Opening Day roster finalized
April 1, 1998
WASHINGTON D.C.— The Washington Bobwhites have settled on which 25 players will make up their Opening Day roster, lineup, and pitching rotation.
Shane Christen will toe the rubber on Opening Day against the Louisville Sluggers. Christen is coming off an 18-4, 3.43 ERA season, a solid performance for most but a disappointment after going 27-3 with a 2.74 ERA in 1996.
"I'm excited to get out there and try to help get this team back to the playoffs," said Christen. "Last year was disappointing for us as a team, and I think we all have a lot of motivation to make up for it."
Following Christen in the rotation will be veteran Ken Howell. Howell, 37, went 15-12 with a 2.88 ERA last year, and has compiled a 56-30 record over three seasons with Washington.
Behind Christen and Howell are question marks and wild cards on the mound. Hugh Wiggins will open the season as the third man in the rotation. The right-hander appeared in 37 games, starting 24 games for the Bobwhites, going 7-7 with a save and a 4.32 ERA. Prior to making 24 starts last season, Wiggins has not worked as a starting pitcher since playing as an amateur. Left-hander Ryan Karp, a new addition to the organization, will try to establish himself as a big league starting pitcher. Rounding out the starting five will be 28-year-old Gus Cantrell, who made 14 starts in 50 appearances last season. In 108 1/3 innings in 1997, Cantrell posted a 6.73 ERA, going 6-8 with a save, after going 10-9 with a 4.53 ERA in 1996.
“We need these guys to step up and show what they can do,” said Bobwhites manager Rip Torn. “We don’t want to have to make a lot of changes, but we’ll do whatever we have to do, and these guys know that.”
One place where no change is expected is at the end of ballgames. Washington closer Brendan Meyer had a solid season in 1997, going 9-7 with 31 saves and a 3.14 ERA in 71 games.
“Hopefully, Meyer gets more save opportunities this year,” said White. “If he’s pitching a lot, then we’ll be winning a lot.”
Rounding out the bullpen will be Kevin McAdam, Marcos Cajigas, Jeff Schwarz, and southpaws Luke Outwright and Paul Kindel.
Working with the pitching staff will be free agent acquisition catcher Tyler “Swat” Ryan. The 35-year-old veteran hit .290 with 28 home runs and 86 RBI in 146 games with Greenville last year. Ryan takes over for catcher Larry Jenkins, who will serve as the back-up. The switch-hitting Jenkins hit .287 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI in 108 games for the Bobwhites last season.
“We like Larry, but we had the opportunity to add a big bat to the lineup with Tyler Ryan and we took it,” said Torn. “Larry will get plenty of time in behind the plate and at bat, regardless of Tyler joining the team.”
While Ryan is a big bat, there is no bigger bat than firstbaseman and league MVP Neil McKinney. The 24-year-ol left-handed hitter exploded on the scene last season, hitting .310 with 60 home runs and 139 RBI in 161 games.
“It’s going to be tough for Neil to top last season,” said Torn. “But, I’d love to see it happen.”
Matthew Burgoon will be the club’s regular second baseman, turning double plays with shortstop Waichirou Moronobu. Burgoon hit .263 with 25 home runs and 57 RBI in 106 games last season while Moronobu belted out a .282 average, 25 home runs, and 92 RBI.
Manning the hot corner once again this season will be George Goutones, who proved to be a key member of the lineup last season. Goutones hit .327 with 30 home runs and 93 RBI last season.
The outfield will be made up by Hank Carl, Justin Akers, Rocky Framaggio, Ramon Echague, Roosevelt Johnson, and Javier Acaron. Carl returns and man left field after hitting .292 with 15 home runs and 59 RBI in 114 games. Akers, 23, hit .282 with 17 RBI and 32 runs scored in 57 games last season, and has won the starting job in center field this season. Framaggio will be in the starting lineup after hitting .256 with 17 home runs, 73 RBI and 97 runs scored last year. Echague will work primarily as the club’s designated hitter after hitting .252 with 33 homers and 74 RBI in 129 games last season.
Rounding out the roster will be backup firstbaseman Jonathan Carver and infielder Joe Sixpack.
“The expectation of the ownership, the front office, my staff and I, the team, and the fans is to see this team go back to the playoffs,” said Torn. “We need to meet and exceed those expectations.”
