Tigers Eye Comeback; Dodgers Dealt Setback : BASEBALL PREVIEW ’86 : Kansas City, Detroit Are Ones to Beat

All right, baseball fans, you can stop rubbing your eyes. What you thought you saw during the 1985 American League baseball season wasn’t a mirage or an apparition. It was the real thing.

The American League East, long the bastion of snobbery and tradition, was won by a non-American team.

The Toronto Blue Jays, an expansion team, really did make the playoffs. And in those playoffs, Toronto really did blow a 3-1 lead to the Kansas City Royals, who went on to erase another 3-1 deficit in the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Buddy Biancalana really was a World Series hero. Bret Saberhagen really did win the Cy Young Award.

Those are the facts, plain and simple. The season the American League went bizarre. The year the Detroit dynasty was derailed. The summer time forgot.

It won’t happen again. 1986 will be remembered as the year sanity was restored to the American League.

The Detroit Tigers, shaking off that irritable interruption, will rise again in the East. The Kansas City Royals, who provided the playoff foil for the Tigers in their championship season of ‘84, will assume the same role in ’86.

And the Tigers will wind up in the Series. This was the script that was ordered for 1985, but half the pages were lost in the mail.

Detroit will be back because the sheer talent never left and the front office plugged any remaining gaps with a series of intelligent transactions. The off-season brought the Tigers a third baseman, Darnell Coles; a left-handed starting pitcher, Dave LaPoint; a base stealer, Dave Collins; a middle reliever, Bill Campbell, and a backup catcher, Dave Engle.

Kansas City will repeat in the West because its pitching, which distanced itself from the pack in 1985, will only be better in 1986. Saberhagen, Danny Jackson and Mark Gubicza are all 24 or younger.

Other teams worth watching are the Blue Jays, if only to determine what it was they did right last year, and the Oakland A’s, who have the most intriguing team in the league. Any ballclub with Joaquin Andujar, Dave Kingman, Jose Canseco and Jose Rijo on its roster is bound to create some sort of fuss.

How the American League will return to form in 1986: EASTERN DIVISION

1. Detroit Tigers--The Tigers will never duplicate 1984. Seasons that open with 35 victories in 40 games happen maybe twice a century. But they had no business dropping 20 games in the standings last year--from 104 victories to 84.

Over the winter, General Manager Bill Lajoie came up with a handful of minor trades that should fortify the Tigers.

He also re-signed Kirk Gibson, and found some desperately needed speed--Collins stole 60 bases in 1984--and a player capable of filling Detroit’s long-standing void at third base in Coles. His best bargain, though, may be LaPoint, who is thrilled to be out of San Francisco, where his 3.57 earned-run average merited him a record of only 7-17. LaPoint has dropped weight and the Tigers are talking about 15 wins from him.

LaPoint will join Jack Morris, Dan Petry, Walt Terrell and Frank Tanana in the division’s best rotation. Lance Parrish, Lou Whitaker, Darrell Evans, Chet Lemon and Gibson are back to man the offense.

The only potential snag: shortstop Alan Trammell’s shoulder. An inflamed tendon below his right shoulder blade has bothered Trammell on throws during the spring.

2. Toronto Blue Jays--They were generic champions--winners of the East with no 20-game winners, no 30-home run hitters, no 100-run producers, no names you cared to remember beyond last October, save maybe Dave Stieb.

Entering their 10th year of existence, the Blue Jays have yet to make their mark anywhere except in the standings. A couple of quick facts:

--The outfield of Jesse Barfield, George Bell and Lloyd Moseby averaged 24 home runs, 83 runs batted in and 27 stolen bases last season.

--Toronto had an All-Star catcher in 1985. His name is Ernie Whitt. He hit 19 home runs and drove in 64 runs.

--Toronto had a lower team earned-run average, 3.31, than Kansas City’s 3.49.

--The Blue Jays also have a new manager. His name is Jimy Williams. He’s an unknown. Talk about your perfect fit.

3. New York Yankees--Chaos and confusion reign as George Steinbrenner’s Yankees lurch toward another season, which means that all systems are go in George’s jungle.

