True Blue LA - 1988 Dodgers player profilesWhere The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2013-02-08T06:00:07-08:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/35928492013-02-08T06:00:07-08:002013-02-08T06:00:07-08:00Orel Hershiser, the bulldog
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zUUc1aDoLLpT-lrbON14GcFBCPw=/0x306:734x795/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6456561/orel-hershiser-dodgers-getty.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It's fitting we end our profiles of the 1988 Dodgers with a look at Orel Hershiser, who carried the team on his back and was untouchable for over two months.</p> <p id="XlCgbp">The Dodgers of 1988 are remembered for the fiery play of Kirk Gibson and his one iconic moment, the brash leadership of Tommy Lasorda, and the clutch play from a group of unknowns who called themselves the Stunt Men. But the reason the 1988 Dodgers overcame the odds and won the World Series was largely due to the exploits of Orel Hershiser, who had a great season and ended with one of the finest extended runs in baseball history.</p>
<p id="g68YJo">The Dodgers are currently blessed with a great starting pitcher in <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>, who has often been compared to Sandy Koufax. But Hershiser's run in 1988 was fresh in my mind <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2011/9/20/2439277/clayton-kershaw-giant-killer">when Kershaw won his 20th game in 2011</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="afwIqL">I never saw Koufax myself, but my reference point for great Dodger pitching is Orel Hershiser at the end of 1988. Every time Hershiser took the mound, I <em>knew</em> the Dodgers would win. That's how much confidence he inspired. That's the way it is for Kershaw now. I have never felt more confident in the Dodgers than I do with Kershaw on the mound.</p>
<p id="lYV7NU">He's simply the best.</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="BBALZU">In 1988, it was Hershiser who was best, and was the last man standing come World Series time.</p>
<p id="9wdJn6"><strong>How acquired</strong>: The Dodgers drafted Hershiser out of Bowling Green University in the 17th round of the 1979 draft.</p>
<p id="P39vrW"> </p>
<div class="sidebar" id="AoA4Xf"> <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/1988-dodgers"><h2>1988 Dodgers profiles</h2> <img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6138473/1988-dodgers-parade-3-getty.0_cinema_1050.0.jpg" width="300"></a> <span>The profiles of all 38 players and manager Tommy Lasorda, all in one place</span> </div>
<p id="COtXjx"><strong>Prior MLB experience</strong>: Hershiser was sneaky good in a hybrid role in 1984, with a 2.66 ERA in 20 starts and 25 relief appearances, totaling 189⅔ innings in his rookie season (he also pitched eight innings in 1983). But in 1985 Hershiser was great, at 19-3 with a 2.03 ERA for the NL West winners, with the lowest ERA by a Dodger since Sandy Koufax.</p>
<p id="7CRKvC">Hershiser was a .500 pitcher in both 1986 and 1987, but the years were remarkably different. Hershiser was 14-14 in 1986, but his 3.85 ERA was nearly a run higher than his 3.06 ERA in 1987, when he was 16-16. Hershiser in 1986 struck out 153 and walked 86 and averaged 6.61 innings per start, but in 1987 he struck out 190 and walked 74, and averaged 7.50 innings per start, the first of three straight seasons that Hershiser led the National League in innings pitched.</p>
<p id="Mgex1G"><strong>1988 age</strong>: 29</p>
<p id="Z4RiTs"><strong>1988 stats</strong>: Hershiser began the year on fire, with wins in his first six starts and a 1.74 ERA. His seventh outing of the year wasn't even a start, but rather a scoreless 14th inning for a save, and a harbinger of things to come in October. That was the first of three different six-start winning streaks on the season for Hershiser, who was humming along nicely at 16-7 with a 3.06 ERA beginning play on Aug. 19.</p>
<p id="xvyKkv">Hershiser shutout the Expos that night, then allowed two runs each in a a pair of complete games in his next two outings. Montreal put two runs up in the fifth inning on Aug. 30, but those were the final runs Hershiser would allow in the regular season.</p>
<p id="tfEo4R">Each of his next five starts were shutouts, which led to ...</p>
<p id="9z9i0d"><strong>Regular season game of the year</strong>: His best game of the regular season was probably a game in which Hershiser didn't even get a decision. He came into his final start of the year on Sept. 28 in San Diego needing 10 innings to break Don Drysdale's record for consecutive scoreless innings.</p>
