. Friday, April 13, 1973, THE MICHIGAN DAILY Berge Nine Friday, April 13, 1973 YHE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Nine Seeds & Stems RANGERS ROLL ON -I (Adventures in a 0 a . . . Baseball mediocricv Dan Borus - OTHER SPORTS EDITORS regale you with predictions of v+which teams are going to finish first in this year's pennant races. This is elitism of the first order. For every four teams which manage to squeek through to post-season competition, there are a full twenty - five times as many - which straggle home in the beginning of October, bereft of honor and praise, with visions of pop-ups dancing in their heads. For most baseball players of the time, the pennant race is incidental. For too many, indeed, the issue seems to be "are we good enough to make it all the way to fourth?" In this spirit, recognizing the futility of their quest for excellence, allow me to tell you now - six full months in advance - which teams are going to finish fourth in their division, so that you won't get nyour hopes too high if you're rooting for them. In the American League East, a solid case could be made for placing any of its six so-so teams in the middling fourth slot. But the clear choice, the mediocre apotheosis of a mediocre milieau, has to be the Detroit Tigers. Age is but one of many factors which contributes to the Ben- gals' decline. To this mst be added the Detroiter's uncanny knack for concentrating their extra-base hits at moments when the bases are empty, the inability of their starting rotation to pitch shut-outs every. day, and the fact that the team's high fielding average stems in part from the Tiger fielders' inability to get ground balls other fielders could make errors with. Mickey Lolich would have overshadowed Steve Carlton last year if he had had a team as good as the Phillies to back him up; Joe Coleman's success is almost as mystifying as Witt- genstein, and the Michigan Avenue plethora of designated hitters looks like it's going to hit about as much as Woodie Fryman. But you can't say Our Heroes are exactly over the hill: precipice would be more like it. Billy Martin should say fifty Hail Marys each'evening, in eternal gratitude for the existence of the Cleveland Indians and the Milwaukee Brewers. The American League West offers a more clear-cut pic- ture. Texas and Minnesota are going to be terrible, while Oakland and Chicago are going to be good, which means there should be a real dog-eat-dog battle for the coveted fourth slot between the California Angels and the Kansas City Royals. California's chances for fourth place are severely handi- capped by the presence of fireballer Nolan Ryan, erudite Bobby Winkles, and worth-every-penny-of-his-six-figure-salary Frank Robinson. The Royals, by contrast, managed to trade away a bona-fide .300 hitter, Richie Scheinblum, in exchange for chron- ically sore-armed (and wild) Wayne Simpson, who, along with such worthies as Dick Drago and Bruce Dal Canton, gives the Royals a pitching staff any other team in the league would be proud to beat. The Royals' sluggers score too often to lose all the games they play: the problem is that they also give up too many runs, and have a lock-hold on the league lead for men left on base. It might be close, but Kansas City gets the nod. The National League will most likely prove that its teams can be as mediocre (if not more so) than the teams in the Junior Circuit. Leading the pack in the Eastern Division will most likely be the St. Louis Cardinals. Once the pride of Rivertown, the Cardinals still sport some flashy names and some up and coming stars. But it will be too much coming and not enough up for the Redbirds this year. Although Bob Gibson can still whiz 'em by and Lou Brock can still make the basepaths his own private drag strip, the Cardinals have more question marks than the White House explanation of Watergate. The bullpen, which last year couldn't put out a wet match, let alone a book burning on the Diag or an eighth inning rally, should spend this year watching balls fly over the new shortened fences at Busch Memorial. The left side of the Cardinal infield will be suspect on its good days and Jose Cruz could be substituted for by either of his no-talent brothers without leaving any telltale signs. There'll be a great fight to see which team will be the Car- dinal's counterpart in the West. Although Los Angeles and San Francisco will give Atlanta a battle, the view from here is defi- nitely the Braves. Although the Braves ripped