The Yankees released Phil Niekro before he became a grandfather, which, under normal circumstances, would make sound baseball sense. But this 47-year-old won 16 games last season and is the brother of another member of New York’s pitching staff, Joe Niekro. Phil and Joe are tight and by dumping one brother, the Yankees ensured that the other would dedicate himself to making management’s life miserable.

They also gave up promising Joe Cowley, 12-6 and 3.95, in exchange for Britt Burns, whose chronic hip problems promise that he’ll be out of action all year. And last week, they got the hankering for a new designated hitter, so they shipped team leader and clubhouse stabilizer Don Baylor to the dreaded Red Sox for Mike Easler and his .262 batting average.

This Yankee clipper has the look of a rudderless ship, but despite the madness, this team will win. Why? Because of a modern-day Murderers’ Row--Rickey Henderson, Don Mattingly, Dave Winfield and Mike Pagliarulo. And, because the Yankees still have Ron Guidry, a 22-game winner last season at 35, and the bullpen duo of Dave Righetti, who had 29 saves, and Brian Fisher, who had 14.

This team can win a lot if Steinbrenner stands back and lets rookie Manager Lou Piniella chart the course, without intervention. But at press time, hell hadn’t frozen over.

Pen the pinstripers in for third.

4. Boston Red Sox--The Red Sox made a trade the other day. They pawned off Mike Easler, a 35-year-old designated hitter, to the Yankees. In return, they got Don Baylor, a 37-year-old designated hitter.

Nutty guys, those Red Sox. After years of unsuccessfully trying to conquer Fenway’s Green Monster with battalions of heavy hitters, they still haven’t learned.

The big-bang theory doesn’t wash here. Never has, never will. Williams, Yaz, Petrocelli and Lynn weren’t enough to bring Boston a World Series championship. Rice, Armas, Baylor, Boggs and Buckner won’t be, either.

Someone should introduce Red Sox management to a videotape of the 1985 World Series. How did the Royals beat the Cardinals? Can you say pitching ?

The best Boston will send to the mound this summer is Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd, whose recent bout with hepatitis has reduced him to Dip Stick. Then there’s Roger Clemens, 7-5 and 3.29, followed by Bruce Hurst, 11-13 and 4.51, and Al Nipper, 9-12 and 4.06.

They’re still trying to trade for Tom Seaver, which is a move in the right direction, even though about a decade too late. Tom is no longer terrific enough to salvage this pitching staff.

5. Baltimore Orioles--At least it hasn’t been a dull spring for the Orioles. Their new third baseman, Jackie Gutierrez, has kept them occupied with reports of stripping on the baseball field and maintaining a gun in his locker.

This is the sort of diversion the Orioles can do without and after putting Gutierrez through a battery of mental tests, the team has asked league president Bobby Brown to void the trade that brought Gutierrez from the Red Sox.

The Orioles prefer their excitement between the foul lines between the months of April and October, which they usually achieve. Baltimore was the winningest team in the American League during the first half of the 1980s.

But lately, the Orioles have been drifting. Last year it was fourth place. This year, it could be fifth. Baltimore’s once-proud pitching staff was in tatters in 1985, finishing with the worst ERA in club history, 4.38. The winningest pitcher was Scott McGregor (14-14), whose 4.50 was more than a half-run better than colleagues Dennis Martinez and Mike Flanagan.

The building blocks of the 1983 World Series championship, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken, remain intact and Mike Young is coming off a 28-homer season. The three-run homer remains an Oriole staple.

But there won’t be enough of them to cause of ripple of excitement in Baltimore come September.

6. Milwaukee Brewers--The beer they make in Milwaukee is now used to cry in. The Brewers’ story is among the saddest in baseball, a four-year swoon that has driven the 1982 league champions to ground zero. From wallbangers to wallflowers.

