BASEBALL ’92 : NATIONAL LEAGUE PREVIEW : Expos Might Be Able to Last a Season in First

They finished last season without a home, without half of their front office, without a bullpen, without a prayer.

But can you say dernier au premier?

For a second consecutive year, a National League team might go from last to first.

Last year it was the Atlanta Braves. This year, it might well be Montreal, where the phrase last to first will not suffer in translation.

The Expos, 71-90 and last in the East in 1991, are in a position similar to that of the Braves before last season.

They have a new front office, a virtually new manager and some of the best young players in baseball, mixed with some of the smartest veterans.

Falling pieces of Olympic Stadium forced the team into a 26-game trip at the end of last season, but they went 13-13 during the journey and grew up.

The Expos have potentially the best 1-2 batting punch in the league: leadoff hitter Delino Deshields had 10 homers, and No. 2 Marquis Grissom led the league in steals.

The Expos are the only team in the major leagues with two pitchers who pitched nine-inning “no-hitters” last season--Dennis Martinez and Mark Gardner.

The Expos have a bullpen that includes one-time Dodger stopper of the future, John Wetteland, and the Pittsburgh Pirates’ stopper of the past, Bill Landrum.

The Expos’ outfield, featuring Larry Walker, Ivan Calderon and Grissom, had a composite batting average of .281, 10 points better than any other league outfield. Those three players led the league in doubles, with 95, and stolen bases, 129.

“One thing I’ve noticed about this spring, compared to last year, is that we’re a lot more focused,” said Grissom, one of many players buying the motivation dispensed by Manager Tom Runnells, a former infielder.

In the National League West, the Atlanta Braves easily could go from first to first, becoming the first team to do so since the Dodgers did it in 1977-78.

The Cincinnati Reds are turning middle reliever Norm Charlton into a bullpen stopper to replace injured Rob Dibble, a year after Charlton was turned into a starter.

The Dodgers are turning an outfielder, Kal Daniels, into a first baseman.

The Giants are turning a middle relief pitcher, Bill Swift, into an opening-day starter.

The San Diego Padres are letting Craig Lefferts, former bullpen stopper, start his first game since 1983.

And bless those Houston Astros, who are turning a catcher, Craig Biggio, into a second baseman. If spring training is any indication, he is more comfortable with a backstop behind him.

Here is the projected order of finish for each division:

EAST DIVISION

MONTREAL EXPOS

1991 finish: 71-90, sixth place.

Outlook: The most important player here might be the youngest, former USC star Bret Barberie, a third baseman whose .358 batting average in 57 games last season sent Tim Wallach to first base.

If Barberie can play consistently well, then Wallach will stop complaining about playing first base and Montreal’s infield might match its outfield.

The other key is pitcher Ken Hill, who had a streak of 22 2/3 scoreless innings for the St. Louis Cardinals last September.

* New faces: Catchers Gary Carter and Darrin Fletcher. Right-handed pitchers Ken Hill and John Wetteland.

* Must have: Wetteland concentrating less on poetry and more on fastballs.

* Don’t have: A catcher or power hitter who commands respect.

NEW YORK METS

* 1991 finish: 77-84, fifth place.

* Outlook: Before waxing poetic over the 214 RBIs from the middle of their order and three Cy Young Awards in their starting rotation, kindly figure who is going to catch the ball.

Second baseman Willie Randolph is 37 and first baseman Eddie Murray is 36. Shortstop Kevin Elster has such a weak arm that the Mets have rerouted their cut-off throws so he doesn’t have to throw to the plate.

Howard Johnson is a third baseman playing center field, Bobby Bonilla is a third baseman playing right field and Vince Coleman is a much better base stealer than left fielder.

All of which wouldn’t be so bad if the team hadn’t adopted a bunker mentality during spring training in the wake of alleged rapes and sexual harassment. They stopped speaking with reporters for a week. The reporters probably didn’t mind.

* New faces: Manager Jeff Torborg, Bonilla, Murray, infielder Bill Pecota, Randolph and right-handed pitcher Bret Saberhagen.

