Warren Spahn (22-14, 2.98) was in his prime. Max Surkont (12-16, 3.99) was the only other starter to toss 200 or more innings. Vern Bickford (11-9, 3.12) and Chet Nichols (11-8, 2.88) will be able to start every 6 or 7 days and be very effective. The starters will have to go the distance, because the pen has no one who can be relied upon.
HITTING - Sid Gordon (.287-29-109) and Earl Torgeson (.263-24-92) supply the power. Torgeson will also steal some (20) bases as will Sam Jethroe (.280-18-65-35SB). Both Catchers, Walker Cooper (.313-18-59) and Ebba St. Claire (.282-1-25) are key offensive contributors. That same comment can't be said by anemic shortstop Buddy Kerr (.186-4-18).
BENCH - Either Cooper or St. Claire can come off the bench when not starting Sibby Sisti (.279-2-38) can platoon and be a bench pro as well as Bob Addis (.276-1-24).
1964 Los Angeles Dodgers
PITCHING - Simply put, you have to Keep Sandy Koufax (19-5, 1.74) healthy. He missed 10 starts late that season due to injury. He still managed to post 223 innings, which by today's standards would classify him as a work horse. Don Drysdale (18-16, 2.18) just needs to get some run support. Any pitcher who's ERA is that low and finishes only 2 games over .500 must have lost his share of 1-0 and 2-1 games. Behind the "big 2" there is a legion of mediocre 4.00 era pitchers. If they can get to the 8th inning Ron Perranoski (5-7, 3.09, 14sv) and Bob Miller (7-7, 2.62, 9sv) will shut the door. Jim Brewer can come on vs the tough lefties.
HITTING - Maury Wills (.275-0-21-53sb) and Willie Davis (.294-12-77-42sb) will provide gold glove fielding, timely hitting and run like the wind on the base paths. They will literally drive opposing pitchers crazy trying to hold them close and prevent them from stealing. "Jumbo" Frank Howard will strike out in epic proportions, but he will supply 24 homers in the cavernous Dodger Stadium. John Roseboro will always give you a gold glove effort behind the plate. His .287 BA this season is a huge bonus. On the off days the Dodgers face a lefty Roseboro will sit and Doug Camilli (.179-0-10) will play and drastically hurt the offense.
BENCH - Derrell Griffith (.290-4-23)will be the utility man du jour and spell Junior Gilliam (.228) at 3rd. Rookie Wes Parker will come off the bench late in games to provide Gold Glove fielding at 1st. Wally Moon, on the downside of his career, can still provide a surprise late inning homer off the bench vs righties.
1958 Cincinnati Reds
PITCHING - Bob Purkey (17-11, 3.60) is this staff's ace. Whomever manages this team will have to get mileage out of a fast fading Don Newcombe (7-7, 3.85) and some off year performances from Harvey Haddix (8-7, 3.52) and Joe Nuxhall (12-11, 3.79). Hal Jeffcoat (6-8, 3.72, 9sv) and Brooks Lawrence (8-13, 4.13) will see plenty of time out of the pen, as will Alex Kellner (7-3, 2.30) who can also spot start.
HITTING - Frank Robinson (.269-31-83) is the hitting star. Jerry Lynch plays right and hit .312 with some pop. Gus Bell is a defensive liability in center and will sit late in many games for a young Vada Pinson, who was only 19. Ed Bailey hits 11 homers from the backstop position and Johnny Temple hit .306 and plays a fine second base.
BENCH - Smoky Burgess made a career out of being a part time catcher/PH. His .283 average with 6 homers will be a welcome addition late in games and vs tough righties. Walt Drop is a righty power threat off the bench as he chipped in 7 homers in only 162 AB's.
1974 San Francisco Giants
PITCHING - "The Count" John Montefusco (15-9, 2.88) at the ripe old age of 25 is the ace of this emerging staff. Jim Barr (13-14, 3.06) eats innings and hopes for more run support than he actually received. Lefties Pete Falcone (12-11, 4.17) and Mike Caldwell (7-13, 4.79) give up runs but somehow get the job done. Ed Halicki (9-13, 3.49) hopes to capture that day in the sun where he no-hit the Mets during the '75 campaign. A pretty solid bullpen by committee will be led by Randy Moffitt (4-5, 3.89, 11sv) and lefty Gary Lavelle (6-3, 2.95, 8sv). Dave Heaverlo (3-1, 2.39) will surprise.
HITTING - With the McCovey's and May's long gone, the normally powerful Giant bats had to rely on more of a small ball game. Bobby Murcer moved to right and did hit .298, but he never reproduced the short porch power numbers he had in Yankee Stadium earlier in the decade. Gary "Sarge" Matthews led the team with 12 homers. Von Joshua and Derrel Thomas both stole over 20 bases. Smooth fielding Willie Montanez hit .305 at first, but his 8 homers were not enough for this power spot on the diamond. Shortstop Chris Speier (.271-10-69) had his best power numbers to go along with his solid glove.
BENCH - Glenn Adams (.300-4-15) is the only bench guy to hit .300. Most others averaged around .230, so this could be an issue. Marc Hill platoons with Dave Rader behind the plate, but hurts the offense with his .214 average. Garry Maddox won't hit a lick, but he'll provide great defensive gems late in games in center as a defensive replacement.
1992 San Diego Padres
PITCHING - Andy "the merchant of" Benes (13-14, 3.35) needed the same run support that Brust Hurst (14-9, 3.85) got. If he gets those runs he'll be a legit ace. Craigh Lefferts (13-9, 3.69), who spent most of this career working out of the pen started 27 times for this team and acquitted himself quite well. Spot starters Frank Seminara (9-4, 3.68) and Houston Astro castoff Jim Deshaies (4-7, 3.28) will be more than effective in the back of the rotation. Randal K. Myers will save 38, but his 4.29 era is a bit concerning. The rest of the pen: Rich Rodriguez, Jose Melendez and Mike Maddux are outstanding. Each has a sub 3.00 era.
HITTING - When you thing Padres hitting you usually think Tony Gwynn (.327-6-41), but that would be a mistake, because you'd be looking past the true hitting star of this team, Gary Sheffield (.330-33-100), who should have been the league MVP. Fred "crime dog" McGriff (.286-35-104) quietly made opposing pitchers pay. Tony Fernandez (.275-4-37) played a rock solid shortstop and led the team in pilfered bases with 20.
BENCH - Former Met and Twin Time Teufel was so bad in the field and so lackluster with the bat (.224-6-25) he was forced into bench detail. Dan Walters split time with Benito Santiago behind the plate. Both had identical .251 averages, but Santiago's arm made him a big difference maker in the field. Both Kevin Ward and Oscar Azocar his below the Mendoza line as pinch hitters and spot starters.
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