<p id="YYqnDc">Sure enough, Hershiser pitched nine scoreless innings for his sixth consecutive start, and the Dodgers, who clinched the division two nights earlier, obliged by not scoring on offense. Hershiser recorded three more outs in the 10th do give him 59 straight innings and a new major league record (<em>note: the streak will get its own post later in the year</em>).</p>
<p id="oBf9bO"><strong>NLCS performance</strong>: Hershiser came into the NLCS on fire, and had five days of rest prior to his Game 1 start against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>. It looked to be business as usual for Hershiser, who took a 2-0 lead into the ninth inning and extended his scoreless streak to 67 consecutive frames. But a run in the ninth inning, the first allowed by Hershiser in exactly five weeks, ended his night. Closer Jay Howell needed to record two outs to protect the 2-1 lead, but instead gave up a two-run double to Gary Carter for a 3-2 Mets win.</p>
<p id="GI72LZ">Rain in New York pushed the schedule back, and allowed Hershiser to start Game 3 on three days rest. He allowed three runs in seven innings, the most runs he had allowed in any one start since Aug. 14, but the Dodgers took a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning. Again, Jay Howell was brought in to protect a one-run lead for Hershiser but this time things fell even worse for the Dodgers. Howell didn't make it through one batter before he was ejected and eventually suspended for having pine tar in his glove, and the Mets rallied for five runs in the inning. The Dodgers trailed 2-1 in the series, and their two losses came in Hershiser starts.</p>
<p id="vqL8mW">After Howell's suspension, the team got a pep talk from their manager, <a href="http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-10-11/sports/8802290364_1_giamatti-ends-suspension-crucial-game-jay-howell">per Robbie Andreu of the Orlando Sun-Sentinel</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="E8y9sW">Before Game 4 Sunday, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda gave his team an emotional speech, asking them to make whatever sacrifice was needed to win the crucial game without Howell.<br><br>After the speech, starting pitcher Orel Hershiser approached Lasorda and said: ``I`m ready.``<br><br>``When he said that, I didn`t know what he meant,`` Lasorda said. ``I said, `Ready for what?` He said, `To go into the bullpen.'"</p></blockquote>
<p id="tLTpgy">Go into the bullpen is just what Hershiser did, in the 12th inning with the Dodgers clinging to a one-run lead. He entered with the bases loaded, and had to face Kevin McReynolds with two outs. Hershiser was the last pitcher left, and he got McReynolds to pop out to shallow center field, to tie the NLCS at two games apiece. Lasorda was relieved after the game, <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1988-10-13/sports/sp-4838_1_national-league-championship-series-game">per the Los Angeles Times</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="QixGly">"I told the guys on the bench that if Hershiser walked in the tying run and we had to keep playing (several more innings), that they could just wear black armbands during the next game," Lasorda recalled.<br><br>Why black armbands?<br><br>" 'Cause I'd have killed myself.<br><br>"How could I walk down the street the rest of my life with everybody pointing at me saying, 'Do you know what he did to his team? Do you know what he did to Orel Hershiser?' "</p></blockquote>
<p id="HUgtxF">Even crazier is that after Hershiser started and threw 8⅓ innings on Oct. 4, threw seven innings on Oct. 8, and recorded one out for a save on Oct. 9, he even warmed up in the eighth inning of Game 5 on Oct. 10, through he wasn't used.</p>
<p id="UnOL2q">On Oct. 12 Hershiser was used, as he started Game 7 at Dodger Stadium, and he delivered. The Dodgers jumped on Ron Darling early and had a 6-0 lead by the second inning, and Hershiser cruised to the 12th complete game shutout in Dodgers postseason history.</p>
<p id="bJZtFo">For the series against the Mets, Hershiser was 1-0 with one save, a 1.09 ERA, with 15 strikeouts and seven walks in 24⅔ innings.</p>
<p id="ggEnyk"> </p>
<div class="pullquote" id="313oUO">"It takes a pure athlete as coordinated as he is to maintain that kind of groove for so long. It would be like a bowler rolling 300 games every day for six weeks."<span>-Pitching coach Ron Perranoski to SI, <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1067933/index.htm" target="new">10/31/88</a></span> </div>
