• t A SUbsidiary of Mystery writer Enterprises US$395 Volume Ill, Issue 7 November 1; 2002 , . Braves Prevaiii ' No Relieffor !Faltering .Tigers BraVes Win Their first CIMA League Championship by Editor (n Chief, The Mystery Writer AriANTA GEORGIA-In the closest race in CIMA league champion­ ship history, the Braves edged ¢.e defending champion Tigers by just 19 points. The next closest championship .race was in 2000, when the Dodgers nipped these same Tigers by 44 points. In a race this close, the tendency is not to . think in terms of turning points but, rather, to point to individual situations that might have spelLed the difference between the Tigers retaining their championship or the Braves claiming their first during that last fateful weekend. I'm sure Tigers owner Chris Custis and Braves owner Bob l jones have their Top-Three list, here's mine: . Top Three Deciding Factors It's bad enough to lose your claim on a second straight C/MA League championship by just 19 points, butfor Tigers owner Chris Custis (shown, left presenting the C/MA 3. Thursday, September 26: The Yankees were rained out t League trophy to Braves owner Bob Jones), lostng •to orch-rtval Bob "I'll just call him on the same evening that Matt Morris picked up his 17th win of Bubba· Jones, and In a controversial race, must be more than he can bear. Those present at the presentation characterized the meeting as ·cool,· a n ~ "businesslike.· the season. The combination of Morris' 29 points that evening, All/eft cqnvlnced that the meeting Intensified the bad blood between these two men coupled with the loss of production from the Tigers' stars Derek and their organizations! Jeter, jorge Posado, and Bernie Williams, likely produced a 45- point swing in the Braves favor. I realize that pointing to a Thursday outcome, coupled with my Number One choice, below, it cer­ evening set of circumstances stretches "the weekend" an extra tainly would have. day, but I feel justified in doing so inasmuch as it was this l. Saturday, September 28: The decision to lift Tom Glavine Yankees' rainout that was destined to be replayed, if needed, the after two innings and just 44 pitches with · a four-to-one lead, following Monday. As the American League race unfolded, the likely cost the Tigers 25 + points. Glavine had 1already struck out t make-up game on Monday was unnecessary. men in the two innings he had pitched. The cautious. decision, as 2. Saturday, September 2S: Despite having clinched their it applied to Glavine, coupled with the aggressive usage of Smoltz, place in the playoffs, and despite john Smaltz having already combined to provide the Braves with a 40 + point advantage. established a Na~ional League i-ecord for saves, with no chance of catching or overtaking Bobby Thigpen for the major league * * * * record, Smoltz was inserted in an otherwise meaningless game, While it is certainly true that you could look at any of these gaining him his 55th save and two strikeouts in the bargain. situations as critical events, I believe the race did have a "turning While those 15 points alone would not have reversed the race;s see Braves Beat Tigers, page 2 :.. The CIMA League Times ' + / John Smaltz was the real C/MA League MVP In 2002. His performance dwarfed those of his near­ est competitors. He led the Braves from the first pitch In April to the last outs In September, and, more Importantly, from middle of the pack In 2001, to the C/MA League championship In 2002. All hall John Smaltz! our starters. Matt [Morris] and Freddie [Garcia] were their usual steady selves, but the emergence of jarrod High blood pressure Is commonly called the ·silent killer,· but that UUe may be better suited for Braves [Washburn] was unexpected," contin­ outj/eld phenom, Maggllo Ordonez. He put up the ·quietest· 673 points this league has ever not seen and not heard. ued jones. "Vidro [Jose] was this league's comeback player of the year. We expected big things from him last Braves Beat Tigers, continued from page 1 there is little doubt point." For me, it was early September, question that the Tigers' fortunes had that John Smeltz when an injury and an organization's been undone by their team's woeful decision combined to cripple the Ti­ inability to "close the deal." picked this Braves gers' realistic chances for a repeat. The The Braves were understandably team up and carried injury was to closer Mariano Rivera ecstatic. and the decision was Cincinnati's move "I just can't believe it! I knew we them on his back of Danny Graves from closer to