Not only don’t these Brewers win anymore, they don’t even swagger. The team that ravaged pitchers for 216 home runs in ’82 barely reached triple digits in ’85 with 101. Breaking up the old gang hasn’t been hard to do for General Manager Harry Dalton, who is locked into a massive youth-budget movement. Ted Simmons in now an Atlanta Brave. Rollie Fingers, who led the Brewers in saves last year but cost them $250,000 for the privilege, was released. The job security of Cecil Cooper and Ben Oglivie is in jeopardy, threatened by a couple of youngsters named Billy Joe Robidoux and Rob Deer.

The best offshoot of the facelift has been pitching. The Brewers now have some. Ted Higuera (15-8) was the league’s rookie pitcher of the year in 1985 and Juan Nieves, 33-9 in three minor league seasons, could keep the award in the family in ’86. Then there’s Tim Leary, once a prized possession of the New York Mets, and Bill Wegman, who both won 10 games in Class AAA last summer.

Manager George Bamberger is at least the right man for the job. He’s committed to the young pitchers and he’s a realist. These Brewers won’t be contenders, Bambi admits. But he says they could break even.

7. Cleveland Indians--Cleveland wants the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Cleveland also wants a winning baseball team.

Cleveland should know better. You can’t always get what you want.

The summer of ’85 was the Indians’ 30th straight without a pennant. It also produced 102 defeats--a dead-heat tie for the worst season in the franchise’s history.

Now that rock bottom has been thoroughly explored, the Indians are ready to make some strides forward. With a little luck, Cleveland could bounce back to a 95-loss season in 1986.

Say this for the Indians: They can hit. Andre Thornton and Brook Jacoby have 30-home run potential, shortstop Julio Franco had 90 RBIs last year, Brett Butler, with a .311 average and 47 steals, is the league’s premier center fielder, and Mel Hall was a .300 hitter before breaking his pelvis and his collarbone in a car accident last May. He is said to be fully recovered.

Cleveland’s pitching, however, remains abominable, even with the addition of Phil Niekro. No Indian won or saved more than nine games in ’85. The team ERA was 4.91. And the Indians begin this season without Bert Blyleven. WESTERN DIVISION

1. Kansas City Royals--The popular misconception about the 1985 Royals is that they were all pitching and George Brett. Not true. They also had a manager.

Last year’s Royals did more with less than any team since the 1969 New York Mets. In the American League, only the Angels hit for a lower team average. Right fielders Pat Sheridan and Darryl Motley batted .228 and .222, respectively. Buddy Biancalana, David Letterman’s favorite shortstop, batted .188. And Dan Quisenberry had an off year.

But Kansas City won with a starting rotation that is now the model for the 13 other league participants. It is young--with 29-year-old Charlie Leibrandt the eldest of the five. And it is deep--with Saberhagen, Leibrandt, Jackson and Gubicza all having won 14 games or more.

Still, some offensive assistance is needed for Brett, who crammed a season’s worth of heroics into the month of October. No sane man would expect a repeat. The Royals believe they will get the necessary help from Willie Wilson, Lonnie Smith and Frank White, who all experienced sub-par 1985s.

2. Oakland A’s--The cover of the A’s 1986 media guide is a mockup of a 1940s movie poster, promising thrills and chills and billing certain team membes as matinee idols (“Introducing Jose Canseco as ‘The Natural’ ”).

Advance screenings during spring training suggest that “The A’s Story” will be a must-see this summer. Win or lose, this team figures to be great fun.

The A’s have Joaquin Andujar, whom management hopes will become a role model for the younger Oakland pitchers. So far he’s been fine but umpires and water coolers around the league had best beware.

The A’s have Jose Rijo, who may have the best fastball in the division and, now that he’s out of New York, should blossom without the pressure of having to prove he’s the next Gooden.

The A’s have Canseco, a legend before his time, a rookie capable of prodigious home run figures and prodigious strikeout numbers. He will bat in the same lineup with Dave Kingman. Kong and Kong Jr.

The A’s also have Gold Gloves at shortstop in Alfredo Griffin, and center field in Dwayne Murphy, Mike Davis in his prime and a two-pronged line of relief in Jay Howell, who had 29 saves, and Steve Ontiveros, who had a 1.93 ERA. If the young starting pitchers develop, “The A’s Story” could still be playing long into October.

