We do indeed get Terry Mulholland off waivers from the Mets and he does come in at Zane Smith’s expense to fill a Long Relief / ESP role. He is an ineligible in his walk year and I don’t seem him being retained past the season now in progress.
Andy Van Slyke is hurt again in the third game of the year and misses 3 weeks with back trouble. We call up Turner Ward (PIT IRL 1997-99) for his first MLB go-around.
We’re forced to repeat the dose right at the end of the stanza, although the second time we give John Vander Wal a run.
We’re just downright poor in April, which we finish 10-13 and in the cellar of the NL Central.
Early May is only marginally better and, after yet another implosion that leaves his ERA north of 10, Roberto Hernandez has the Closer role taken from him.
We recall Danny Jackson from his rehab assignment, send Wake to Lincoln and put Terry Mulholland in as Closer to see how he goes.
A run of wins in late May pushes us above 500 for the first time since Opening Day and we finish this first stanza at an improving 28-22, 4 ˝ GB of the Cubs.
We take a (cheap) long-term punt on Rick Reed in the form of a 7-year deal worth around $2.1m all told. If it comes off as we hope, this gives us a mid-rotation workhorse for years to come for a paltry outlay.
We also extend Reggie Sanders, Denny Neagle and Joe Oliver each for a year.
Both the Brewers and Expos have rough starts to 1994, losing their first 8 and 12 games respectively.
Colorado on the other hand flies out the gate with a 10-game win streak helping them to an early 17-6 record before cooling off a bit and the Red Sox look back to their best, going 24-6 for their first 30.
Monthly Award Winners
April
American League
Batter – Gregg Jefferies (White Sox): 386 / 4 HR / 25 RBI
Pitcher – Roger Clemens (Red Sox): 5-1 / 2.08 / 43 K / 43.1 IP
Rookie – Brad Cornett (Twins): 3-0 / 0.66 / 1 SV / 8 K / 13.2 IP
National League
Batter – David Justice (Rockies): 316 / 7 HR / 17 RBI
Pitcher – Doug Drabek (Pirates): 5-1 / 3.29 / 24 K / 41 IP
Rookie – William Van Landingham (Reds): 2-1 / 2.30 / 16 K / 31.1 IP
May
American League
Batter – Paul O’Neill (Yankees): 422 / 7 HR / 18 RBI
Pitcher – Erik Hanson (Angels): 5-1 / 2.15 / 26 K / 46 IP
Rookie – Chad Ogea (Red Sox) : 5-0 / 2.72 / 23 K / 36.1 IP
National League
Batter – Derek Bell (Dodgers): 452 / 2 HR / 24 RBI
Pitcher – Charlie Leibrandt (Cubs): 4-0 / 1.25 / 25 K / 36 IP
Rookie – Armando Benitez (Astros): 1-1 / 0.84 / 7 SV / 8 K / 10.2 IP
News and Leaders
Milestones and Observations of Note
3000 Hits: Robin Yount
2000 Hits: Cal Ripken jr, Don Mattingly, Wade Boggs
Veteran SS Ozzie Smith – currently with the Yanks – is set to miss 4 months courtesy of a broken kneecap and a similar injury also ends the season of Tigers 2B Mickey Morandini.