Boring Bums String Together Seven More Wins June 25, 1998
Vero Beach, FL (AP) - The Vero Beach Bums, owners of a current seven-game
winning streak and an unprecedented, unbelievable 55-18 record in the
sophomore season of the PVBL, are almost sick of winning. _Almost_.
"I could get used to this," said Bums CF prospect Dan Jourdan, who, in 8
games this year and 4 games last year, has put together a .405 batting
average and a 4.2 AB/HR ratio. "This team is something special, no doubt
about it."
The last time the Bums lost was when half the team was given a day off
against Spokane on June 17th. Despite a two-run homer from Dave Hollins
and seven innings of one-run, one-hit baseball from the increasingly
god-like Albie Lopez, the Bums lost 5-2 when struggling (now demoted)
reliever Mark Guthrie collapsed in the eighth inning, giving up four runs
on four hits.
Since then, the Bums have amassed yet another streak of seven wins, which
they have done about half a dozen times so far this season. This reporter
has lost count.
Some of the more notable performances during this streak include:
* A 2-run, 2-stolen base, 1-homer, 2-for-2 performance with 2 walks and 2
RBI by Rex Hudler in a 4-1 victory against Larimer on June 18, the first
game of a 4-game sweep. In that game, Ismael Valdes pitched 7 1/3 innings
and gave up just one run, six hits, and two walks, and struck out 7
Knights.
* An 8-for-14 performance by the bottom four hitters in the order in a 3-0
shutout of Larimer on June 20, in a game in which Kurt Hardie scattered
just 3 singles and two walks and whiffed 7 batters through 8 innings.
Hardie improved his record to a perfect 5-0. Batting 6th, Dave Hollins
went 2-for-4 with a 2B and a homerun in that game.
* A 10-0 thrashing of Larimer the very next day, which included 6 2/3
scoreless innings of long relief by Angel Miranda. Dan Jourdan, who has
been nothing short of stellar in his limited role with the Bums,
contributed a double and home run to the 6-extra base hit effort.
* A 5-1 win over the Binghamton Mets the following day, which featured
doubles from 5 different Vero Beach batters. It also featured another
"typical" Albie Lopez (13-1, 1.24 ERA) start: 7 2/3 IP, 7 H, 6 K, 1 ER, 1
BB. Lopez has already matched his win total from last season, in which he
went 13-10 in 33 starts.
* Another great day for Rex Hudler in a 9-5 win June 23 over the Mets:
3-for-4, 2 runs, 2 SB.
* A 3-1 win yesterday over the Mets, which featured an 8 1/3 inning, 1-run
non-decision from Kevin Ritz and Trevor Hoffman's third win.
This is basic Bums baseball at its best and brightest: dominant starting
pitching and hitting all through the lineup -- not to mention speed,
defense, and a better than average bullpen.
"I truly have never seen a team play this consistently, this well, for
this long," said manager Phil Garner. "Hell, I've got the easiest job in
baseball. This club practically manages itself. We've got a record I've
only seen in pro basketball. If we keep this up, I would be surprised if
another team comes close to this kind of a season again."
The Bums have a 55-18 record and a .753 winning percentage. Their closest
division competitor, the Duluth Bjork, have a 38-35 record. That would be
good enough to lead the Riker Division -- but puts them at a
hard-to-believe 17 games back. "I almost feel sorry for Duluth and
Spokane," said the grizzled skipper Garner. "Both of those teams made some
great moves in the off-season to become much better than they were before.
Overall, they are well-managed and have talent, but we are a huge
roadblock for them. That's the way it goes sometimes, I guess."
If the Bums can keep up this pace throughout the season -- which no one
really believes they can do, despite having no evidence to the contrary --
they would finish at 122-40. This would smash the previous season's best
performance, a 106-56 mark by the Galena Hamsters. Of course, the
Hamsters didn't make it through the playoffs, a fact that doesn't escape
the Bums. "We know that no matter how well we do during the regular
season," stated the mustachioed manager Garner, "it's another season once
the playoffs start."
