Washington Clinches Playoff Spot September 13, 1999
Larkin and McDonald Activated
(AP) WASHINGTON--The Washington Sea Dogs used one of the biggest offensive
days in team history to clinch their second consecutive playoff spot and
drop the Moncton Moose in both halves of a doubleheader 14-1 and 14-0.
Washington Manager Aaron Weiner, who realized that Washington's magic
number was two to clinch the wild card before the doubleheader today, gave
one instruction to his team.
"I told them to let it rain," Weiner said. "These guys definitely know
how to let it rain."
Washington has not yet clinched the Data Division title, but in the
drastically improbable case that Phoenix overtakes Washington's
fifteen-game lead with eighteen games left, Washington is still guaranteed
the wild card.
Team captain Chuck Knoblauch, who sat out the two previous games against
Moncton - both losses - said that he was starting to get annoyed.
"Well, we should have wrapped this thing up a week ago," Knoblauch said.
"Losing four in a row isn't what this team does, and I was damned if I was
going to let it get any worse than that."
Knoblauch tied with left fielder Lance Johnson with seven RBI on the day,
including his seventeenth homer. Knoblauch also had a steal on the day to
add to his league-leading 56, but could not match Johnson's five steals.
"I took Weiner's instruction to mean that we were going all-out against
Moncton today," Johnson said. "Weiner also showed us a clip from the
Moncton paper where they expressed pleasure at taking two in Washington -
I was damned if I was going to take that."
Another Sea Dog that had a big day was centerfielder Larry Walker, who
had a homer and five RBI; the RBI gave him 110 and moved him to within
four RBI of the league lead.
"If either Larry or Chuck isn't winning the MVP this year, they shouldn't
give out the award," said infielder Bill Mueller, who also homered in the
first game. "They're out there every day giving it their all."
In 14-0 and 14-1 games, it's often easy to forget about the pitchers, but
two Washington starters had huge outings as well.
Shawn Estes got the win in the first game, allowing just four hits and two
walks in seven innings while striking out a season-high ten. He
allowed hte only run on a Jose Guillen solo homer, but mostly kept
runners out of scoring position.
"Needless to say, I could have been awful today and still won this one,"
Estes said. "Our offense really put up a good showing out there, and it
relaxed me enough to just go out there and pitch."
Estes earned his seventeenth win of the season, second-highest in the
Defiant League. He has a chance at a 20-win season if he wins three of
his last four decisions.
"I won't lie; I'd love to win 20 games," Estes said. "But I'm happier
that we're in the playoffs."
The second game was another Tim Belcher masterpiece, as the righthander
threw eight shutout innings to post his eleventh victory. Belcher also
allowed just four hits and two walks, and struck out seven.
"I'm not sure that Belcher hasn't earned a starting spot in the playoffs,"
Weiner said, "but it'll be hard to displace any of the other guys. All I
can say is that he's a vital cog in our rotation."
Washington's magic number moves to four to win the division, meaning
unless Washington loses fifteen of their last eighteen games, they will
win their first division title.
"We'd like to happen at home against Vero Beach," Weiner said. "It would
be very symbolic, too, because we beat them in the playoffs last year and
we'd clinch the league's best record, which they had last year."
Washington will host Vero Beach for three games before an off-day, ending
a 10-game homestand. The Sea Dogs will face the brunt of the Vero
rotation, as they will see, in order, Ismael Valdes, Albie Lopez and
Willie Adams.
Washington is now 98-46 on the season, a .681 winning percentage.
Notes and Quotes:
"Woah. That rocked."
-Third baseman Ernie Young
"It's kind of strange to be in the playoffs. I haven't even ever been on
a winning team before, and now I'm the cleanup hitter of the top franchise
in the league."
-Center fielder Larry Walker
While many of Washington's players were with the team last year when they
made their playoff run to the World Series, many of the 1999 Sea Dogs have
never seen a playoff game before.
Most notable among this list is Larry Walker, who might not only make the
playoffs for the first time, but might also win his first league MVP at
the end of the year.
Walker, who is in the top ten in every major offensive category
(average, slugging, on-base, homers, RBI, runs, stolen bases, walks) and
leads the league in runs, says that winning in the playoffs is more
important than winning the MVP.
"You have to remember, it's my team that carried me to the MVP, not
myself," Walker said. "You can't drive in 110 runs unless there's 110
guys to drive in. So it's more important that I win in the playoffs
becaues it's a team accomplishment, not a personal one."