<p id="vSKVtC"><strong>World Series performance</strong>: Hershiser picked up where he left off in Game 2 against the 104-win <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a>, and had one of the greatest individual games in Dodgers history. Not only did Hershiser shutout the A's on three hits - his seventh shutout in his last 10 starts, with a 10-scoreless-inning start mixed in as well - but Hershiser had three hits himself, including a pair of doubles.</p>
<p id="dkzwBI">"I couldn't figure out why I was missing his pitches in Game 2," Oakland's Jose Canseco <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1067933/index.htm">told Peter Gammons of Sports Illustrated</a>. "Then I looked at the videos and I saw how much the ball was moving. In Game 5, I got a dose of his curveball, which is in Bert Blyleven's class. Great stuff, great pitcher."</p>
<p id="VV6JY8">Hershiser's game score of 87 in Game 2 was <a href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/dAFIr">the fourth best in franchise history</a>, and he joined Sandy Koufax as the only Dodgers with two shutouts in the same postseason. But he wasn't done.</p>
<p id="tLCYMJ">Hershiser closed out the A's in Game 5 with another complete game, and struck out Tony Phillips for the final out. Oakland actually got to Hershiser for two runs, but that couldn't put a damper on one of the great finishing runs by any pitcher in major league history.</p>
<p id="mG0iF3">From Aug. 19 to Oct. 20, a span of two months, Hershiser made 14 starts and one memorable relief appearance, and allowed 11 total runs, nine earned. Over a 63-day span, Hershiser had a 0.65 ERA in 124⅔ innings, with 89 strikeouts, 28 walks, 11 complete games, and eight shutouts.</p>
<p id="qxzRna"><strong>Post-1988 playing career</strong>: Hershiser in many ways in 1989 was a mirror image of 1988, with one big exception:</p>
<ul>
<li id="rtqEp1"> <strong>1988</strong>: 1,068 batters faced (led league), 178 strikeouts, 63 unintentional walks, 2.26 ERA, 149 ERA+, 23-8</li>
<li id="GCCVH0"> <strong>1989</strong>: 1,047 batters faced (led league), 178 strikeouts, 63 unintentional walks, 2.31 ERA, 149 ERA+, 15-15</li>
</ul>
<p id="mFr6r7">Hershiser had a great finishing kick in 1989 as well, with a 2.05 ERA over his final nine starts, but he lost seven straight decisions thanks to six total runs of support in the first eight of those games. Hershiser was so intent on evening his record in his final start that he pitched 11 innings and threw 169 pitches to earn the win.</p>
<p id="vlphaM">Just four starts into the 1990 campaign, Hershiser's shoulder was done, and reconstructive surgery cut into two seasons. He recovered to pitch 200 innings in both 1992 and 1993, and Hershiser was on pace to do so again in 1994 before the players strike prematurely ended the season.</p>
<p id="mm5VjW">From 1989-1994 with the Dodgers, Hershiser was 51-53 with a 3.30 ERA, a 110 ERA+, in 147 games, including 145 starts.</p>
<p id="zh1BWy">Hershiser moved onto the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> for three seasons, including two more trips to the World Series with Cleveland. In 1998 he did the unthinkable and signed with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>, then played for the Mets in 1999 and tasted more playoff success. Hershiser, who was 4-0 with a save and a 1.71 ERA in eight postseason games, including seven starts, for the Dodgers, was 4-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 14 postseason games, including 11 starts, with Cleveland and New York.</p>
<p id="JALlmI">A 41-year-old Hershiser returned home to the Dodgers in 2000, but things didn't go well at all. After just two starts Hershiser had a respectable 4.09 ERA, but then hit the click in the roller coaster. In his final eight big league games, Hershiser allowed 31 runs and recorded 41 outs. His 13.14 ERA in his final season is <a href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/VPTef">the highest ERA ever by a Dodger with at least 15 innings in a season</a>.</p>
<p id="qCuFUH">Hershiser finished his career with 204 wins with a 3.48 ERA, a 112 OPS+, in 3,130⅓ innings, including 121-103 with a 3.93 ERA, a 104 ERA+ after 1988.</p>
<p id="mwM99d">Among <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> pitchers, Hershiser is sixth in wins (135), fifth in strikeouts (1,456), sixth in shutouts (24), and 10th in ERA (3.12).</p>