3. Minnesota Twins--The return of the prodigal pitcher, Bert Blyleven, has brought about the return of pennant fever in Minnesota.

Blyleven is symbolic of the Twins’ new look. For years, it was the tale of the Twin Cities: We Have Clout, But We Can’t Get Anyone Out. Now, under the direction of Manager Ray Miller, formerly the Baltimore Orioles’ pitching coach, the Twins are discovering the beauty of 2-1 and 3-2 scores.

Blyleven won 17 games last season, nine of them with Cleveland, which wasn’t easy. Holdovers Frank Viola, Mike Smithson and John Butcher accounted for 18, 15 and 10 wins, respectively. Add revitalized reliever Ron Davis, who had 18 saves in his final 19 opportunities last season, to the collection and one can better understand Miller’s comparison of his staff to Kansas City’s.

The Twins still have their accustomed power sources--Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti, Tom Brunansky--plus some speed in Kirby Puckett, and rookie outfielder Billy Beane. But defense up the middle separates contenders from pretenders and catcher Mark Salas, shortstop Greg Gagne and second baseman Steve Lombardozzi will be marked men as Minnesota tries to make its mark in the West.

4. Angels--The Angels have a new slogan for 1986--”We’re So Excited”--which is revolutionary in its punctuation and its presence. The new motto will coincide with a new team song, a reworking of the Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited,” replacing that tedious dirge, “Back on the Diamond Again,” which so tortured Anaheim Stadium patrons last summer.

This is a break for the fans. But what about truth in advertising? Why should anyone get excited over a team that:

--Finished last in the American League in batting in 1985?

--Opens this season with Gary Lucas, its only left-handed relief pitcher, on the disabled list?

--Calls 36-year-old George Hendrick, a .215 hitter last season, its everyday right fielder?

--Will feature six players older than 35 in its opening-day lineup?

Well, for one, there’s Wally Joyner, whose sensational spring let it be known that Jose Canseco isn’t the only rookie out West. And there’s the starting rotation, which could be the best balanced in the club’s history. And there’s Gene Mauch, who may somehow prod this bunch into another pennant race come September.

5. Seattle Mariners--Here came the Seattle Mariners to the winter meetings, all set with a nice little team well stocked with strapping young hitters and raw pitching talent. Leave it alone and it could grow into the Bigfoot of the American League West.

But then the Mariners went out and swapped 27-year-old reliever Ed Vande Berg for 37-year-old backup catcher Steve Yeager. The moans went up from the gallery: Same old Seattle.

At first glance, the trade looked like a relapse to the days when the Mariners couldn’t get enough has-beens and used-to-bes, when they substituted long-term potential for short-term marquee appeal. But closer inspection offers insight to how Seattle management views the current state of the franchise:

We’re almost there. If we can get a veteran catcher to refine those young arms, we could push ourselves over the top.

The Mariners are close. With second baseman Danny Tartabull, who hit 43 homers in AAA, joining first baseman Alvin Davis, who had 18 home runs, and third baseman Jim Presley, who had 28, Seattle could have the most power-minded infield in the league. The outfield features a trio of young lions--Phil Bradley, Ivan Calderon and Dave Henderson. And then there’s designated hitter Gorman Thomas, who managed 32 home runs last season at age 34.

The pitching rotation of Mike Moore, Matt Young, Mark Langston and Mike Morgan remains all-maybe. That’s where Yeager comes in. The hope is that he can duplicate what Jim Sundberg accomplished with Kansas City’s precocious pitchers in 1985. Even anything close would be gladly accepted.

6. Chicago White Sox--The Hawk is back. The Hawk is big. The Hawk talks. The Hawk hawks players. The Hawk makes headlines.

This does not bode well for the White Sox franchise. Read baseball theorem 13.1: “When general manager is your biggest star, team on field is in trouble.”

