BASEBALL 1993 : Thrill of Victory Worth It to Carter

It was only a few years ago, Joe Carter will tell you, when no one wanted to play in Toronto. Too cold. Too far. Too expensive. Too much standing in line for customs.

“It was nothing against the city,” Carter said, “but nobody wanted to play there. I hated the place. I’d always say, ‘Trade me to Cleveland, but don’t ever send me to Toronto or Montreal.’

“When I first got traded there, I told myself I was leaving the first chance I got.”

But winning can change one’s perspective.

Carter, who lives in a luxurious home in a Kansas City suburb, a few miles away from where his wife grew up, had the opportunity to play for his hometown team this winter. He became a free agent and was offered a $10-million signing bonus and a guaranteed contract for four years.

“Two years ago, I would have jumped at it,” Carter said.

To the surprise of the Royals, and most of his own family, Carter chose to stay in Toronto, playing for less than Kansas City offered.

“There’s just something about winning,” Carter said. “I never played for a winner before and have never been in a first-class organization like Toronto. I wasn’t going to let it go.”

The Blue Jays, after winning their first World Series championship, should be back once again. Here is a look at the teams in the order of projected finish:

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

1992 finish: 96-66, first place.

Outlook: The Blue Jays might have assured themselves a rematch with the Atlanta Braves in the World Series when they scooped up underrated outfielder Darrin Jackson from the San Diego Padres. Jackson, who hit 38 homers over the last two years, will provide excellent defense in left field and offers protection for the middle of the order by batting sixth. The Blue Jays lost starting pitcher Jimmy Key, bullpen stopper Tom Henke and designated hitter Dave Winfield to free agency, but picked up free-agent DH Paul Molitor, pitcher Dave Stewart and shortstop Dick Schofield. Their biggest fear is the left side of the infield. They were happy to dump third baseman Kelly Gruber to the Angels and had no interest in keeping free agent shortstop Manuel Lee, but never adequately replaced them. They are going with part-time catcher Ed Sprague at third base and will use Schofield at shortstop, hoping he can fill in until highly touted prospect Alex Gonzales is ready. The Toronto pitching could pose a problem if veterans Jack Morris and Stewart crumble. Although they have a combined 383 victories and seven 20-victory seasons, both are on the downside of their careers.

New faces: Designated hitter Molitor, outfielder Jackson, pitcher Stewart, infielders Schofield, Darnell Coles and Luis Sojo.

Must have: Early permission to print playoff tickets.

Don’t have: Any way to avoid the long lines at customs.

NEW YORK YANKEES

1992 finish: 76-86, tied for fourth.

Outlook: Yankee fans rose as one the night of July 30, 1990, erupting into a thunderous standing ovation when the news arrived that principal owner George Steinbrenner would receive a “lifetime suspension” for his involvement with gambler Howard Spira. The Yankees didn’t have a winning season in Steinbrenner’s absence. It was no secret Steinbrenner was lurking during the winter meetings, in which New York signed free agent pitcher Jimmy Key and third baseman Wade Boggs and acquired starter Jim Abbott from the Angels. The Yankees are expected to climb into contention for the first time since 1986, and if they falter, General Manager Gene Michaels and Manager Buck Showalter could be next on Steinbrenner’s firing line. The starting rotation of Melido Perez, Key, Abbott, Bob Wickman and Sam Militello will be formidable, and the return of Steve Howe will help the bullpen. The Yankees were 58-74 after Howe’s suspension in June last season, and the bullpen yielded a league-high 4.68 earned-run average during the second half of the season. The revolving door continues at shortstop, with Spike Owen becoming the 25th starter for the Yankees since the Orioles’ Cal Ripken began his consecutive game streak.

New faces: Principal owner Steinbrenner, pitchers Abbott and Key, infielders Boggs and Owen, outfielder Paul O’Neill.

Must have: Right fielder Danny Tartabull stay healthy for a full season.

Don’t have: Another commissioner willing to suspend Steinbrenner.

BOSTON RED SOX

1992 finish: 73-89, seventh place.

Outlook: The Red Sox, whose idea of a 30-30 player is someone in his 30s who has had 30 operations, suddenly have an abundance of thirtysomething players with bad knees and good attitudes. It’s the Boston way. When they couldn’t get Kirby Puckett, Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire this winter, the Red Sox bid against themselves and got Andre Dawson. It’s the same organization that, in recent years, parted with first baseman Jeff Bagwell, outfielder Brady Anderson and pitcher Curt Schilling. The Red Sox dumped Wade Boggs, Jody Reed, Ellis Burks, Tom Brunansky, Phil Plantier and Eric Wedge--four of whom were on the 1992 opening day roster--and have only middle reliever Jose Melendez to show for it. Last season, nine Red Sox outfielders combined for 31 homers--three fewer than the Indians’ Albert Belle. They still haven’t found a leadoff hitter, although theirs, Bob Zupcic, had a major league-low .282 on-base percentage last season. They led the big leagues last season with 26 blown saves, so they acquired Jeff Russell, who has blown more saves the last two years than anyone in baseball. Fans are already talking about firing Manager Butch Hobson before opening day and replacing him with Whitey Herzog.

New faces: Outfielders Dawson and Ivan Calderon, pitchers Russell, Scott Bankhead and Melendez, infielders Scott Fletcher and Ernest Riles, catcher Bob Melvin.

Must have: A strong start to prevent Hobson from being fired.