<p id="68uyfb"><strong>Where he is now</strong>: Right after his playing career ended, Hershiser moved to ESPN, where he served as an analyst in 2000 and 2001. He then moved to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> for four years, where he served as pitching coach then in the front office. Hershiser returned to ESPN in 2006, and 2013 will be his fourth season as a television analyst on Sunday Night Baseball.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/2/8/3869352/orel-hershiser-1988-dodgersEric Stephen2013-02-07T06:00:12-08:002013-02-07T06:00:12-08:00Mike Scioscia, a rock behind the plate
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xQSURn6jqiOmNgaKkl24PAe1Deg=/15x8:731x485/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7504775/20120418_kdl_am8_070.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Mike Scioscia hit three home runs all year, but hit a two-run home run in the ninth against Doc Gooden that led to tying the NLCS at two games apiece. </p> <p>One of my favorite articles about the 1988 World Series was published in <i>Sports Illustrated's</i> 1989 baseball preview edition. Mike Scioscia was interviewed by Peter Gammons and that article was a batter by batter account of Game 2 and how Hershiser and Scioscia pitched to Oakland that night.</p>
<p>There are lots of great details that you can read <a target="_blank" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1068233/index.htm">here</a> but my favorite part comes before anything about the game. Scioscia is explaining the three elements you need to call a game and within the third element, he says this:</p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote>
<p>The third element is knowing the hitters' weaknesses, but this factor shouldn't be overplayed. There are managers who like to tell pitchers, "Don't throw so-and-so a fastball." That's wrong. If a hitter is properly set up by the pitcher, there are a number of ways to get him out. I watched the A's hit in batting practice before the first two games to look for little tendencies. For instance, when I heard a hitter ask the batting practice pitcher for a curveball, I watched to see if the hitter made any adjustment with his feet; if he did, he would probably move his feet similarly in a game, and that would indicate to me that he was sitting on the breaking ball. Only the catcher and pitcher can see that, or can see a hitter moving forward a few inches in the batter's box or closer to the plate.</p>
<p>That's why it doesn't make any sense for a manager to call pitches from the dugout. If the manager wants a curveball and I can see by the hitter's feet that he's sitting on the curve, do we throw the curve anyway because the manager says so? Do we stop the game, call out the manager and throw off the pitcher's tempo? A manager can't call pitches from the dugout. The right pitch can be what the book says is wrong.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>But that article is really great and while I have not sat down and watched my DVD of Game 2 with the article in hand to compare, it is something to look forward to doing in the future.</p>
<p><b>How acquired</b>: Mike was selected by the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> as the 19th pick in the first round of the 1976 amateur draft. Mike played 4 years in the minors until 1980 when he split time in Triple-A and the Dodgers.</p>
<p><b>Prior MLB experience</b>: Scioscia came up in the 1980 season, Mike was part of the youth movement as the Dodgers began to replace the major parts of those great 70s teams. Scioscia, Guerrero, Sax, Marshall, Valenzuela and Hershiser would all come up in the next few years. Mike was inserted into the lineup immediately and played in all 3 postseason series in 1981. After hitting .219 in 129 games in 1982, Scioscia missed most of the 1983 season with what was eventually diagnosed as a torn rotator cuff. He came back and from 1984-1987, he hit .272/.369/.376 in 1,897 plate appearances.</p>
<p><b>1988 age</b>: 29</p>
<p><b>1988 stats</b>: In 115 starts and 123 games played overall, Mike hit .257/.318/.324 that year. He did throw out 41% of baserunners who attempted to steal and the Dodgers had the second best staff in the NL.</p>
<p><b>Regular season game of the year</b>: In the Dodgers 10-3 win against the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Giants</a> on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198804230.shtml">Apr. 23</a>, Scioscia went 3-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored. He caught Hershiser's fourth win of the month.</p>