off the O's in the well-known "Get me Earl Williams" trade and now have a catcher who can catch a curveball, their infield is patchwork at best and non-existent at worst. Henry Aaron, who'll provide sports- writers with material for drivel, and a supporting cast fea- uring Ralph Garr and Dusty Baker should be able to drive in as many runs with their bats as they allow with their gloves. A recurrent Southern nightmare will be seeing Gary Gentry being knocked out of the box only to be replaced by Danny Fri- sella. It should be the longest summer for Atlanta since the year David O. Selznick burned the place to the ground. The Dodgers and the Giants are in a rebuilding mood, but the Dodgers have the pitching and some veterans to boot. So despite their poor start, the Dodgers could very easily sail out of medi- ocrity into the heady heights of contention. The Giants have a little less pitching, but the way their kids have been stinging the ball, the Braves could well tumble farther into oblivion, and that's just not whistling Dixie in the dark. So there you have it: the Cream of the crop of 1973 baseball's also-rans. Next October, when YOUR team makes your home- town sportswriters look like cretins and sycophants, remember where you read it first. M. E. C. H. A. presents EL TEATRO CAMPESINO de AZTLAN "THE CHICANO FARMWORKER THEATER" The Chicano Struggle UFW Union and Boycott Efforts MUSIC--PLAYS-SATIRE--SPIRIT Sat., April 14 Hill Auditorium U of M Camnpus- -8 P.M. NO ADMISSION Montri By The Associated Press BUFFALOY-The M o n t r e a l Canadiens struck for four first- period goals last night, then heldr off the Buffalo Sabres to post a 4-2 victory and win their quarter- final National Hockey League Playoff series four games to two. Rene Robert's goal at 11:41 of the third period, spoiled Montreal goalie Ken Dryden's bid for a shutout in his 27th Stanley Cup game over a three-year period. Serge Savard started the Mon- eal eliminates Sabres Flyers flaunt (1a ilyVBLOOMINGTON, Minn. - The .7 Philadelphia Flyers supported Doug Favell's exceptional goal- tending with a three-goal second period and soared into the Nation- al Hockey League semifinals for NIGH'T EDITOR: the first time with a 4-1 victoryI JEFF CHOWN over the Minnesota North Stars last night. d aGoals by Terry Crisp at 4:10, period and a pair of insurance Ross Lonsberry at 16:42 and Dave ] goals by Walt Tkaczuk boosted the New York Rangers to a 4-1 victory Schultz at 18:01 of the second period rubbed out Minnesota's 1-0 first period lead. Lonsberry hit an open net with 12 seconds to play for the final 4-1 count. The North Stars opened with a power play goal, only their third of the series in 37 chances, at 13:40 of the first period when Bill Golds- worthy deflected in a shot by Doug Mohns from the point with his leg. treal scoring parade, getting the over the Chicago Black Hawks last initial goal at 1:32 of the opening night in the opening game of their period. Peter Mahovlich worked best-of-seven semifinal Stanley Cup the puck to Buffalo goalie Roger series. Crozier's left behind the net and Hadfield scored on a perfect pass Frank Mahovlich outfought Paul from Jean Ratelle at 4:04 of the Terbenche for control. Frank whip- final period and Tkaczuk clinched' ped the Huck to Savard, just inside it with another goal at 17:45. the Buffalo blue line, and Savard Tkaczuk then sent home a final drilled it into the net. goal on an empty Chicago net at Buffalo, until then and for the 19:35. 'next 30 seconds, played the Ca- Both teams started off cautious- 1 nadiens even, then let down. ly in the first period as the Black The Canadiens took complete Hawks grabbed a 1-0 lead on a ! charge before the midway point goal by Pit Martin at 12:37. AP Photo in the first period. Muray Wilson Martin took a drop pass from! e question marks than the White and Guy Lafleur scored two goals Dennis Hull and fired from aboutj e," quips columnist Dan Borus his within 80 seconds. 40 feet past Ed Giacomin. ms. Here Ray Busse and Ted Size- . The lead, however, was short- mpt in yesterday's 2-1 loss to the Black Hawks bombed lived. About 1 minutes.later Chi- ie Mets is sliding, as Busse's throw CHICAGO - Vic Hadfield's tie- sgo defenseman Keith Mlagnu- son was guilty of some sloppy breaking goal early in the third stick handling and lost the puck -to New York's Bobby Rousseau. H ITLESS WONDERS ..,-'.*.