* Must have: Johnson avoid killing himself in center field and John Franco avoid killing the team from the bullpen.

* Don’t have: Enough lawyers.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

* 1991 finish: 84-78, second place.

* Outlook: The Busch Stadium fences are closer. Emerging stars Felix Jose, Ray Lankford, Todd Zeile and Tom Pagnozzi are a year older.

But the season depends on a starting rotation that is still missing ace Joe Magrane, and a new first baseman who has misplaced his confidence.

The uncertain newcomer is Andres Galarraga, acquired in a trade with Montreal. He struck out once every 4.3 plate appearances last season, high in the league.

* New faces: Galarraga.

* Must have: Magrane by June.

* Don’t have: A bat that can take advantage of the rearranged ballpark.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

* 1991 finish: 78-84, tied for third place.

* Outlook: How can a pitching staff be considered shaky if its best pitcher, Terry Mulholland, led the league in complete games, seven, and shutouts, three, after the All-Star break?

And how can anybody criticize a staff whose second-best pitcher, Tommy Greene, threw a no-hitter last year and led the league with 28 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings?

Well, this staff also has, as fourth and fifth starters, rookies Andy Ashby and former Angel Kyle Abbott. They combined for a 2-7 record with a 5.58 earned-run average in the big leagues last year.

* New faces: Infielders Mariano Duncan and Dale Sveum. Right-handed pitcher Barry Jones.

* Must have: Outfielder Wes Chamberlain hitting with power.

* Don’t have: A middle infielder you could name on a bet (Hint: starters will be Batiste and Morandini).

CHICAGO CUBS

* 1991 finish: 77-83, tied for third.

* Outlook: They are going to give Gary Scott (.165) another chance at third base. And catcher Joe Girardi (.191) is also returning.

The Cubs don’t mind. After all, with Ryne Sandberg, Mark Grace and Andre Dawson in the middle of the order, who cares about the fringes?

This is the team that paid Mike Morgan $12.5 million to be one of their starting pitchers after he had ended a streak of 10 losing seasons, third-longest in major league history.

* New faces: Manager Jim Lefebvre, Morgan, outfielder Sammy Sosa.

* Must have: More than two starting pitchers who can keep the ball off Waveland Avenue.

* Don’t have: Rick Sutcliffe, whom you can find throwing the historic first pitch in Baltimore’s new Oriole Park at Camden Yards. George Bell, who moved across town to the White Sox.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

* 1991 finish: 98-64, first place.

* Outlook: All you need to know about this team is the name of one of its leadoff hitters: Kirk Gibson.

The only person in a perpetually fouler mood this year is Manager Jim Leyland. As a reward for winning the division title in consecutive seasons, Leyland was stripped of his winningest pitcher, John Smiley; his saves leader, Bill Landrum, and his team leader, Bobby Bonilla.

Is it any wonder he won’t let Barry Bonds out of his sight?

* New faces: Gibson, left-handed pitcher Denny Neagle.

* Must have: Plenty of playing time for Gibson.

* Don’t have: Enough cigarettes to calm Leyland.

WEST DIVISION

ATLANTA BRAVES

* 1991 finish: 94-68, first place.

* Outlook: So what if David Justice refused to have his photo taken on picture day? So what if Brian Hunter barely got out of jail in time for spring training?

This is no tall tale. The Braves can suffer every distraction that comes with being America’s most-loved team and still win the division by 10 games.

Their top four pitchers--Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, John Smoltz, Charlie Leibrandt--combined for 67 victories last year. That total was better than the Houston Astros’ team mark.

Their best hitter, Justice, had 21 home runs with 87 RBIs last season, even though he sat out two months because of a back injury. And their second-best hitter, Terry Pendleton, was the league’s most valuable player.

* New faces: Right-handed pitcher Mike Bielecki and catcher Damon Berryhill, both added at end of 1991 season. Outfielder Steve Lyons.

* Must have: Somebody to constantly remind them that they did not win the World Series last year

* Don’t have: Any holes.

CINCINNATI REDS

* 1991 finish: 74-88, fifth place.