<p><b>NLCS performance</b>: Hershiser won the NLCS MVP but Scioscia was a hitting star, he hit .364/.391/.545 in 23 PA.</p>
<p>My viewing habits for the 1988 playoffs were strange, I was working two jobs and as hard as may be to believe, while excited about the Dodgers, I didn't rearrange my life to watch the games. And although I did start videotaping NBA Finals in 1985, I didn't tape these games. Game 4 was played on a Sunday and it crept into the early evening. Some friends were gathering to play some poker and we went down to my friend's apartment in Redondo Beach. The Dodgers were ahead and then they fell behind and I think it might have even been the 9th inning when we got there. We all thought the game would be over as well as the playoffs so we were getting ready to play cards.</p>
<p>As noted before, <span class="sbn-auto-link">John Shelby</span> had walked, Mike Scioscia, who had been in the regular season 8-for-16 with two walks against starting pitchers he had seen three prior times, hit Gooden's first pitch fastball over Daryl Strawberry and the right field wall to tie the game at 4-4.</p>
<p>From that point on, the card game waited and we watched the Dodgers win the game in extra innings.</p>
<p><b>World Series performance</b>: Scioscia did not have as good a series at the plate and it was after his third hit of the series in Game 4 when he twisted his knee and his 1988 season ended. Scioscia had three singles in 14 plate appearances with no walks in the 1988 World Series.</p>
<p><b>Post-1988 playing career</b>: Scioscia bounced back in 1989 and went to his first of back to back All-Star games. He hit a career high 10 home runs in 1989 and came back in 1990 to hit 12. In 1991, he had an 112 OPS+ as he had his third consecutive fine year with the Dodgers.</p>
<p>In what could have been a prelude to his last season as a Dodger player, Mike's voice appeared in this now classic <i>Simpsons</i>' episode back in February 1992, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.snpp.com/episodes/8F13.html">Homer at the Bat</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Dr. Hibbert: Uh, Mike, try to lift your arm.<br>Mike Scioscia: Can't... lift... arm... or... speak... at... normal... rate...<br>-- ``Homer at the Bat'</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The show may have been ominous but who knew it would spawn this fine <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mikesciosciastragicillness.com/">Dodger blog.</a></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">In 1992, Scioscia would </span>suffer like the rest of the team, hitting just .221 in 117 games. After the 1992 season and the Dodgers looking to play <span>Mike Piazza</span> and Carlos Hernandez, Scioscia signed a one-year deal with the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Diego Padres</a>. But Scioscia's 1993 season ended in spring training as he had another torn rotator cuff injury and was out for the year. He would then sign a minor league deal with the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Texas Rangers</a> but would never appear in the majors for them.</p>
<p>Scioscia leads all Los Angeles Dodger catchers in games played at 1,395.</p>
<p>After his playing career ended, he began to coach, in 1997 and 1998 he served on Bill Russell's staff with the Dodgers and then in 1999, he managed the Dodgers' Triple-A club in Albuquerque.</p>
<p><b>Where he is now</b>: In October 1999, the Anaheim <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Angels</a> hired Scioscia as their manager. The Angels had not been to the postseason since 1986 and had still had never won a pennant. In 2002, the wild-card Angels defeated the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Yankees</a>, <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Twins</a> and Giants to win their first World Series. Scioscia holds all career marks for the Angels as manager and is currently the longest-tenured manager for one team in the majors and the only one to have piloted over 1000 wins with his current team.</p>
<p>In 2010, Scioscia came back to The Simpsons; <a target="_blank" href="http://angels.ocregister.com/2010/10/11/mike-scioscia-was-on-the-simpsons-again/66144/">this OC Register article</a> covers it pretty well.</p>
