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Show Wednesday, May 2, 1990 TIIE SIGNPOST NL Division champs finding (USAACIN) SAN FRANCISCO It is understood that National League division champions don't repeat. It has not happened since both Los Angeles and Philadelphia won in 1977 then again in '78. But when was it written the defending champions have to self-destruct?That's what has happened, at least so far, to the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs. The 1989 playoff opponents are meeting here Tuesday and Wednesday, their first non-exhibition battles since October, when they played for a pennant. They're playing for time now, time to get straightened out, time to start back toward .500. The Giants have seven games to make up on frontrunning Cincinnati. They are kept from the National League West cellar only by the incompetence of the Atlanta Braves. The Cubs have fallen 5 12 games off Pittsburgh's torrid pace. But no one is keeping them from last place in the National League East. They are there. Neither club has the swagger of 1989. Mark Parent of the San Diego Padres viewed the Giants and said: "They're not the same club. ... They don't seem as cocky. Confidence is a big key in baseball. To win, you have to have confidence in yourself. I don't get the feeling of intimidation from them like I got last year. Cincinnati is the team to beat." Cincinnati Reds off to fastest start ever What a difference a year makes. Just ask the Cincinnati Reds, who, by the way, are the hottest team in Major League Baseball. Behind their new skipper, Lou Piniella, the Reds are off to their best start in franchise history. It seems everything is going right for them this year Gike it was supposed to for the last four or five years). For starters, they got rid of the gambling man, Pete Rose, and hired "Sweet Lou." Also, the Reds' schedule has helped them considerably. They have faced weaklings like the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros in eight of their first ten games. Another bright spot for the Reds this year has been their bullpen. Nicknamed the "Nasty Boys," they have compiled four victories, six saves and over 50 Siddines St. Louis Manager Whitey Herzog included criticism of the Cubs in his succinct appraisal of the NL East. "We all stink," he said. The fatal flaw of the two defending champions has been pitching. Each has the excuse of an ailing starter or two: Chicago is missing Rick Sutcliffe; San Francisco misses Don Robinson and Kelly Downs. The Cubs pitching problem, however, is not confined to the absence of Sutcliffe. Greg Maddux ( 3-1 ) i s establi shed as the staff ace and Mike Harkey (2-1) has shown promise. After that? Don't ask. Mike Bielecki, Jose Nunez and Steve Wilson are 1-6 combined. For the Giants, the problem has been poor pitching period. Mike LaCoss (3-1) has been solid so far. But Atlee Hammaker, Scott Garrelts and Rick Reuschel have been ordinary at best. And the bullpen has not been saving games. The Cubs at least have steady hands in the bullpen spectacular Mitch Williams, Les Lancaster and Paul Assenmacher. The three of them have an 0.87 earned run average in 41 13 innings (26 appearances). The Giants are 0-9 when they are tied or trail after seven innings. Their closer, Steve Bedrosian, is 0-2 with three saves and a flabby 9.00 ERA. His season has been disrupted and distracted by the diagnosis of leukemia in strikeouts in 40 or so innings. But the key to the Reds so far has been their bats. Barry Larkin has been on fire since opening day and is hitting .429 with 12 runs batted in. He is second only to Pittsburgh's Don Slaught for the league lead in batting average. Cincinnati also has three others in the top ten in batting: Mariano Duncan, Chris Sabo and Todd Benzinger. Each is hitting .375 or better. It now seems the Reds are playing up to their potential. They have the pitching and the hitting and certainly have all the talent in the world to be champions. But only time will tell. The Reds have already suffered some injuries to key players and the season is long. But as for Lou and his boys, they are on a mission to prove they can win. By Bryan Paul Staff Writer of The Signpost one of his children. Left-hander Craig Lefferts was effective last year in the bullpen but he left, a free agent, to sign with San Diego. Manager Roger Craig has sluggers Will Clark and Kevin Mitchell. Clark has not yet hit to his high standards. And Mitchell has been hampered by a very sore right wrist. The Giants rank near the top of the National League in team batting, but back in the middle in runs scored. "It goes directly into clutch hits," Clark said. "We haven't been getting them." The Giants no longer scare teams coming into Candlestick Park. They were 53-28 at home last year; they are 2-9 this season. Even their defense, perhaps the best in the league, has been spotty. "Well get it right," Craig said. "We're (hustling). Hike what I see. We're not gonna lose this. I'm not going to lie. That stuff about we have not been getting breaks, hitting the ball right at people, that's bull. A good club makes its breaks." The Padres, consensus preseason favorite, have run into pitching problems and a four-game losing streak. Los Angeles lost its ace, Orel Hershiser, best player, Kirk Gibson, and closer, Jay Howell. Houston is erratic. And Atlanta is, well, same old Atlanta. That leaves the Cincinnati Reds. The April juggernaut. (See NATIONAL page 16) WEATHER gf YES. TERIA Choose your savings: 52 weeks for $87.10 (Save $42.90) CityStatcZip 39 weeks for $65.25 Pavmen, me,hod: Phone( (Save $32.25) QCheck Enclosed nM fnr 41 5(1 Credil Card Air fares to t 5 I I I -Lx (Save $21.50) Signature (if paying by credit card) 13 weeks for $21.75 Fr faster service, call 1-800-USA-OOOI, ask for Operator 513 Save $10.75) Same day mail and borne delivery available i wlccicd areav Mail deliver) available ihrourbmit (he USA. Savingi bucd on if hard to repeat p . I M i i i n i ...................... ... .... Source: Baseballistics by Bert Sugar Marcia Siaimer, Gannett News Service ' . Time 8 p.m. May 2-5, 1990 Wildcat Theater $1 Fif fftfli Fashions;ol ivw 5s VITII USA TODAY! Keep informed about the changing world around you in SEWS, see how lo prepare for your taxes in MONEY, keep on top of all the action in SPORTS and get (he latest trends in film, fashion and fitness in LIFE. Sign up now by completing the coupon, or call us toll-free at 1-800-USA-OOOI, and ask For Operator 5 13. PLEASE SEND ME USA TODAY FOR CHECKED BELOY. (payable to USA TODAY) QBill me Charge my: QVISA Exp. Date. L'a BY DAN OS w v !rr r SA AT PLAY IVJi . 2s,fc Most hits, by decade 'SOsRichte n R7X Ashbum '60s floberto u-rj Ctemante T'' 70sM. 2iM5 KV1.542 r Harvey as an American GI who Is captured and brainwashed during the Korean War. He's sent back to the United States, where he becomes a pawn in a sinister plot to take over the country. Frank Sinatra gives one of his finest performances as an army intelligence major who's determined to stop Harvey's mission. COLLEGE ACTIVITIES BOARD Multi-Cultural Programs Committee J 7' R4SMUTT THE QMC QAMEX MAIL TO: USA TODAY, Subscription Processing, PO Box 7878, Washington, DC 20044-7878 3 |