New chief executive Ken Harrelson may be the most colorful front-office type in the game, but the talent he has managed to assemble for 1986 is decidedly bland. The White Sox have major question marks at third base, second base and center field, just a faint memory of the strong-armed pitching staff of ‘83, and Carlton Fisk in left field, which weakens the Sox at two positions.

Chicago can still bank on the quiet consistency of Harold Baines and Greg Walker, the power relief work of Bob James and the continued progress of shortstop Ozzie Guillen, the league’s top rookie in 1985. But that’s not enough on which to mount a pennant drive.

7. Texas Rangers--Poor Bobby Valentine. His playing career essentially ended with an leg-splintering collision with the Anaheim Stadium wall. His managerial career began with the Texas Rangers.

The guy is really due for a break.

And not the kind he got during spring training, when 14-game winner Charlie Hough broke the little finger on his pitching hand while shaking hands with a friend. That sends Valentine into the season with Mike Mason, 8-15 and 4.83, as the ace of the staff.

At least the Rangers finally have the proper mind set, thanks to General Manager Tom Grieve. They have forgotten the quick fix and are promoting the farm system. Getting the biggest pushes are pitcher Jose Guzman, 10-5 in AAA, and outfielder Pete Incaviglia, whose last regular-season at bat was with Oklahoma State last spring.

Now, if the Rangers can keep them. That would be a radical trend, as Ron Darling, Walt Terrell, Dave Righetti, Jim Clancy, Mike Smithson, John Butcher and Tom Henke can attest. 1985 FINAL STANDINGS NATIONAL LEAGUE

N.L. WEST Won Lost Pct. GB Last 10 Streak Home Away Los Angeles 95 67 .586 -- *6-4 Lost 1 48-33 47-34 Cincinnati 89 72 .553 5 1/2 *6-4 Won 1 47-34 42-38 Houston 83 79 .512 12 5-5 Won 2 44-37 39-42 San Diego 83 79 .512 12 *7-3 Lost 2 44-37 39-42 Atlanta 66 96 .407 29 4-6 Won 1 32-49 34-47 San Francisco 62 100 .383 33 3-7 Lost 1 38-43 24-57 N.L. EAST Won Lost Pct. GB Last 10 Streak Home Away St. Louis 101 61 .623 -- *5-5 Lost 1 55-26 47-34 New York 98 64 .605 3 *6-4 Lost 2 51-30 47-34 Montreal 84 77 .522 16 1/2 5-5 Won 2 44-37 40-40 Chicago 77 84 .478 23 1/2 6-4 Won 1 41-39 36-45 Philadelphia 75 87 .463 26 4-6 Won 1 41-40 34-47 Pittsburgh 57 104 .354 43 1/2 4-6 Lost 1 35-45 22-59

*-Denotes first game was a win.

AMERICAN LEAGUE A.L. WEST Won Lost Pct. GB Last 10 Streak Home Away Kansas City 91 71 .562 -- 5-5 Lost 1 50-32 41-39 California 90 72 .556 1 4-6 Won 2 49-30 41-42 Chicago 85 77 .525 6 *7-3 Won 3 45-36 40-41 Minnesota 77 85 .475 14 7-3 Won 2 49-35 28-50 Oakland 77 85 .475 14 3-7 Won 1 43-36 34-49 Seattle 74 88 .457 17 3-7 Lost 3 42-41 32-47 Texas 62 99 .385 28 1/2 *5-5 Lost 2 37-42 25-57 A.L. EAST Won Lost Pct. GB Last 10 Streak Home Away Toronto 99 62 .615 -- 4-6 Lost 1 54-26 45-36 New York 97 64 .602 2 *8-2 Won 1 58-22 39-42 Detroit 84 77 .522 15 5-5 Won 1 44-37 40-40 Baltimore 83 78 .516 16 3-7 Lost 1 45-36 38-42 Boston 81 81 .500 18 1/2 *5-5 Lost 4 44-38 37-43 Milwaukee 71 90 .441 28 4-6 Won 3 40-40 31-50 Cleveland 60 102 .370 39 1/2 6-4 Lost 2 38-43 22-59

*-Denotes first game was a win.