<p>In 2012, the Dodgers saluted Mike with a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.dodgerbobble.com/2012/04/first-look-mike-scioscia-bobblehead.html">bobblehead.</a> I am not sure what was rarer, the opposing team honoring the other team's manager or Juan Rivera hitting a home run but both happened <a target="_blank" href="http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2012/B06120LAN2012.htm">this night</a>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/2/7/3943276/mike-scioscia-1988-dodgersCraig Minami2013-02-06T06:00:10-08:002013-02-06T06:00:10-08:00Alejandro Pena, bullpen mainstay
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Dk3dA3c-Ml_gghTc60hOZ34Fbhw=/18x23:1044x707/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7710871/1988-dodgers-parade-3-getty.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Alejandro Pena, the longest-tenured Dodger pitcher on the post-season roster shines in relief in 1988.</p> <p>When you look through the names of the Los Angeles Dodger pitchers that have won the National League ERA title, you find Koufax, Sutton, Brown and Kershaw. You will also see in 1984, the name Alejandro Pena. However, he had only one appearance after August that season and then had shoulder surgery in 1985. The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dodgers</a> were patient while Pena and the trainers worked on his rehab and in 1988, that worked paid off as Pena had a banner year in the bullpen.</p>
<p>Pena was called "Slow" for his deliberate preparation for each pitch, as <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1988-07-29/sports/sp-7924_1_alejandro-pena" target="_blank">Sam McManis explained in the Los Angeles Times</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The mere summoning of Alejandro Pena from the bullpen does not mean he is ready to pitch. Certain rituals must be completed first. There is his entrance, for instance. Pena doesn't walk to the mound, he strolls. And once there, the Dodgers' right-handed reliever dawdles.</p>
<p>Pena manicures the mound with his spikes, and seemingly spends minutes kneading the rosin bag.</p>
<p>Inevitably, the plate umpire will have Pena remove his neck chain, which resembles a hood ornament.</p>
<p>Then, finally, Pena stares at the catcher's mitt, like a marksman lining up his target.</p>
<p>Once he throws a pitch, the routine starts all over again. He takes so much time between pitches that his Dodger teammates kiddingly call Pena the human rain delay.</p>
<p>"He even stands slow," Ron Perranoski, the Dodger pitching coach, said with a shrug.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>How acquired</b>: Pena was signed by the Dodgers as amateur free-agent from the Dominican Republic in 1978.</p>
<p><b>Prior MLB experience</b>: Pena was called up August 1981 after the strike was settled and pitched very successfully about of the bullpen (14 games 120 ERA+, two saves and 1-1 record) but a bleeding ulcer would prevent him from participating in the 1981 World Series but he did pitch in 2 games in the 1981 NLCS.</p>
<p>After an indifferent 1982 season where he pitched in the minors and 29 games for the Dodgers, Pena became a starter in 1983 and 1984 resulting in his aforementioned ERA title in 1984. But his right shoulder wore down and he needed surgery in February 1985. He pitched just two games in 1985 and he was ineffective as starter and reliever in 1986. After no success as a starter in the first half of 1987 as a starter, Pena was permanently moved to the bullpen in June and in the second half he had 10 saves and a 1.81 ERA.</p>
<p><b>1988 age</b>: 29</p>
<p><b>1988 stats</b>: Pena would lead the Dodger bullpen with 94.1 IP that year. He went 6-7 with 12 saves and 31 games finished. He had a 1.91 ERA and allowed just four home runs with 83 strikeouts and 27 walks allowed.</p>
<p><b>Regular season game of the year</b>: Pena had six appearances of three or more innings (one was 3.2, the rest were 3 IP). The Dodgers won all six of those games so the one I picked is the <a href="http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1988/B09260SDN1988.htm" target="_blank">September 26, 1988 </a>NL West clincher where Pena pitched innings six through eight, facing 11 batters, allowed a single and a walk, struck out two. Jay Howell would get the save and the Dodgers would win the West.</p>
<p><b>NLCS performance</b>: Pena was 1-1 against the Mets, and his highlight was <a href="http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1988/B10090NYN1988.htm" target="_blank">Game 4.</a> After the Dodgers tied in the top of the 9th, Pena pitched three scoreless innings with no hits, three walks and a strikeout for the win. </p>