starter. had a chance, but truth be told, I didn't As proof, I offer the following. On believe we were going to actually win down the stretch September 11, the Tigers were in front until the last week of the season," said by 73 points. When the CIMA League an obviously overjoyed Braves owner season, and they didn't materialize. He Times was published on that infamous Bob jones. was everything we hoped for and more day, the Braves' bullpen was While there is little doubt that]ohn this year," observed jones. outpointing the Tigers' bullpen by 250 Smaltz picked this Braves team up and No doubt, jones' assessment of his points. When the smoke cleared, and carried them on his back down the team's heroes was right on. And, in the last out was made, the Braves' stretch, there were other very signifi­ the excitement, one can forgive his bullpen had outpointed the Tigers' cant contributors to the Braves' cham­ omissions. Third baseman Eric Chavez relievers by 326 points, or a pick up pionship in 2002. Bob jones wanted had another strong season, confirm­ of 76 points, just two more than were to be certain that all of his team's he­ ing his place among the league's best necessary to win the championship. roes and clutch performers were ac­ at the hot corner. Down the stretch, the Braves' knowledged. Chipper jones' willingness to move bullpen contributed 88 points to the "Getting jeff Bagwell was huge. If from third to the outfield was both cause, while the Tigers' relief staff we hadn't made that deal, we wouldn't unselfish and an unqualified success. picked up just 12 points (a point less have won. jeff is a consummate pro­ He, like his two Braves outfield mates, than you get for a single save). As criti­ fessional and proved it with a clutch Lance Berkman and Magglio Ordonez, cal to the Braves' success as their performance in September," saidjones. bullpen had become, no one could "And, we got fantastic efforts from see Braves, page 9 The CIMA League Times + 2 ; f J, been injured a few games into the f-002 tinue to use Mike as catcher while we season, and the Yankees decided to make the moves necessary ' to replace move Derek Jeter to third base, the him behind the plate," sa'id Senators' I rule would have permitted the Tigers own~r Bill Kingsley. to use Jeter, if necessary, as a short­ "I think it's a shame. The Tigers The Mystery Writer shares his thoughts stop, even if in 2002, his unexpected had the better team and were beaten from the 'desk. I shift to third base prevented him from by a technicality. I haven't seen an in- putting 40 games in at shortstop. justice like this since the Florida presi­ The change in CIMA League rules per" All of the CIMA League teams have dential election in 2000. There ought mitting a team to use ~ position player been hurt by these types 'of unexpected to be an asterisk next to the Braves' at any position for which that player shifts of position and, fqr that reason, na!lne on the CIMA League cup. I think started at least 40 games in either the the rule passed by a large majority (8- they ought to rename Robert Fick current season or the prior seas'on has 2). 'Chad' Fick," said Yankees' Director of already ,made a major impact on the From our perspective, we believe Player Personnel, jay Custis. league. the rule is a good one and, while it Before closing; let me say this. I Tigers fans point· to the Braves' may have played a bigger role in this supported the rule two years ago when catcher ,Robert Fick as Exhibit A in year's championship race than some unexpected shifts of several Oriole in­ their case against the rule and their , would prefer, the reasonable protec­ fielders unfairly crippled any real feeling that it is an unfair one. tions it provides all owners is, on bal­ chance an otherwise strong Oriole Fick qualified as the Braves' catcher ance, a positive. thing," said Marlins' team had td contend. The rule failed. and, in doing so, helped lead the Braves owner jim Rodgers. ' It was reproposed this spring, and with to their first CI:MA League champion- ~ "Frankly, we don't know when the more time to consider it, it passed I ship. This, despite failing to catch a Mets will decide to move Piazza :from easily Every CIMA League owner had single game this season. Fick qualified behind the plate to first base, or, per­ an · opportunity to draft Robert Fick, as a catcher under the new rule be­ haps the outfield. While we expect the but only the Braves had the foresight cause he had started 79 games as · move to come sooner rather thanlater, to pick him.