1985 WORLD SERIES PREVIEW

CATCHERS	AVG	OBP	SLG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	OSBP
Carlton Fisk – WAS	.260	.343	.464	155	550	90	143	18	2	30	122	16	55.0
Tony Pena – HLW	.305	.350	.416	144	495	43	151	31	3	6	67	4	54.5

These two evenly matched catchers were the top two in throwing runners out during the 1985 season. Pena hits for more average and gets on base more often, but Fisk has better power and speed production. It’s enough to give him the slight edge. During the 1985 season Fisk had a power speed production of 20.9 compared to 4.8 for Pena. Fisk was also better at runs contributed. Advantage WAS

FIRST BASEMEN	AVG	OBP	SLG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
Bill Buckner – WAS	.293	.338	.426	162	634	85	186	44	2	12	92	27
Eddie Murray – HLW	.285	.383	.537	157	592	101	169	47	0	34	115	5

With better on base percentage and slugging Murray appears to have the edge here although a surprising 27 stolen bases by Buckner makes it closer. Advantage HLW

SECOND BASEMEN	AVG	OBP	SLG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
Tom Herr – WAS	.274	.348	.385	161	668	117	183	43	8	5	75	34
Jim Gantner – HLW	.241	.285	.310	133	503	64	121	17	3	4	39	1

Herr is clearly the better second basemen here as he bests Gantner in every offensive category. Gantner is slightly better defensively. Advantage WAS

SHORTSTOPS	AVG	OBP	SLG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
Ozzie Smith – WAS	.233	.298	.338	152	554	83	129	24	5	8	49	35
Garry Templeton – HLW	.256	.309	.360	138	511	58	131	30	1	7	58	8

The wizard might save some runs defensively, but nobody expects him to deliver the clutch hit. Templeton is pedestrian as a hitter too but overall is slightly better than Smith. Advantage HLW

THIRD BASEMEN	AVG	OBP	SLG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
George Brett – WAS	.320	.456	.588	156	544	136	174	44	6	30	115	14
Tim Flannery – HLW	.326	.423	.285	99	304	30	99	16	1	0	25	0

Flannery leads in batting average, but Brett blows him away in every other offensive category. Brett also has the ability to deliver the big hit when needed. Advantage WAS

OUTFIELDERS	AVG	OBP	SLG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
Mike Davis – WAS	.300	.358	.532	120	453	90	136	28	1	25	100	13
Lloyd Moseby – WAS	.236	.311	.390	159	554	79	131	24	8	15	72	41
Gary Pettis – WAS	.232	.312	.293	131	362	70	84	8	7	0	33	42
Thad Bosley – WAS	.321	.380	.569	54	209	41	67	6	5	12	36	5
Rickey Henderson – HLW	.293	.410	.492	142	512	130	150	20	5	24	59	61
Pedro Guerrero – HLW	.321	.414	.587	132	480	98	154	33	1	31	95	5
Dale Murphy – HLW	.302	.392	.605	162	622	133	188	27	1	53	152	6
Billy Sample – HLW	.280	.280	.320	19	25	3	7	1	0	0	1	0

Led by Murphy’s power surge Hollywood has the better hitting outfielders. Washington has the better speed while the Vampires excel in power. For Hollywood Sample may only see action against the southpaw starters with Guerrero moving to third base. Advantage HLW

DESIGNATED HITTERS	AVG	OBP	SLG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
Keith Moreland – WAS	.234	.311	.353	158	573	72	134	24	1	14	94	6
Gary Roenicke – WAS	.197	.310	.359	75	223	32	44	6	0	10	41	1
Wayne Krenchicki – HLW	.250	.318	.330	80	176	13	44	5	0	3	25	0
Tony Armas – HLW	.270	.333	.567	118	363	56	98	15	6	27	70	0

Armas power alone gives the edge to Hollywood here for DH’s. Even if he doesn’t start the game he could be a key hitter off the bench late in the game. Advantage HLW

WAS STARTERS	W-L	ERA	GS	CG	SHO	QS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	SO/9	BB/9
Rick Reuschel R	16-2	1.86	23	5	3	18	169.1	122	38	35	6	4.6	2.6
Dave Stieb R	17-4	2.05	24	8	3	20	188.2	112	46	43	12	5.0	3.0
Fernando Valenzuela L	18-5	2.21	24	9	4	19	183.1	116	49	45	12	7.3	2.4
Charlie Leibrandt L	17-4	2.07	23	6	3	20	169.2	116	41	39	6	3.9	2.4
HLW STARTERS	W-L	ERA	GS	CG	SHO	QS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	SO/9	BB/9
Mickey Mahler L	4-1	2.22	12	0	0	7	73	57	19	18	8	5.9	2.3
Roger Mason R	4-2	2.43	6	0	0	5	37	30	12	10	3	6.6	3.4
Rick Sutcliffe R	14-5	2.85	26	0	0	12	148.1	125	56	47	7	7.0	3.3
Joaquin Andujar R	18-9	3.41	32	3	1	20	214	197	95	81	16	4.9	2.3

The Vampires go with fresher blood here in Mahler and Mason, but the Washington quartet still looks to be too dominant here. How the Past Timers starters handle the Hollywood batters could be the key to the Series. Advantage WAS

WAS RELIEVERS	W-L-SV	BS	ERA	HLD	G	GF	IP	H	R	ER	HR	SO/9	BB/9
Bob James R	3-1-32	4	2.40	2	44	39	56.1	32	15	15	7	8.8	1.9
Greg Harris R	5-1-1	1	1.47	5	31	17	61.1	31	13	10	1	7.0	3.5
Donnie Moore R	3-2-10	1	2.70	4	35	21	56.2	36	18	17	3	5.1	3.2
Dave Smith R	2-0-3	2	1.48	12	36	16	42.2	32	7	7	2	3.6	2.5
HLW RELIEVERS	W-L-SV	BS	ERA	HLD	G	GF	IP	H	R	ER	HR	SO/9	BB/9
Al Holland L	8-6-31	8	3.06	6	65	53	79.1	70	32	27	4	6.0	2.6
Jeff Calhoun L	2-4-4	3	2.83	12	46	18	54	45	20	17	3	5.5	3.3
Lee Smith R	5-2-7	5	2.83	23	66	18	82.2	62	29	26	8	9.5	2.7
Ricky Horton L	2-1-3	1	2.64	17	67	30	88.2	84	31	26	9	5.2	1.7

Washington doesn’t worry about platoon issues late in the game as their top 4 right handed relievers were just as dominant as their starting pitching. In fact the Past Timers only logged 10.1 relief innings pitched all year from the left side. Hollywood’s pen was slightly better at striking hitters out, but still is just a tad behind Washington. Advantage WAS

In summary the 1985 World Series should easily go six or seven games. The Vampires try for their 3^rd world championship and their first since 1975 while the Past Timers look for their first title. Each game should be close although if there’s a blowout game I think it’s more likely to be Hollywood than Washington. Hollywood could mash their way to 4 wins, but in the end it will be Washington’s pitching that determines the outcome. The Past Timer’s pitching has been dominant all year and should continue to be in the World Series as they keep the World Series

Trophy in the same division for the 4^th straight year.