Bums Clinch Share of Picard Crown September 29, 1997
Mets' Collapse Monumental
Spokane, WA (AP) - The Vero Beach Bums (92-63) won three out of four games
from the Paladins here this week, but in the process won much more. The
Bums' 12-0 win on Saturday, coupled with the Binghamton Mets' fourth and
fifth consecutive losses, assured the Bums of at least a tie for first
place in the Picard Division of the Defiant League. Just one more Bums
win or one Mets loss, with seven games left for Vero and six left for
Binghamton, will clinch the Bums' first-ever Picard Division pennant.
The Bums learned of the Binghamton loss in the early innings of their
Sunday 7-6 loss to Spokane, an obviously mixed outcome that subdued any
possible celebration. "Just one more," said Bums CF Marquis Grissom.
"We'll wait till it's official, then let the party begin." The Bums
travel down the coast today to take on the Sacramento Knights, the PVBL's
first 100-game-loser, in a three-game series. They then return to Vero
Beach, where the reception is sure to be jubilant.
"One more win in seven games? I think we can probably do that," said 3B
Dave Hollins, one of the Bums' most productive offensive contributors.
In Saturday's game, the Bums blew out the Paladins by a 12-0 score.
Willie Adams (8-8, 4.29 ERA) pitched a career game, giving up only 3 hits
and 3 walks in seven innings, while striking out eight. Dave Weathers
(2-0, 2.97 ERA) again pitched two innings of nearly spotless relief, his
first since coming back from injury. "I'm just glad I can contribute when
the team really needs it," said Weathers.
On the offensive side, big contributors included Gregg Jefferies and Chuck
Carr, who combined for 7 hits in 10 tries, scoring every time they reached
base and driving in 6 runs, while batting first and second in the order.
Jefferies and Carr hit one home run each. Dave Hollins and Ron Gant each
reached the 100-RBI plateau with 2 RBI a piece, including a two-run homer
by Gant. Reserve second baseman Jim Lynch also contributed with a 2 for 4
day, including a home run. In four career games, Lynch is 5 for 10 at the
plate.
In the final game of the series, only four regular starters were in the
starting lineup for Vero Beach, which narrowly lost 7-6. Angel Miranda
(1-1 as a Bum) took the loss in 5 2/3 innings in relief of starter Kurt
Hardie. Both pitchers had trouble with the Spokane offense, especially
Mark McGwire who put together a two home run performance. McGwire hit 3
home runs in four games against Vero Beach, giving him 57 home runs in 155
games for Spokane. With seven games left, McGwire has an outside shot to
hit 61 home runs, a mark set in another baseball league.
Three more Bums hit home runs in the loss: Jim Collins, Joseph Idstein,
and Brian Jordan. Collins and Idstein are young reserve players that have
recently been on a tear for Vero Beach. Each has at least a .272 average,
and Collins is hitting an amazing .438 against left-handed pitchers.
Brian Jordan has also been playing extremely well in September, improving
his average on the season to .314.
Bums Manager Phil Garner said after the loss, "Well, it was a close game,
and McGwire got the best of us. That happens sometimes with Mark. I'm
still going to rest my starters and see if my reserves can get us one more
win. I think at this point, why take chances when we have a history of
injury?" Expect to see some heretofore unfamiliar faces in the Sacramento
series.
The recent free-fall of the Binghamton Mets could be one of the top sports
stories of the year. Throughout the bulk of the season, they occupied the
second-place spot in the division behind first Spokane and then Vero
Beach. Numerous times during the year, the Mets tied or passed Vero Beach
by up to 2 games. However, they appear to be in jeopardy of missing the
playoffs entirely, with the upsurge of the Chicago South Siders --
currently sporting an impressive 10-game winning streak, including
head-to-head games with Binghamton -- and the Springfield Panthers, both
in the Data Division of the DL. Each has passed Binghamton in the race
for their league's wild-card spot:
Team W L GB
Chicago 89 67 --
Springfield 87 69 2.0
Binghamton 86 70 3.0
If the playoffs were held today, Vero Beach, Data Division-leading Phoenix
(90-66), wild-card Chicago, and Riker Division powerhouse Ponxatawney
(101-55) would make the DL playoffs. However, it is still possible for
either Chicago or Springfield to win the Data Division.
Vero Beach players commented on Binghamton's slide. "I seem to remember
the Mets talking some smack earlier in the season, but obviously their
attitude didn't help them much," commented one Vero Beach outfielder. LF
Ron Gant said, "That's what they get for trying to injure us." Pitcher
Dennis Springer added with a smirk, "Yeah, karma's a bitch, ain't it?"
