Page 10-Thursday, March 29, 1979-The Michigan Daily
MICHIFISH PERFORM
'Swimmers' snych'tonight
Michifish, the University of Mich- Martin's "King Tut."
igan Synchronized Swim Club, will Swimming as pink panthers, other,
members will search for Inspector
<"dive into their annual show on Mar- lusaa ela ekn h
ch2,{ n 1at81 ~.a h Clousseau, as well as seeking the s
ch 29, 30 and 31 at 8:15 p.m. at the end of the rainbow to a disco version >
Margaret Bell Pool. The 30 coed of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow
members will perform routines and looking for the living dead to the
based on their theme, "In Search music of "Funeral for a Friend.
Of... A highlight of the splashing Tickets to the performance can beh:
event is two couples in search of an- found at thedoor for $1.75.
cient civilization to the beat of Steve -DAILY SPORTS ;
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LA SLIGHTL Y FAVORED
Tight pennant race in NL
West
By STAN BRADBURY
During the better portion of the 1970's the National League Western division
has been under the domination of just two teams, Los Angeles and Cincinnati.
The only question left unanswered before the season began was whether the
Dodgers or the Reds would be taking their turn at winning the division and ad-
vancing to the World Series.
But those days are gone and it appears as though the fall of the twin empires
has come. The talent is becoming so evenly spread in the NL West the pennant
race could become the most hotly contested in years.
Four teams claim to have legitimate championship hopes and the other two
claim major improvements. San Francisco and San Diego will be challenging the
Dodgers and the Reds this year for the title while Houston and Atlanta believe
they have improved enough to be competitive with the rest of the division.
The basis of the hopes of the Giants and Padres lies in the fact that both LA
and Cincy lost some key players in the reentry draft during the off season.
The Reds will be working without the services of "Mr. Red" Pete Rose who
flew the coop to Philadelphia. They are having a hard time finding a replacement
_ for the baseball great at third base but new manager John McNamara plans to go
with utility man Ray Knight. Knight battled only .200 for the Reds in limited ac-
tion last year.
The Dodgers and Tommy Lasorda will have to work without Tommy John,
the most consistent Dodger pitcher for winning games in the past few years. Los
Angeles will be asking youngster Bob Welch (7-4, 2.08) to fill in John's big shoes in
the starting lineup. Los Angeles will also be missing Lee Lacy and centerfielder
Bill North.
San Francisco finished just six games out of first last year and actually
managed to lead the division until August 16.
The Giants will be again counting on another year of strong pitching with
probably the best starting rotation in baseball. Second year skipper Joe Altobelli
said, "I feel our pitching is the base from which we can build a championship
club. When you can select a starter from the ranks of Vida Blue (18-10), Bob
Knepper (17-10), John Montefusco (11-9) and Ed Halicki (9-10), you're in pretty
good shape."
.x.......:.:.:...:.;...:.:...:...:.:.....:.:...........:....:.......
the bullpen help the Reds can expect in the coming season.
With the exception of Knight at third base the Reds are solid in the infield
with Joe Morgan trying to return from a dismal season at second, Dave Concep-
cion at shortstop, and Dan Driessen playing first.
George Foster and Ken Griffey are penciled into the outfield with the center-
field job a wide open race between Cesar Geronimo and Champ Summers.
The Houston front office took a stab at improving the Astros during the off
season by pulling off a couple of big trades. Houston picked up all-star shortstop
Craig Reynolds off the Seattle Mariners for Floyd Bannister and catcher Alan
Ashby of Toronto for Mark Lemongello.
Manager Bill. Virdon said, "The addition of players at key positions, the
strength of an experienced pitching staff and the development of some good
sound talent will make us a stronger, more consistent ball club."
J.R. Richard, the premier strikeout pitcher in baseball, will anchor the
Houston starting rotation which also includes Ken Forsch, Vern Ruhle and Joe
Niekro. The bullpen has Joe Sambito with Bo McLaughlin, Joaquin Andujar and
Tom Tixon.
Houston's strong point will be outfield. "We believe our outfield is as deep as
any in baseball. Along with the return of superstar Cesar Cedano after a season
of injuries the Astros will have Jose Cruz and Terry Puhl with Jesus Alou and
Jeff Leonard (a very promising rookie from the Dodgers minor league system).
The Astros infield is set with consistent Bob "Trade Me" Watson at first,
Enos Cabell on third, Reynolds at short, and Art Howe at second.
Bradbury 's Bloopers
1. Los Angeles 4. Houston
2. San Francisco 5. Cincinnati
3. San Diego 6. Atlanta
Altobelli continued, "I also feel we have premier relievers in Gary Lavelle
and Randy Moffit." Lavelle and Moffit combined for 21 wins and 26 saves last
season.
Jack Clark will have to have another great year with the stick if the pun-
chless Giants plan to win their first pennant since 1962. Clark had an All-Star
year, batting .306 with 25 doubles. Beyond Clark the Giants only have two mild of-
fensive threats, Bill Madlock at second and first sacker Mike Ivie.
