ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍËÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º ÛßßßÛ ÛßßßÛ ÛßßßÛ ÛßßßÛ ßßÛßß ÛßßßÛ ÛßßßÜ Ûßßßß ÛßßßÛ ßßÛßß º Issue VII º º ÛÜÜÜÜ ÛÜÜÜÛ Û Û ÛÜÜÜÛ Û ÛÜÜÜÜ ÛÜÜÜß ÛÜÜÜ ÛÜÜÜÛ Û º April 1994 º º Ü Û Û Û Û Û ßÜ Û Ü Û Û Û Û Û Û Û º Written by º º ßßßßß ß ßßßßß ß ß ß ßßßßß ßßßß ßßßßß ß ß ß º D.P. McIntire º ÌÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÊÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ͹ º SPORTSBEAT is a magazine distributed via the shareware marketing concept. º º If you find it worthy, please send a registration of $ 3.00 to: D.P. º º McIntire ù P.O. Box 52084 ù Raleigh, NC 27612-2084. º º º º SPORTSBEAT may be freely distributed via CBBS, the Internet, FidoNet, or º º similar networks. CBBS operators may place it online as a bulletin or door º º or other means. SPORTSBEAT may also be distributed via CD-ROM diskette. º º All other methods of distribution are considered violations of copyrights º º and will be prosecuted accordingly. º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º TABLE OF CONTENTS. º º (1) D.P. McIntire's picks for Baseball '94. º º (2) A guest chimes in: Ted Amick's picks. º º (3) A gate crasher chimes in: Vicki Benamati's picks. º º (4) Will baseball have a players strike in '94? º º (5) Look out Durham, here I come! º º (6) Another Short issue, I know... º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º D.P. McINTIRE'S PICKS FOR BASEBALL '94. º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ As this issue of SportsBeat is written with great haste, I took all of, oh, 90 seconds to determine how I felt baseball would finish six months from now under its new divisional alignment structure. I spent more time trying to remember baseball's new alignments than I did trying to decide who would win what divisions. Now, with the baseball season rapidly approaching, here are my picks for baseball in 1994: NATIONAL LEAGUE OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CLUBS EASTERN DIVISION: CENTRAL DIVISION: WESTERN DIVISION: Atlanta Braves Houston Astros S.Francisco Giants Montreal Expos Chicago Cubs Los Angeles Dodgers Philadelphia Phillies St.Louis Cardinals Colorado Rockies Florida Marlins Pittsburgh Pirates San Diego Padres New York Mets Cincinnati Reds WILD-CARD: Surprise! Montreal Expos. NL CHAMP: Atlanta Braves, unless they fall off a cliff or something. AMERICAN LEAGUE OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CLUBS EASTERN DIVISION: CENTRAL DIVISION: WESTERN DIVISION: Baltimore Orioles Chicago White Sox Texas Rangers New York Yankees Cleveland Indians California Angels Detroit Tigers Milwaukee Brewers Seattle Mariners Toronto Blue Jays Kansas City Royals Oakland A's Boston Red Sox Minnesota Twins WILD-CARD: Another surprise! Major League comes to life! The Indians! AL CHAMP: Baltimore Orioles. If not the O's, Texas... they're due. 1994 WORLD SERIES: Take Baltimore over Atlanta, or Texas over Atlanta. Either way, the Braves drop their third in four years. ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º A GUEST CHIMES IN: TED AMICK'S PICKS. º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ Ted is the system operator of Spirit, a sports-oriented BBS located in my old hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania. Ted's system has been up for a little over a year now, and you can reach it at 412-465-8861 Nù8ù1 300/14400: NATIONAL LEAGUE OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CLUBS EASTERN DIVISION: CENTRAL DIVISION: WESTERN DIVISION: Philadelphia Phillies Cincinnati Reds S.Francisco Giants Atlanta Braves St.Louis Cardinals Los Angeles Dodgers Montreal Expos Pittsburgh Pirates San Diego Padres Florida Marlins Chicago Cubs Colorado Rockies New York Mets Houston Astros WILD-CARD: Atlanta Braves. NL CHAMP: Atlanta Braves. AMERICAN LEAGUE OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CLUBS EASTERN DIVISION: CENTRAL DIVISION: WESTERN DIVISION: Toronto Blue Jays Chicago White Sox Texas Rangers New York Yankees Kansas City Royals Seattle Mariners Detroit Tigers Cleveland Indians Oakland A's Boston Red Sox Minnesota Twins California Angels Baltimore Orioles Milwaukee Brewers WILD-CARD: New York Yankees. AL CHAMP: Chicago White Sox. 1994 WORLD SERIES: Chicago White Sox over Atlanta Braves. ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º A GATE CRASHER CHIMES IN: VICKI BENAMATI'S PICKS. º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ Vicki is the system operator of another board from my old hometown, Eagle. She knows very little about baseball, but I figured that I'd let at least one female give a go at picking baseball's best, as Ted or I probably are not capable of doing any better. You can catch Vicki on The Eagle at 412-479-0548 Nù8ù1 300/14400. Before going any further, Vicki is using the most scientific method of predictions of any of us - she is basing her choices entirely on the color schemes of the uniforms of the teams... NATIONAL LEAGUE OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CLUBS EASTERN DIVISION: CENTRAL DIVISION: WESTERN DIVISION: Florida Marlins Houston Astros Colorado Rockies Atlanta Braves St.Louis Cardinals S.Francisco Giants Philadelphia Phillies Chicago Cubs San Diego Padres Montreal Expos Pittsburgh Pirates Los Angeles Dodgers New York Mets Cincinnati Reds WILD-CARD: Atlanta Braves. NL CHAMP: Colorado Rockies! Jeez! AMERICAN LEAGUE OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CLUBS EASTERN DIVISION: CENTRAL DIVISION: WESTERN DIVISION: Baltimore Orioles Chicago White Sox Texas Rangers New York Yankees Cleveland Indians Seattle Mariners Toronto Blue Jays Kansas City Royals California Angels Detroit Tigers Milwaukee Brewers Oakland A's Boston Red Sox Minnesota Twins WILD-CARD: Cleveland Indians. AL CHAMP: Baltimore Orioles. 1994 WORLD SERIES: Baltimore Orioles. ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º WILL BASEBALL HAVE A PLAYERS STRIKE IN '94? º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ Baseball's powers that be are seriously talking about a strike this season, the first with a six-division alignment. With baseball revenues in a total state of flux, management of the leagues without a Commissioner to help some things straighten out, and a host of other problems such as revenue sharing, a strike right now would bury MLB for good. Think about it: 1981 - players walk out for the better end of half a year due to free agency. The result? The biggest attendance for the year "post- strike" was at the All-Star Game in Cleveland. If a Labor Day strike hits in 1994, you can kiss the rest of the season goodbye in all likelihood, and if its a prolonged strike, you can say sayonara to the fans as well, as we'll all be paying our dough to see the kids in the minors. The players, owners, etc., had better wake up to the reality that rather than promoting their game better, they are burying it. The NL and AL title series will not be seen by everyone - they plan a sort of sharing plan where the audience sees parts of each game. It's a damned joke. I heard on the radio today that the Pittsburgh Pirates will have one, and only one, Saturday afternoon game. If you are like, over the age of 18, then you won't see a weekend day game all year. Gimme a break! I'd rather watch the minors, which brings me to... ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º LOOK OUT DURHAM, HERE I COME! º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ I will be seeing at least 10 home games of the Durham Bulls AA team this coming season, primarily because the team plays less than 30 miles from my new home of Raleigh, North Carolina. The Bulls, home of the famous outfield bull that the Hall of Fame wanted to enshrine, are my new home team. I've traded in my old Pittsburgh Pirates, full of millionaire no-talents, for new faces with just a few bucks in their pockets, as the Durham Bulls aren't known for paying millions in salaries (their parent in the Majors, the Atlanta Braves, are another story, however). If the major league players decide to strike, the minors will still go on, with teams like the Fort Wayne Wizards, Carolina Mudcats, Brantford Smoke, and of course, my newly beloved Durham Bulls... and I'll be looking forward to seeing them. ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º ANOTHER SHORT ISSUE, I KNOW... º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ For the second month in a row, I've cut loose on a short, yet informative issue of SportsBeat. Hopefully next month's issue won't be a baseball exclusive, and maybe I'll get around to talking about the Jerry & Barry Show in Dallas, but I figured I'd dedicate April to baseball... see you next month. - end -