*** ''oday'inSports "THE CARDINALS have mor House explanation of Watergate predictions for fourth place tear more botch a double play atte New York Mets. Harrelson of th to first is late. Batsmen visit Boilermakers The Michigan baseball squad will travel to Purdue today for the season opener of the 68th Big Teri campaign. Along with the Blue's twin-bill, six other Big Ten teams will play double headers today with defending champion Iowa playing Minnesota tomorrow. The Wolverines, with a flock of lettermen returning from a team which led the league in pitching and hitting last season, are rated on of the top contenders for the crown. Michigan finished third last year and has practically every- one back, including such hitters as Pat Sullivan, Mike DeCou and Greg Buss. On the mound the Wolves have lettermen Pete Helt and Craig Forhan with newcomers Ace Adams and Chuck Rogers. Racqueteers in tourney The Wolverine tennis team will get its toughest test of the early part of its season when it engages in a four-team meet to- day and tomorrow on the campus of Southern Illinois. The netmen will be taking on teams from Southern Illinois, Alabama, and Missouri in the two-afternoon affair, with each squad taking on one opponent Friday afternoon and the other two Saturday. Alabama is the strongest squad Michigan will face before its trip to the west coast in May. The 'Bama netters recently dis- played their ability by ripping Michigan's top opponent in the Big Ten, Indiana, by a 9-0 count. Southern Illinois is also a strong tennis school, and the only midwest team which came even close to the Wolverines last year, extending Michigan to a 5-4 decision. Missouri is less highly regarded, but certainly no pushover. Birds By ROGER ROSSITER Special To The Daily DETROIT-Mickey Lolich's wild throw on an attempted sacrifice bunt by Baltimore Oriole second- baseman Bobby Grich in the top of the tenth brought in the only run of the ballgame as the Orioles downed the Detroit Tigers in extra innings yesterday for the second day in a row. Lolich and the Orioles' Dave M'- Nally had a classic pitcher's duel going for nine innings with Mc- Nally allowing only one hit, a fly-' ball triple off the bat of Eddie blank B Brinkman that rightfielder Merv Rettenmund lost in the sun. Mark Belanger opened the tenth inning rally for the Birds with a looping lead-offsingle to left- field. H~e then stole second base before Rettenmund walked to put runners on first and second with no one out. Grich came to the plate and laid a bunt down the first base line. Lolich fielded the ball, whirled, and fired it into the dirt past third- baseman Aurelio Rodriguez with Belanger scoring on the play. Lolich got out of further trouble by getting Boog Powell to pop-up engas and Don Baylor to smack into an inning ending doubleplay. The Tigers had runners on first 'and second with two out in the bottom of the inning when Grich stopped an apparent game tying single back of second base off the bat of Tony Taylor, holding Rich Reese at third. Gates Brown then came to bat for Rodriguez and lashed a 2-0 pitch from reliever Orlando Pena right at Grich who scooped it up and flipped to Belanger for the force out to end the game. Billboard The University of Michigan Volleyball Club will host the Mid- western Intercollegiate Volleyball Association championships start- ing at 1:00 Sunday in the IM building. Admission is free. Teams providing the opposition for Michigan include Wisconsin, Michigan State, Purdue, Toledo, Western Michigan, Oberlin, and Kellogg Community College. Both undergraduate and g r a d u a t e teams will compete. The Club won its last two games in convincing fashion, whipping Toledo and Oberlin. The Club should be in a good position to give favorites Purdue and Kellogg a real battle. I I t { Harry's rmySurplus 1166 BROADWAY, ANN ARBOR (near Plymouth Rd.) Major League Standings American League Last Hail inore Boston Cleveland New York Dletroit. ilvaukee Kansas City Chicago California Minnesota Texas Oakland wV 4 0 W~est 4 itois , fPct. (0 1.000 0 1.000 3 .400 4 .333 3 .?.i0 ? .000 ,, t 'I .3 .667 .66; .600 ,250 ,?0() G E3 1 s 3 h}, ('B 41., t'incinnati ilouston Atlanta San Diego Los Angeles 3 4 I .y 3 4 5i .600 .541 ,400 '333 .164 New York a, Cleveland 0 Chicago 6, Oakland 3 Roston at Milwaukee, postponed Baltimore 1, Detroit 0, 10 innings Texas 4, Kansas City 0 National League East 3 312 4 YOU MAY BE TAKING OFF FOR THE SUMMER-BUT WE'RE NOT HEALTH SERVICE is open year 'round, and whether or not you take summer classes you are probably still eligible for medical care. 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