Don’t have: Anyone to exorcise the Curse of the Bambino, which has kept the Red Sox from winning the World Series since 1918 Babe Ruth was sold to the Yankees.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

1992 finish: 89-73, third.

Outlook: The Orioles, who have the fourth-worst record in baseball since winning a World Series championship in 1983, apparently believe they are legitimate contenders. Why else would they sit around all winter without trying to strengthen the club? Despite the plethora of talent available in the free agent market, the only player Baltimore bought was aging second baseman Harold Reynolds, and it dumped Billy Ripken. Considering the Orioles made a killing at the box office, who can blame the fans for being angry at management’s refusal to re-sign pitchers Craig Lefferts and Bob Milacki, outfielder Joe Orsulak and infielder Randy Milligan? Fernando Valenzuela might have stolen the show this spring, but this is a team that now must count on him. The Orioles must have another injury-free season from their starting rotation, and critics wonder if they can expect to have a repeat performance. Can they duplicate their effort of a year ago, when they pitched a league-high 16 shutouts and won 21 games in which they scored three or fewer runs? Can Rick Sutcliffe, 36, win 16 games and pitch 237 innings again? Does anyone care that designated hitter Harold Baines, acquired from Oakland, has not driven in 100 runs since 1985, despite hitting in the middle of powerful lineups in Chicago, Texas and Oakland? Shouldn’t there be concerns about shortstop Cal Ripken, who had a career-low 14 homers and 72 runs batted in last season? Are the Orioles for real, or was 1992 a mirage?

New faces: Designated hitter Baines, second baseman Reynolds, pitcher Steve Searcy.

Must have: Ripken prove last season was a fluke.

Don’t have: The Valenzuela of 10 years ago.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

1992 finish: 92-70, second place.

Outlook: The Brewers lost the heart and soul of their team, Paul Molitor, to free agency. They lost their ace, Chris Bosio, to free agency. They lost starting third baseman Kevin Seitzer and infielder Scott Fletcher to free agency. Understandably, acting Commissioner Bud Selig, who owns the Brewers, is predicting doomsday for baseball until it adopts revenue sharing. The Brewers made a strong run at the division title last season, but they shouldn’t this year. They have to rely on John Jaha at first base, former shortstop Billy Spiers at second base and converted catcher B.J. Surhoff at third. Scouts even wonder if shortstop Pat Listach, the 1992 American League Rookie of the Year, had a fluke season. Most important, the Brewers have to learn how to win without Molitor. Since he joined the club in 1978, Milwaukee played .545 baseball (1,011-845) with him in the lineup and .445 (230-287) without him.

New faces: Outfielders Tom Brunansky and Kevin Reimer, infielders Dickie Thon and Bill Doran, pitchers Graeme Lloyd, Carlos Maldonado and Josia Manzanillo.

Must have: A love for bratwurst and beer to sit in the stands and watch the Brewers this season.

Don’t have: Any hope of adequately replacing Molitor and Bosio.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

1992 finish: 76-86, tied for fourth.

Outlook: It is impossible to gauge the psychological effect the fatal boating accident will have on the club. Their had been optimism in Cleveland that the Indians would finish closer to first than last for the first time in 26 years; instead, the team has spent the last two weeks mourning the deaths of pitchers Steve Olin and Tim Crews. Olin saved 29 games and had eight victories last season, and Crews was projected to be his set-up man. Bob Ojeda, who suffered head injuries in the accident but is expected to recover, was projected to be the No. 2 starter. Cleveland will revamp its plans and go with a bullpen-by-committee and will temporarily replace Ojeda in the rotation with Chad Ogea, who never has pitched higher than double-A.

New faces: Pitchers Ojeda, Mike Bielecki and Ogea, infielder Jeff Treadway.

Must have: Resiliency to recover from the tragedy.

Don’t have: Much hope that this year will be different than any other.

DETROIT TIGERS

1992 finish: 75-87, sixth place.

Outlook: It might be only spring training, but any team that can play 16 games without a victory has problems. The Tigers’ biggest weakness once again is pitching. This is a team that yielded a 4.60 ERA last season, highest in the major leagues since 1987 and the highest by the Tigers in 39 years. They also ranked last in strikeouts the last two seasons. So Detroit signed three free agents to bolster the pitching staff. Unfortunately for Tiger fans, they are Mike Moore, Bill Krueger and Tom Bolton. The Tigers still are trying to figure out what they did to deservetheir schedule. They have four West Coast trips, including the traditional Milwaukee-to-Anaheim run, and play only four home games from June 20 to July 19. The Tigers’ best acquisition is Mike Ilitch, who bought the club during the summer. He committed $75.8 million to the payroll this winter and $8 million to refurbish Tiger Stadium. Perhaps the best use of his money was supplying a five-year, $36-million contract to first baseman Cecil Fielder. For a team that relies on the home run, leading the big leagues the last three seasons, no one is more vital than Fielder. He has hit 130 homers the last three seasons, the most in a three-year span in the big leagues since Frank Howard’s 136 homers in 1968-1970. He also joins Babe Ruth as the only players to ever lead the big leagues in RBIs for three consecutive seasons. The most intriguing feature might be the new role of Alan Trammell. He becomes a utility player for the first time while Travis Fryman moves to shortstop.

New faces: Pitchers Moore, Krueger and Bolton, outfielders Kirk Gibson and Gary Thurman.

Must have: A love for 8-7 games.

Don’t have: Any way to apologize to Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who was unceremoniously dumped last season and brought back this year by Ilitch.