amag
02-09-2002, 09:18 AM
2001 in review (ESPN.com)
2001 in review
What went right?
Thanks to a hamstrung hamstring, Bobby Bonilla started the season on the DL, which led to the promotion of somebody named Albert Pujols to the 25-man roster, which led to the greatest rookie season since Ted Williams. Matt Morris, who spent the 2000 season primarily as a reliever after Tommy John surgery, became a bonafide No. 1 starter who dueled with Curt Schilling in the playoffs. The August trade that shipped clubhouse nightmare Ray Lankford to San Diego brought in Woody Williams, who won seven of eight decisions and strengthened the rotation.
What went wrong?
A 9-2 loss to Houston on the season's final day that cost the Cardinals the division and forced them to play at Arizona to open the playoffs. Rick Ankiel only won one of six starts and finished with a 7.12 ERA in only 24 innings pitched. In what would be his final season, Mark McGwire played in only 97 games and hit .187.
In retrospect, the critical decisions were:
1. Trading underachieving 3B Fernando Tatis for Dustin Hermanson and Steve Kline. Hermanson (14-13) had the second winning season of his career and Kline, a one-man bullpen, was the most valuable pitcher on the staff.
2. Bringing up Pujols in spring training.
3. Moving Ankiel to Florida and then Johnson City, where he was free of pressure and helped put his career back in line after 17 walks in 4 1/3 innings and a 20.77 ERA after his demotion to Memphis.
2001 in review
What went right?
Thanks to a hamstrung hamstring, Bobby Bonilla started the season on the DL, which led to the promotion of somebody named Albert Pujols to the 25-man roster, which led to the greatest rookie season since Ted Williams. Matt Morris, who spent the 2000 season primarily as a reliever after Tommy John surgery, became a bonafide No. 1 starter who dueled with Curt Schilling in the playoffs. The August trade that shipped clubhouse nightmare Ray Lankford to San Diego brought in Woody Williams, who won seven of eight decisions and strengthened the rotation.
What went wrong?
A 9-2 loss to Houston on the season's final day that cost the Cardinals the division and forced them to play at Arizona to open the playoffs. Rick Ankiel only won one of six starts and finished with a 7.12 ERA in only 24 innings pitched. In what would be his final season, Mark McGwire played in only 97 games and hit .187.
In retrospect, the critical decisions were:
1. Trading underachieving 3B Fernando Tatis for Dustin Hermanson and Steve Kline. Hermanson (14-13) had the second winning season of his career and Kline, a one-man bullpen, was the most valuable pitcher on the staff.
2. Bringing up Pujols in spring training.
3. Moving Ankiel to Florida and then Johnson City, where he was free of pressure and helped put his career back in line after 17 walks in 4 1/3 innings and a 20.77 ERA after his demotion to Memphis.