Angels, Mets Will Be Invading State of Missouri

Interstate 70 in Missouri could be the scene of some heavy traffic jams starting Monday.

Two of baseball’s division races could be settled in the state of Missouri, and then again they may tighten.

The Kansas City Royals play host to the Angels for a four-game series in what could determine the winner of the American League West. That begins Monday. Meanwhile, starting Tuesday across the state, the St. Louis Cardinals will be home for three games against the New York Mets, their only obstacle in the National League East.

Since the beginning of September, no more than 2 1/2 games have separated the Angels and Royals. The Angels, who have been known to fade down the stretch, have held up remarkably well this season. Usually a team loaded with veterans, California has blended some young players into the lineup, especially on its pitching staff.

Rookie Kirk McCaskill, who at one point was 1-5 this year, has rebounded to become a solid fifth starter. Mike Witt, in his sixth season, and second-year right-hander Ron Romanick help make up a formidable staff which has been bolstered by the addition of veterans John Candelaria and Don Sutton.

Bobby Grich says the Angels’ starting pitching plus one other important factor--Donnie Moore--has made California a better team.

“We’re looking forward to the Kansas City series,” said Grich, a 14-year veteran. “Last year we went there and we were hurt. We’ve got a better mound staff and we’ve got Donnie Moore.”

Moore may be the Angels’ most valuable player this year. Relief pitching has always been a sore spot for California. Last season, the Angel bullpen combined for 26 saves. By this Sept. 25, Moore had already preserved 29 victories.

The Angels also have one of baseball’s great pressure players on their team--Mr. October, Reggie Jackson. Even though Jackson is 39, one can never underestimate his presence in money situations.

The Angels will head into Kansas City in the middle of a season-ending 10-game road trip. While that can be looked upon as a disadvantage, California center fielder Gary Pettis thinks his club will be able to overcome it.

“It’s the end of the regular season here,” said Pettis following the Angels’ final home game Sept. 25, “but I think we’ll be back for the playoffs. Going on the road isn’t easy, but with the team we have here, I think we can do it.”

The Mets have an equally difficult task ahead of them. Playing the Cardinals at Busch Stadium is like playing at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion during John Wooden’s basketball reign. The Cards won 50 of their first 74 home games this year.

The Cards are tailor-made for their park, where they can utilize their team speed, both on the bases and in the field. The Mets, on the other hand, rely more on the booming bats of Gary Carter, Keith Hernandez and Darryl Strawberry.

“We have two good clubs here,” said Cardinal pitcher John Tudor. “We’re well-rounded in different ways. The Mets outpower us. We have good defense. They have a good defense too, but man-for-man they’re not as good as us. There’s no better defense in baseball than this St. Louis Cardinals team.

“Hopefully, we’ll have an eight-game lead going into the series.”

New York hopes to enter the series no more than three games out of first. That would give the Mets a shot to at least be tied with the Cards going into the final weekend.

The Mets, who have faltered slightly since taking two-of-three from the Cards earlier this month at Shea Stadium, think the experience they gained from going through a pennant race last year could help them against St. Louis.

“I think we’ve come a long way,” said Mets manager Dave Johnson. “We had a awful young staff (last year). Some were just starting out in the big leagues. Each did not know what kind of pitcher he was. They’ve learned from that experience. This year, they think they can win. They really think they can.”