Old faces in new places

Sporting News, The, March 16, 1998 by Rob Rains

Caution, though: Don't expect to see smiles of success on all of those faces

This was an offseason of unprecedented movement of star players. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner was traded. All-Stars were dealt, as were World Series heroes. Free agents jumped teams. One of baseball's oldest cliches is that "you can't tell the players without a scorecard," and this spring that really is true. Here's a look at some of the familiar faces who have changed places, and an analysis of whether the move should produce positive or negative results:

C Charlie O'Brien, White Sox

Will be successful if ... he adds the defense--always his strength--that the Sox are counting on. He has worked well with young pitchers in his career, and he needs to do that again.

Will be a disappointment if ... he fails to mold the pitching staff. No one is concerned about his offense.

Forecast: Yes, pitchers have responded well to O'Brien in the past, but Chicago's staff is so young that even O'Brien's presence might not be of much help.

3B Travis Fryman, Indians

Will be successful if ... he can come close to Matt Williams' run-producing numbers--that's all the team is hoping for. Contract worries won't be a problem. The Indians wanted to keep Williams for another season, but in the long run they could be better off with Fryman, a younger version of Williams.

Will be a disappointment if ... in a pennant race for the first time, he proves he can't handle the pressure. He needs to perform at an All-Star level or he and the team will suffer.

Forecast: The Indians and their fans, sorry to see Williams leave, have nothing to worry about with Fryman in the lineup.

P Pedro Martinez, Red Sox

Will be successful if ... he withstands the pressure of trying to justify his huge contract every fifth day. Making the switch in leagues is seldom easy; Martinez will have to learn new hitters and new umpires as he adapts to the more offense-oriented American League. If Martinez can block out all the distractions and pitch like he did the past two years in Montreal, the Red Sox may think they got a bargain.

Will be a disappointment if ... he fails to come anywhere close to matching his success with the Expos, which would be hard enough to do under normal circumstances. The task seems almost impossible--even a slight drop in performance will spark criticism. He must handle the situation deftly and pitch through it or he could be in trouble.

Forecast: By the middle of the season and his second time around the league, the righthander will be pitching--and winning--like he did with the Expos.

DH Cecil Fielder, Angels

Will be successful if ... he believes he has something to prove and shows it. His presence in the middle of the lineup could make hitters around him better.

Will be a disappointment if ... he is angry about taking a major pay cut to sign with Anaheim and plays accordingly.

Forecast: His workout regimen proves that Fielder is dedicated to making this a solid season.

Closer Roberto Hernandez, Devil Rays

Will be successful if ... his teammates are competitive enough to give him opportunities to pitch and save games. Expecting the Devil Rays to build many late-inning leads appears particularly optimistic, though. Part of his strength is his consistency, and he must prove he can stay sharp even if his workload diminishes.

Will be a disappointment if ... he can't cope with going days without pitching in save situations. No motivation because of the security of a long-term contract and pitching for a non-contender are concerns.

Forecast: If Hernandez gets the ball with a lead in the ninth inning, he will come through. The question is: How many times will that occur in 1998?

LF Moises Alou, Astros

Will be successful if ... as the first of the high-profile members of the champion Marlins to leave Florida, he has made the most of his adjustment time.

Will be a disappointment if ... he mopes about the trade--he was unhappy with it--and lets that displeasure affect his performance.

Forecast: Alou is joining a group of hard-working players, led by Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio, and will make the adjustment without a problem.

SS Jay Bell, Diamondbacks

Will be successful if ... he fights off critics who think the Diamondbacks overpaid Bell and don't expect him to duplicate his offensive success of last season--.291 average, 21 home runs, 92 RBIs.

Will be a disappointment if ... he is bothered by the pressure facing all of the players who cashed in with the free-spending Arizona franchise. A slow start could bring criticism and greater pressure. Bell must resist the temptation of trying to legitimize the contract by doing more than he is capable of, decreasing his effectiveness.

Forecast: Bell is unlikely to match last year's stats. Signing him to a five-year deal could turn out to be a rookie mistake by the Diamondbacks.

CF Devon White, Diamondbacks

Will be successful if ... like Alou, White gets over the post-World Series trade depression and moves on with his career. It should be an easier task because he was traded to the area in which he lives. He will be expected to be a role model for the Diamondback's young outfielders, and part of his success will be realized if they come through with good seasons.