* Outlook: Even if Rob Dibble’s sore shoulder makes him disappear, this year could be magic for Manager Lou Piniella, who loves his hard-nosed, hard-throwing team.

In Tim Belcher and Greg Swindell, the Reds have acquired pitchers who aren’t afraid to throw inside.

The Reds also picked up Bip Roberts, who is a younger version of Brett Butler, only more quarrelsome. Roberts vowed revenge on Dodger catcher Mike Scioscia after an innocent baserunning incident during spring training .

* New faces: Pitchers Belcher and Swindell. Outfielders Dave Martinez and Roberts.

* Must have: A back transplant for Bill Doran.

* Don’t have: Somebody to replace Dibble, who isn’t fooling anyone by saying his sore right shoulder will be 100% within a month.

DODGERS

* 1991 finish: 93-69, second place.

* Outlook: Last spring they left Vero Beach exuding confidence. This April, they are still looking for answers.

How will Kal Daniels play first base under regular-season conditions? How will Jose Offerman play shortstop?

How will Eric Davis play, period? And how much?

The Dodger outfield of Darryl Strawberry, Brett Butler and Davis might be one of the best in baseball. But a team with uncertain defense and starting pitching needs more than three such players.

* New faces: Outfielder Davis. First baseman Todd Benzinger. Right-handed pitchers Tom Candiotti and Kip Gross.

* Must have: Offerman’s undivided attention.

* Don’t have: The burden of being favored to win each of their 162 games.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

* 1991 finish: 75-87, third place.

* Outlook: The good news is that Rick Reuschel, Don Robinson and Mike LaCoss have been dragged from the mound for the last time.

The bad news? Who has heard of Bill Swift, Dave Burba and Mike Jackson? Those pitchers are refugees from the Seattle Mariners, who sent them south for slugger Kevin Mitchell.

Will all of this improve the Giants’ team earned-run average of 4.03, tied for the league high? If it doesn’t, then the Giants will miss Mitchell, who hit one homer every 15.5 at-bats as a Giant, better than all but Willie McCovey.

* New faces: Right-handed pitchers Jackson, Swift and Burba. Outfielders Chris James and Cory Snyder. Catcher Steve Lake.

* Must have: Whatever magic it takes to turn long reliever Swift into a staff ace.

* Don’t have: Mitchell.

SAN DIEGO PADRES

* 1991 finish: 84-78, third place.

* Outlook: Ed Whitson’s elbow goes south and what does General Manager Joe McIlvaine do? Trade hard-throwing starting pitcher Ricky Bones to the Milwaukee Brewers, which prompted wild celebrations in other West Division club-houses.

The Brewers sent the Padres their problem third baseman, Gary Sheffield, who is best known for being Dwight Gooden’s nephew. But Sheffield can field the ball, which means he could be the best third baseman in Padre history.

With Fred McGriff at first, Kurt Stillwell at second and Tony Fernandez at shortstop, the Padre infield could also be the best in the league, although folks in San Francisco will disagree.

* New faces: Left-handed pitcher Randy Myers. Infielders Stillwell and Sheffield.

* Must have: A good party before the All-Star game, for which they are the host team.

* Don’t have: Somebody who will tell Benito Santiago that it is not necessary to publicly request a trade for 58 consecutive days to get traded.

HOUSTON ASTROS

* 1991 finish: 65-97, sixth place.

* Outlook: They have finally lowered the Astrodome’s fences and moved them closer to home plate--just in time for the team to go on a record 26-game trip beginning in late July.

The trip was forced by the Republican party, which will hold its national convention in the Astrodome.

At least the Astros will have the fun of watching an All-Star catcher, Biggio, try to play second base.

* New faces: Right-handed pitchers Doug Jones and Joe Boever, and left-hander Rob Murphy. Catcher Eddie Taubensee. Outfielder Pete Incaviglia. Infielder Ernest Riles.

* Must have: As much patience as frequent flier miles.

* Don’t have: A pitcher who reminds anyone of Nolan Ryan. . . . OK, Mike Scott.