~*TiGeRs f@N*~
02-19-2004, 11:55 PM
Expos' new lineup a balancing act
Club adds experienced bats to solid core
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com Buy tickets
Montreal Expos General Manager Omar Minaya and assistant GM Tony Siegle refuse to have a losing attitude, and they proved it during the offseason by improving their starting lineup.
After losing outfielder Vladimir Guerrero and first baseman Wil Cordero to free agency, the Expos traded pitcher Javier Vazquez to the New York Yankees in a deal that landed them first baseman Nick Johnson.
Johnson will play every day for the first time in his career. He is expected to play better defense than Cordero, drive in runs and have a high on-base percentage, which is needed on a team that ranked near the bottom in the category last season.
During baseball's Winter Meetings, the Expos signed outfielder Carl Everett to a two-year contract. The switch-hitting Everett will replace Guerrero in right field.
Everett is coming off one of his strongest seasons at the plate, hitting .287 with 28 home runs and 92 RBIs while playing for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox.
The Expos then gave themselves a belated Christmas present by signing third baseman Tony Batista to a one-year deal.
Last season, Batista hit .235 with 26 home runs and 99 RBIs. That's far better than the five third basemen --- Fernando Tatis, Jamey Carroll, Edwards Guzman, Jose Macias and Todd Zeile -- the Expos used last season. That quintet combined to hit .230 with nine home runs, 49 RBIs and 102 strikeouts.
With Johnson, Everett and Batista in the fold, the Expos believe that they have a more balanced lineup, which also features Jose Vidro, Orlando Cabrera, Brad Wilkerson, Terrmel Sledge and Brian Schneider.
"Arguably, we have a better starting eight than we've had [in the last three years]. We have a very good player at every position," Siegle said. "Now, we lost Vladdy and I'm not minimizing what he does. He's one of the greatest players I've ever been around. But he's not here, so you have to say, 'Look, that's by the boards. Let's do what we have to do.'
"Omar has been very aggressive. We've done good contracts with these guys. We have a good player at first. We have a good player at third. We have a very balanced team. We could probably use a little more right-handed hitting."
Everett was also pleased with the new lineup he's joining.
"I think if they do half of what they did last year, it's going to be pretty promising. ... You have Tony Batista, myself and added knowledge [on] the team. I think Montreal has gotten a little better than with what they had."
The Expos may have a better lineup, but they can't afford to have any of their starters miss a lot of games because of injury. The Expos don't have the strongest bench in the league.
If they lose, for instance, Vidro for a lengthy period, the Expos would use someone like Henry Mateo or Andy Fox at second base. Neither Mateo nor Fox can drive in runs and play defense like Vidro.
If Wilkerson had to go on the disabled list, who would be the Expos' leadoff hitter? Endy Chavez was given every chance to be the guy last year, but he was too impatient and had a low on-base percentage.
The organization believes that Sledge could be the guy, but he has a reputation for driving in runs in the middle of the order.
Last year, the Expos saw what happened when they lost a regular player for a lengthy period. When they lost Guerrero for almost two months because of a herniated disc in his lower back, the Expos went 22-28. His replacement, Ron Calloway, hit .240 with five home runs and 10 RBIs. Obviously, not Guerrero numbers.
Simply put, the Expos can't afford any injuries to their starting lineup if they want to compete in the Wild Card race. But if they stay healthy, the batting order could be an asset.
Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Club adds experienced bats to solid core
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com Buy tickets
Montreal Expos General Manager Omar Minaya and assistant GM Tony Siegle refuse to have a losing attitude, and they proved it during the offseason by improving their starting lineup.
After losing outfielder Vladimir Guerrero and first baseman Wil Cordero to free agency, the Expos traded pitcher Javier Vazquez to the New York Yankees in a deal that landed them first baseman Nick Johnson.
Johnson will play every day for the first time in his career. He is expected to play better defense than Cordero, drive in runs and have a high on-base percentage, which is needed on a team that ranked near the bottom in the category last season.
During baseball's Winter Meetings, the Expos signed outfielder Carl Everett to a two-year contract. The switch-hitting Everett will replace Guerrero in right field.
Everett is coming off one of his strongest seasons at the plate, hitting .287 with 28 home runs and 92 RBIs while playing for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox.
The Expos then gave themselves a belated Christmas present by signing third baseman Tony Batista to a one-year deal.
Last season, Batista hit .235 with 26 home runs and 99 RBIs. That's far better than the five third basemen --- Fernando Tatis, Jamey Carroll, Edwards Guzman, Jose Macias and Todd Zeile -- the Expos used last season. That quintet combined to hit .230 with nine home runs, 49 RBIs and 102 strikeouts.
With Johnson, Everett and Batista in the fold, the Expos believe that they have a more balanced lineup, which also features Jose Vidro, Orlando Cabrera, Brad Wilkerson, Terrmel Sledge and Brian Schneider.
"Arguably, we have a better starting eight than we've had [in the last three years]. We have a very good player at every position," Siegle said. "Now, we lost Vladdy and I'm not minimizing what he does. He's one of the greatest players I've ever been around. But he's not here, so you have to say, 'Look, that's by the boards. Let's do what we have to do.'
"Omar has been very aggressive. We've done good contracts with these guys. We have a good player at first. We have a good player at third. We have a very balanced team. We could probably use a little more right-handed hitting."
Everett was also pleased with the new lineup he's joining.
"I think if they do half of what they did last year, it's going to be pretty promising. ... You have Tony Batista, myself and added knowledge [on] the team. I think Montreal has gotten a little better than with what they had."
The Expos may have a better lineup, but they can't afford to have any of their starters miss a lot of games because of injury. The Expos don't have the strongest bench in the league.
If they lose, for instance, Vidro for a lengthy period, the Expos would use someone like Henry Mateo or Andy Fox at second base. Neither Mateo nor Fox can drive in runs and play defense like Vidro.
If Wilkerson had to go on the disabled list, who would be the Expos' leadoff hitter? Endy Chavez was given every chance to be the guy last year, but he was too impatient and had a low on-base percentage.
The organization believes that Sledge could be the guy, but he has a reputation for driving in runs in the middle of the order.
Last year, the Expos saw what happened when they lost a regular player for a lengthy period. When they lost Guerrero for almost two months because of a herniated disc in his lower back, the Expos went 22-28. His replacement, Ron Calloway, hit .240 with five home runs and 10 RBIs. Obviously, not Guerrero numbers.
Simply put, the Expos can't afford any injuries to their starting lineup if they want to compete in the Wild Card race. But if they stay healthy, the batting order could be an asset.
Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.