PVBL: Washington Sea Dogs
Washington Gets Larry Walker
April 25, 1999

(AP) WASHINGTON--It has been long known that Washington had been looking for a powerhitter to augment their high-octane, low horsepower lineup.

Yesterday, they got two.

Washington dealt starting left fielder Johnny Damon, 1B/DH John Olerud, catcher Joe Girardi and a prospect to the Ann Arbor All-Knighters for superstar centerfielder Larry Walker and catcher Mike MacFarlane.

Washington General Manager Aaron Weiner, at a press conference early this morning, was ecstatic.

"The front office was electric yesterday, the whole team was totally enthused," Weiner said. "This deal may be as important to the franchise as the Ben McDonald and Lance Johnson deals of a year ago."

Walker, who was hitting just .284 with a homer and six steals at the time of the trade but is a career .310 hitter, said that Washington was one of the five teams he'd have been willing to go to.

"The Sea Dogs are perhaps the league's leader in trying to protect their veteran players," Walker said. "Barry Larkin gave me a call earlier this year and said that if I was willing to come here, he'd do everything in his power to keep me here. That made the difference."

Mike MacFarlane is perhaps an equally large acquisition. MacFarlane has been in a terrible slump this season, batting just .214 so far. But with a .287 average and 65 homers in his career, MacFarlane is, statistically, the best catcher in PVBL history, with nobody close.

"The offense behind the plate of Mike MacFarlane may have been the biggest reason we did this deal," Weiner said. "He's one of the best home run hitters around, and he'll make a great teacher for Ben Petrick."

The move also marks a definite switch in philosophy for the team. A year ago, the team became a contender with the acquisition of Gary Sheffield - which eventually led to the Lance Johnson trade - but were still holding onto their major prospects.

But this year, Washington has made little effort to hold onto many of their younger players, dealing top prospects like Don Coker, Johnny Damon, and Mike Baldwin.

"We're no longer a tweener team," Weiner said. "I mean, we used to be a team of a little star power, a little prospect, a lot of pitching. Now we're a little less prospect, a lot of star power, a lot of pitching."

Weiner also added that the team was hardly non-prospect.

"Well, I mean, think about it. We've still got Petrick and Abreu and Moisan and Kelly. We've still got Leefenhaufenhauz. We're still a very young ballclub. We're just trying to win the World Series," Weiner said.

Weiner said that it was hard giving up Damon and Baldwin.

"Well, we barely knew Olerud and Girardi; they've only been with us since the beginning of the season," Weiner said. "But Johnny Damon's been with us two years now, and we were really grooming Mike Baldwin to become our next closer."

Weiner said that the move was to try to stay ahead of their competition.

"It's a shame that we have to do this sort of thing to keep up with the Joneses, but we do, Weiner said. "Look at a team like Phoenix. They've got all kinds of powerhitting, and we're just trying to keep up with them."
* * *


Washington's lineup compared to Phoenix's
Washington             Phoenix

C  Mike MacFarlane     C  Maxwell Miestro
1B Mickey Kelly        1B Mark Whiten
2B Chuck Knoblauch     2B Alex Gonzalez
SS Barry Larkin        SS Derek Jeter
3B Robin Ventura       3B Paul Konerko
LF Lance Johnson       LF Dave Justice
CF Larry Walker        CF Shannon Stewart
RF Ernie Young         RF Raul Mondesi

"They're at least as power-packed as we are," Weiner said. "It's a major challenge just keeping ahead of them."

Washington won again today to take sole possession of the PVBL's best record at 13-5. Washington has never had sole control of this title.

"We're just trying to get on top and stay there," Weiner said. "That's all anyone can hope for."

--written by Aaron Weiner