PVBL: Washington Sea Dogs
Washington Knocking on the Doorstep
October 2, 1999

(AP) WASHINGTON--Is Ben McDonald back from his injury three months ago? Just ask his teammates.

"Ben was as good today as I've ever seen him," captain Chuck Knoblauch said. "Maybe better."

McDonald, in his second start back from the disabled list, pitched eight innings of two-run baseball today as the Washington Sea Dogs downed the Battle Axe Knights 5-2.

McDonald allowed six hits and three walks in the eight innings, striking out six. He said had something to prove to himself after his last outing, where he surrendered six runs in six-plus innings.

"Listen, this was my last start before the playoffs, and I wanted to make it a good one," McDonald said. "The guys are behind me all the way, but I know how much they're counting on me, and I wanted to make sure I'm ready."

McDonald, who will pitch in Washington's first home playoff game, Game 3 of the Division Series, has drawn this role instead of his customary Game 1 spot because he wanted another warmup start.

"I wanted to make sure that I was ready to go for this one, and it's as exciting to draw the first home start as it is the first start in the series," McDonald said.

Washington's John Wetteland got his fifteenth save to clinch third place in the Defiant League in that category. Wetteland is listed as fifth, but those ahead and tied with him collected saves in the Enterprise League.

"Well, sure it's a good year when you get double-digit saves," said Wetteland, who had just career 21 saves going into the regular season.

Washington also got two more stolen bases from Player of the Year candidate Larry Walker, giving him 52. Walker said that he appreciated his owner going to bat for him in the awards race.

"Listen, it always makes you feel pretty good to hear that management appreciates what you've done," said Walker, who has hit just eleven homers after the All-Star Break. "I don't know if I'm even the most valuable member of the team, though."

Walker said that he believed Knoblauch was the team's most valuable player.

"If you want to know what's held us together all year, you don't have to look any further than Chuck," Walker said. "He's the soul of this team, he's out there every day playing the hardest of any of us."

Washington's manager, Aaron Weiner, agrees with Walker about Knoblauch's importance to the team, but believes that there is no team MVP on the Sea Dogs.

"This isn't a question of MVPs, it's a question of how many people have stepped up for us this year," Weiner said. "We've got seven regulars hitting .290 or better, and four guys with fifteen wins. That's a full team effort."

Washington is now 108-53, and has the best regular-season record in Defiant League history, eclipsing the previous record of 106-56 by the 1997 Punxatawney Groundhogs. They need one more win to obtain a tie for the PVBL record of 109 wins.

Weiner said that the team has expressed interest, and to oblige them he will use the starting lineup in the final game of the year against Knights starter Chris Haney. Devon White, who was removed from the game after being hit by a pitch, will be the only omission.

"No bones about it, we're sending out the main unit tomorrow," said Weiner. "The only guy we're gonna rest is Devo, to make sure he's 100%.

"The team wants the record."


Notes and Quotes:

"See, that's the problem when you win too many games. People take you for granted."

-GM Aaron Weiner

"If we were any more ready for the playoffs, we'd have played them already."

-Third baseman Ernie Young

* * *


McDonald was be the last "regular" starter for the Sea Dogs before the playoffs. John Burkett, who will not be on the postseason roster, will get the start tomorrow for the Sea Dogs.

The story of Burkett is an unfortunate drop. Last year, Burkett provided solid starting pitching for the Sea Dogs and found a place as a long man in the playoffs after McDonald, Leefenhaufenhauz, Estes and Chad Ogea.

But Burkett surrendered an average of three home runs per nine innings in the first half, and Washington acquired Tim Belcher to fill the void.


Collect Sea Dogs Memorabilia!

Compare Washington's 1998 Defiant League Champions with their 1999 squad!

Lineup:
1998                1999

C   Ben Petrick     Mike MacFarlane
1B  Mickey Kelly    Jeff King
2B  Chuck Knoblauch Knoblauch
SS  Barry Larkin    Larkin
3B  Bill Mueller    Ernie Young
LF  Johnny Damon    Lance Johnson
CF  Lance Johnson   Larry Walker
RF  Ernie Young     Devon White

Pitchers:
SP Ben McDonald     Estes
SP M. Leefenhaufen. Alex Fernandez
SP Chad Ogea        McDonald
SP Shawn Estes      Leefenhaufenhauz

RP John Burkett     RP Tim Belcher
RP Nigel Fernandez  RP Paul Kilgus
RP Delino Wilson    RP Mike Timlin
RP Bobby Ayala      RP Delino Wilson
RP Fred Smith       RP Nealy Becker
RP Hank Gill        RP (DL) Nigel Fernandez
CL Ben Hamlin       CL John Wetteland

"I've seen better days than these," Burkett said. "I almost regret not having asked for a trade earlier this season, knowing I wouldn't be on the postseason roster."

