PVBL: Vero Beach Bums
Bums Swept by Pirates, Magic Number Holds at 4
September 14, 1998

Spokane, WA (AP) - September is not the time to hit a slump, if you are a team primed to appear in the playoffs for the second year in a row. However, the Vero Beach Bums have done just that, losing 7 of their last 10--including a three-game sweep by the Spokane Pirates. Even winning 2 of 3 games from the Pirates would have clinched a playoff berth for the Bums, but it was not to be. The Pirates cut the Bums' nearly unsurmountable lead down from 21 games to 18.

"Tough road trip," admitted Bums hurler Albie Lopez, "but we'll win the division for our fans at home." Despite Lopez' brave words, the Bums seem to be finding it difficult to motivate themselves. With 21 games left in the season, all against division opponents, the Bums need a record no better than 4-17 to ensure a second straight Picard pennant. And with a 53-30 divisional record so far, the Bums have a title more or less locked up.

Still, Bums manager Phil Garner is ever cautious. "We're not counting on anything," the skipper warned. "Spokane is playing the best baseball they have all year right now, and miracles can happen. Without any more days off, we don't have a lot of time to rest until the season is over, so I'm going to rest a few starters at a time this week. I'm committed to winning games and trying to advance this team to the playoffs, and this is the best way in the long run to do it. No sense in risking injury to players who we're going to need later."

It is in fact surprising to hear Garner even mention the word "injury". After the injury-riddled season the Bums endured last year, which nevertheless resulted in a World Series appearance, they have been for the most part injury-free. Key players such as double-digit winning pitcher Kevin Ritz and 30-plus home run hitter Jeff King missed the playoffs entirely last year; this year, all of the Bums are healthy going into the last month of the season.

"Believe me, I love playing in the fall," said King. "The fact that all of us are healthy gives Phil a lot of flexibility in the lineup. We can get an extra day off here and there because the bench is as deep as it's ever been."


News and Notes:

* The Bums are still riding high with a team batting average of .276, second in the league behind Larimer; however, the team ERA has risen to 3.52, good for fourth in the league.

* Weiner's Law, part 2: Do speed and defense really win games? Look at the numbers coming out of the Picard Division and decide for yourself:

Through 141-143 games this season:

Team           W   L       ERA   QS     E   Field. Pct.
Vero Beach    93  48      3.52   84    47   .991
Spokane       75  66      4.92   78    46   .992
Duluth        68  73      4.52   63    68   .987
Binghamton    68  75      3.70   82    59   .989
Sacramento    55  87      3.91   80    72   .987

Team          SB  CS    BA    H    2B  3B         R   Runs/game
Vero Beach   183   9  .276  1390  316  29       730    5.18     
Spokane       83   7  .273  1364  204   7       732    5.19
Duluth        79  10  .270  1325  284   9       620    4.40
Binghamton    92  14  .250  1237  229  18       555    3.88   
Sacramento    71   6  .237  1165  255  22       475    3.35

The only minor surprise here is that Binghamton, with better than average pitching, isn't more competitive; however, their offense is clearly not productive enough to compete against the likes of Duluth, Spokane, and Vero Beach. The other point to note is that, in a few years, lowly Sacramento may be fighting for the division crown if their pitching holds up and their offensive prospects develop.

--written by Jason Gohlke