The Padres can't expect another 21 win season from 40-year-old Cy Young
Award Winner Gaylord Perry but they still can expect marked improvements
under second year coach Roger Craig.
San Diego made a key off-season trade with the Texas Rangers to acquire
300-hitting first baseman Mike Hargrove for troublesome outfielder Oscar Gam-
ble.
The trade solidifies the Padre infield with Hargrove at first, Rookie-of-the-
Year runner-up Ozzie Smith at short, Billy Almon at second, and newcomer
Barry Evans at third. Gamble leaving the outfield also made room for consistent
Jerry Turner along side All-Star Dave Winfield and Gene Richards.
The Padres pitching also looks strong for the upcoming year. Joining Perry
(21-7) in the starting rotation are Randy Jones (13-14) (remember him),
promising young lefty Bob Owchinko (10-13) and Eric Rasmussen (14-15). San
Diego also has a very good bullpen with Fireman-of-the-Year Rollie Fingers (37
saves), Bob Shirley, John D'Acquisto and veteran lefthander Mickey Lolich.
The defending National League champions will have the same starting eight.
for this year, says Lasorda. The Dodgers have the most solid infield in the league
with Steve Garvey (first), Davey Lopes (second),. Ron Cey (third), and Bill
Russell (short).
"The outfield looks to be composed of Reggie Smith, Dusty Baker and Rick
Monday. They form as good an outfield as there is in baseball," said Lasorda.
Smith was the key to the team last,year said Lasorda, "He (Smith) was con-
sistent all year. He put together two unbelievable streaks that kept us together
and were instrumental in our championship."
Along with Welch in the starting rotation will be Don Sutton, Burt Hooton,
Doug Rau and Rick Rhoden. "Terry Forster had an outstanding season for us
last year and we look for him to have another super year out of the bullpen in
'79," Lasorda said. "Charlie Hough will throw his knuckler again for us and Lan-
ce Rauthzan will be our other stopper."
The Rose-less Reds will again battle their biggest nemisis this season, their
own pitching staff.
"Our biggest job in spring training will be working with the young pitchers
we have and developing a solid staff," said Sparky Anderson's replacement Mc-
Namara. "Pitching is such an important part of the game that this has to be our
first priority."
The Reds achilles heal consists of Bill Bonham, Fred Norman, Paul Moskau,
Tom Hume and Mike LaaCoss ... and, of course, Tom Seaver. "Norman-Seaver,
then pray for a breather," might simplify Cincinnati's roation. Doug Bair is all
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Ted Turner's Atlanta Braves, the league leaders in class, unfortunately
trailed the division in a more vital statistic last season, wins. Where else could
Jim Bouton make the starting rotation?
The Braves, though they may improve over last year, will go nowhere until
they find some other fellows who can join Phil Niekro and Larry McWilliams in
the starting rotation.
Manager Bobby Cox said, "Our need, as everybody knows, is pitching. Again
we need for our youngsters, Preston Hanna, Rick Camp, and maybe Tommy
Boggs, to find themselves. After Niekro, (Gene) Garber (relieving ace), and
McWilliams, there is plenty of room on our staff." No joke.
The Braves will be set back this year with the injury to catcher Biff Pocoroba
and the contract disputes with rookie sensation Bob Horner.
Atlanta will be counting heavily on Jeff Burroughs to repeat his great year of
1978. They also need Gary Matthews, Jerry Royster, rookie Glenn Hubbard and
Dole Murphy.
UCLA names Brown
head askebalcoac
AP Photo
THE NUCLEUS of the 1978 National League Ohamps Los Angeles Dodgers braces
for the April 5th opening of the 1979 baseball season. Steve Garvey (left), Reggie
Smith.and Davey Lopes (blowing bubble) stand firm as they prepare to defend
their National Championship crown.
4'
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Former
professional coach Larry Brown was
named yesterday as head coach of
the UCLA basketball team, a selec-
tion that came as no surprise.
Brown had been reported for the
past few days to have accepted the
job of succeeding Gary Cun-
ningham, who resigned last week
following a two-year stint that in-
cluded a 50-8 record.
THE 38-YEAR-OLD Brown
resigned Feb. 1 as coach of the Den-
ver Nuggets of the National Basket-
ball Association.
Terms of the contract were not
divulged at the news conference
when Athletic Director J. D. Morgan
announced Brown's selection.
Asked if the contract was for more
than one year, Brown said, "I hope
so. I'm not going into the job with
any thought of leaving UCLA."
"I DIDN'T get into coaching for
the money. If it were money, I'd still
be coaching in Denver and living in
Boulder, Colo."
Brown advocates the fast break
with an aggressive basketball style
and his teams were in the playoffs
all six years he coached in
professional basketball.
TAEKISSES
If you smoke cigarettes,
you taste like one.
Your clothes and hair
can smell stale and
unpleasant, too.
You don't notice it,
but people close to you do.
Especially if they don't smoke.
And non-smokers are
the best people to love.
They live longer.
I