Another notable first-timer is starting pitcher Alex Fernandez, who has
fifteen wins since joining the Sea Dogs and has been a large part of their
league-best record.
"Hey, it's not just a switch being on a winning team, it's kind of strange
winning games," said Fernandez, who sports a career 38-40 record despite a
3.45 ERA. "At the beginning of the season, I was just looking to win a
game. Now I have fifteen."
Other players likely to make their first playoff appearance are Devon
White, Jim Eisenreich, Mike MacFarlane, Eddie Murray and Tim Belcher.
Trade-acquired Mike Timlin, Jeff King, Roy Clingman and John Wetteland all
have playoff experience, and Bill Mueller was with the Sea Dogs last year.
"Most of our nucleus was with us when we made the run last year," Manager
Aaron Weiner said. "We're a very experienced team now."
* * *
Weiner said that even outside of injuries, Washington's postseason roster
has yet to be fully set.
"There are some guys who are definitely in there," Weiner said. "But
there are some fringe guys, too - we've got some choices."
Weiner said that the position players who are certain to be in the
playoffs are Chuck Knoblauch, Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Lance Johnson,
Jeff King, Ernie Young, Jim Eisenreich, Mike MacFarlane, Ben Petrick,
Mickey Kelly, Devon White and Eddie Murray.
The pitchers who are locks are Alex Fernandez, Ben McDonald, Mackenzee
Leefenhaufenhauz, Shawn Estes, Tim Belcher, John Wetteland, Delino Wilson,
Mike Timlin, Paul Kilgus and Nealy Becker.
Weiner said that Bill Mueller and Harold Baines would probably be in as
well.
"Bill Mueller's almost certain to be in there; he's done an admirable job
this season filling in for Barry and Chuck," Weiner said. "And Harold
Baines will probably be in there too; he's had a fine season."
But that still leaves a spot open for discussion. Before the season, it
was almost a certainty that John Burkett would be in the playoffs as the
long man, a role he filled last year.
"This year, though, we have no idea who's going to get the last spot,"
Weiner said. "It comes down to a few factors, not the least of them the
decision whether to carry an extra catcher or not."
If Washington decides to carry a pitcher instead, they have an assortment
of choices. Roy Clingman, Jr. is the logical choice, but despite his
career 2.72 ERA, he has posted a horrific 5.91 ERA this season. Burkett
is in the mix, as is recently re-acquired Hank Gill.
"Some of it depends on their performance in September, and some of it's
playoff experience," Weiner said. "Gill probably won't make it this year
because of his youth, but if he continues to wow me, he's got a real
shot."
Gill, who was acquired with a 6.00 ERA, has yet to allow a run in three
appearancees for the Sea Dogs.
"If I don't make it this year, maybe I will somewhere down the road," Gill
said. "But yeah, everyone wants to play in the playoffs."
* * *
Washington will have some help against Vero Beach, as Ben McDonald, who
was activated today, will face last year's Cy Young award winner, Albie
Lopez, in the second game of the series.
"It's a tribute to Ben's ability and his work ethic in getting back into
the rotation that we're giving him the start against Lopez," Weiner said.
"It's a tough assignment for the first game back, but we're hoping to get
Ben into playoff shape."
McDonald is excited about the opportunity to pitch against Vero Beach, a
team he beat twice in the playoffs last year.
"Well, it's a big assignment, but I think I can handle it," McDonald said.
"I'm just sorry I had to be out so long."
McDonald will be making his first start since July, when he injured his
triceps.
"I had enough time off after the All-Star Game; it just didn't work out
right," McDonald said. "I'll never do THAT again."
Also returning to the lineup against Vero will be All-Star shortstop Barry
Larkin, who will start against Ismael Valdes but have the day off against
Lopez.
"We're going to bring Barry back slow," Weiner said. "He's been resting
his foot, and he's fine, but we're in the playoffs. We're not going to
rush him."
Larkin agreed with Weiner.
"There's no reason I have to be out there every day at this point in the
season," Larkin said. "When we made all those mid-season moves, Aaron
told me that it was partially so that I could rest in September, and so
I'm going to rest in September."
Mackenzee Leefenhaufenhauz will face off against Valdes, and Alex
Fernandez will face former Sea Dog Willie Adams.