The most obvious difference between this team and the Bums of 1997 is the
absence of a string of what could have been devastating injuries. Willie
Adams and Omar Vizquel are scheduled to come off the DL tomorrow, after
which all of the major players will be on the field for the Bums. Today's
game also marks a milestone for Bums 1B/DH Jeff King, who has played in 72
games so far this season. Last season he played in just 73 games,
compiling a .373 batting average and 18 home runs, before suffering a
season-ending injury. "Shh! Don't jinx him," said pitcher Dave Weathers.
"Don't even tell him." In his first 72 games so far this season, King has
already hit 20 home runs but has dipped to a .279 BA -- still respectable
for a #4 hitter.
In reality, the Bums are almost exactly the same team that took the field
a year ago. The only new arrival was pitcher Orlando Hernandez, who is
about to be sent to AAA for more seasoning. The trade that brought in CF
Marquis Grissom and pitcher Willie Adams for Shawn Estes and Ernie Young
is about the only deal of consequence in the history of the team. Another
fact, easy to overlook when focused on the win column, is that the
Bums have done all this without versatile hurler Billy Wagner. Wagner, who
was himself responsible for 6 wins, 7 holds, and 115 innings last year,
signed in the off-season with the Cincinnati Bearcats of the Enterprise
League. "These are the same guys, but a year more experienced and
talented," adds Garner.
These Bums are different than last year's team in other subtle ways. For
one, the players have truly gelled as a team. In contrast to last
season's collection of free agents, trade acquistions, and newly drafted
players, this team has had a year to get to know each other and the roles
they each play. "This is probably the most secure environment in baseball
today," said LF Ron Gant. "We know J. Lee [Gohlke, Bums owner] isn't going
to frivolously trade any of us away in an effort to reformulate. He's
about the most conservative owner I know of, at least in terms of how he
deals with the team."
There is also an attitude of confidence and professionalism on this team.
"It's hard not to be confident when you're up 17 games at the end of
June," said 3B Dave Hollins. "But the bigger picture is that we know we
can all count on each other. We can produce runs all the way up and down
the lineup. If Jeff has a bad game, Rex, or Ron, or I, or anybody can
step up. The pitchers make our job easy, too."
Not that everything is sunny in Vero Beach. Florida gets its share of
rain as well. That is, some players have not lived up to expectations or
have simply failed to meet the exacting standards of being a Bum. One such
disappointment is Gregg Jefferies, who backs up Ron Gant and Jeff King.
Jefferies has a .216 batting average, easily the lowest on the team among
regular players. Last season, Jefferies hit .260 in a similar role and in
filling in for the injured King at the end of the season. Left-handed
pitcher John Cummings has also failed to break through with the big club.
Despite good potential, Dennis Springer has problems similar to Cummings':
too many runs scored. Mark Guthrie, who was extremely reliable in spot
relief last year (3.35 ERA in 41 appearances and 37 2/3 innings), has been
the biggest disappointment, posting a 6.10 ERA in 22 games (20 2/3
innings).
Fellow lefty Art Huenke, who saw 10 2/3 innings of work last year, will
get the chance at Guthrie's setup job. "I don't know what's wrong with
Mark's game," said Garner, "but I hope he works it out in Milwaukee.
He'll bounce back, but for now, Arty is going to get a chance. He's got
two very good pitches, a sinker and a curve, but only average control.
We'll see how he reacts to the job."
Orlando Hernandez, rookie pitcher from Cuba, was also sent down to AAA to
make room for Willie Adams, coming off the DL after a minor injury. "I
wanted to go with Bill Goldsmith's experience in the pen, and give El
Duque [Hernandez] some starts in Milwaukee. The weather there should be
okay for him by now. I'm sure he's glad he started the season down in
Florida."
Maybe the Bums aren't boring after all -- if you like to watch a winning
team, that is. "Sick of winning?" asked a shocked Kevin Ritz. "Never."