Washington will pitch 18-game winner Shawn Estes in the opener against Phoenix. Weiner says that pitching Estes is largely a strategy move.

"We're in a situation where we could pitch just about anyone in the first game of the series who's ready to go," Weiner said. "But Estes is the hardest thrower on our staff and the only lefty, so he should set up the rest of our starters nicely."

Estes, who was one of the league's most improved pitchers last year, said that he completely turned the corner this season.

"I get more and more confident every time I go out there," Estes, who allowed just over three walks per nine innings this season, down from his career mark of four and a half. "The work I did in the offseason on my control made all the difference."

When asked why he did not start Alex Fernandez, a more experienced veteran, in the first game of the series, Weiner responded that Estes was the better pitcher in the second half.

"If you examine the numbers, Estes has been just dominating in the second half," Weiner said. "He's been our best starter. Besides, he was with us during the playoff run last year, and that counts for a lot in my book."

* * *


Washington, for all their offseason finagling, will put mostly the same team on the field for 1999 as in 1998.

The major acquisitions, of course, were centerfielder Larry Walker, an MVP candidate, starting pitcher Alex Fernandez and designated hitter Jim Eisenreich. But for all the motion, most of the new faces will be in the bullpen, not in the lineup or rotation.

"There were several spots I thought we needed to upgrade after last season," GM Aaron Weiner said. "I feel like we've accomplished most of what we wanted to accomplish."

Much has been written about Walker and Fernandez, both All-Stars. However, Jim Eisenreich's importance has often been overlooked. As much as anyone, Eisenreich contributed to the Sea Dogs' success.

Eisenreich has hit .310 as a Sea Dog and has stayed in the top ten of the batting average leaders all year. Only recently has his strikeout total risen to double-digits, and his contact bat has proven itself invaluable in advancing runners and getting on base.

"Listen, I found out I like playing here," Eisenreich said. "This is a veteran ballclub that manages to keep its chemistry intact no matter who comes in or out. And it's always nice to be batting between Lance Johnson and Chuck Knoblauch."

But most of Washington's major acquisitions have been in the bullpen. The biggest, of course, was that of John Wetteland. Wetteland, with fifteen saves, gives Washington a closer with playoff experience, a strong arm and poise.

"I can't underestimate the value of Mr. Wetteland's performance this year," Weiner said. "He's been incredibly important to our ballclub."

Mike Timlin has also been a major part of the bullpen in the regular season. Acquired from Moncton, Timlin has posted an ERA of under three with Washington.

"I missed being on a winner, and once I was involved in a deep pen like this, I wasn't going to mess it up," Timlin said.

Weiner was also appreciative of Timlin's efforts.

"He's been our most consistent second-half reliever, which is saying a lot since we got him at the All-Star Break," Weiner said. "I can't remember five bad appearances he's had, heck, even three."

But perhaps Washington's most important "acquisition" came from their AAA affiliate, Towson. Paul Kilgus, a journeyman reliever with excellent skills, was called up in the midst of several Washington injuries. Kilgus immediately pitched eight innings of one-run ball, and has been a bullpen mainstay ever since.

Kilgus, who has a 1.93 ERA in 37+ innings, said that he thought he would never get the call, and didn't expect his success.

"Listen, it had gotten so bad that I'd written my letter of retirement at mid-season," Kilgus, a 37 year-old, 12-year veteran said. "Then they got some injuries at the major-league level, and I got my shot."

However, Kilgus says that he may retire after the season anyway if the Sea Dogs win the title.

"Listen, this would be like a dream come true, pitching this well during the regular season and then maybe helping my team get to the World Series," Kilgus said. "It'd take a lot of thinking anyway; everyone wants to go out on top."

* * *


Nigel Fernandez will be on the Sea Dogs' postseason roster.

"I didn't want to go into the playoffs without Nigel Fernandez if it was possible to avoid it," manager Aaron Weiner said. "He's vital to our bullpen."

Fernandez, who posted a career-high 4.09 ERA but is considered to be one of the league's finest relievers, said that he feels grateful to get a shot in the playoffs.

"I'm happy to be healthy again," said Fernandez, who threw off a mound yesterday for the first time in two months. "And I'm really happy that Aaron allowed me to pitch in the playoffs."

While Fernandez may not be activated unless the Sea Dogs advance to the second round, it is more likely that he will be back in the bullpen by the time Washington returns to Washington in the Division Series.

"Listen, he could be ready by Game 4 in Phoenix," Weiner said. "I'm not 100% sure how I'm going to use him yet, but I know he'll be in there."

Fernandez allowed just fifty hits and eight walks in fifty-five innings during the regular season. His high ERA stems mostly from the seven homers he allowed during the season.

--written by Aaron Weiner