<div class="pullquote">Pena doesn't walk to the mound, he strolls. And once there, the Dodgers' right-handed reliever dawdles.<span>-<a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1988-07-29/sports/sp-7924_1_alejandro-pena" target="_blank">Sam McManis, LA Times 7/29/88</a></span>
</div>
<p><b>World Series performance</b>: Pena pitched the eighth and ninth innings in <a href="http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1988/B10150LAN1988.htm" target="_blank">Game 1</a>, and allowed one hit and struck out three. He picked the win after the antics of the bottom of the ninth, as Kirk Gibson pinch hit for Pena.</p>
<p>Pena also pitched three scoreless innings against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> in Game 3, and ended the World Series with five scoreless innings, seven strikeouts, and just three baserunners allowed.</p>
<p><b>Post-1988 playing career</b>: Pena would have another successful season in 1989, completing a near decade of pitching for the Dodgers, but in December he and Mike Marshall were <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1989-12-21/sports/sp-958_1_center-fielder" target="_blank">traded to the New York Mets</a> for Juan Samuel. Pena would eventually play for the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mets</a>, <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Braves</a>, <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pirates</a>, <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Red Sox</a>, and <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Marlins</a> from 1990-1996. Pena would never start again, pitching 275 games from 1989-1996. He would make postseason appearances for the Braves in 1991 and 1995 (his loss in 1991 in Game 7 is one reason Jack Morris is still a candidate for the Hall of Fame).</p>
<p><b>Where he is now</b>: Alejandro Pena returns in 2013 as pitching coach of the Dodgers rookie level Dominican summer league team.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/2/6/3895890/alejandro-pena-1988-dodgersCraig Minami2013-02-05T06:00:16-08:002013-02-05T06:00:16-08:00Mike Davis, all he did was walk
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PcGDX--ZjxM2jY7A5cLQXwOvpow=/40x343:701x784/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7593177/1988-dodgers-parade-2-getty.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Mike Davis had a difficult 1988 season, making him an unlikely person to set the stage for one of the greatest moments in Los Angeles Dodgers World Series history. </p> <p>Bottom of the ninth inning. Two outs. No runners aboard. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> trailing 4-3. On the mound for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland Athletics</a>, Dennis Eckersley, American League Cy Young Award runner-up, whose 45 saves led the majors that year. With Alfredo Griffin due to bat, Mike Davis was sent up to pinch-hit. Light-hitting Dave Anderson took up residence in the on-deck circle, ready to bat for the pitcher.</p>
<p>Davis had struggled through a horrific season at the plate (.260 OBP) and success against Eckersley (0.867 WHIP) seemed unlikely. The opening-day right-fielder fouled the one strike he saw straight back. Then Davis did something small, but momentous. As <a target="_blank" href="http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/26/sports/sp-crowe26">he later told the Los Angeles Times</a>,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"And all I did was walk."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Anderson was called back, and instead, Kirk Gibson slowly made his way from the dugout to be the pinch-hitter instead.</p>
<p>And Dodgers history was made.</p>
<p><b>How acquired</b>: The Dodgers signed Davis as a free agent prior to the 1988 season. The two-year, nearly $2 million deal <a target="_blank" href="http://articles.latimes.com/1987-12-16/sports/sp-19505_1_press-conference">narrowly nosed out the New York Yankees offer</a> for Davis' services. (Davis' agent for this negotiation was Louis Burrell, who had a somewhat famous brother named Stanley, AKA M.C. Hammer. In fact, <a target="_blank" href="http://books.google.com/books?id=1swDAAAAMBAJ&q=mike+davis#v=snippet&q=mike%20davis&f=false">according to Ebony Magazine</a>, Davis was a factor in starting Hammer's career, lending the rapper $20,000 to help launch Hammer's first company, Bust It Productions.)</p>
<p><b>Prior MLB experience</b>: Davis spent parts of eight seasons in the majors with the A's prior to joining the Dodgers, the last five as a full-time player. His cumulative batting line with them was .267/.319/.433, but in the last three seasons he batted .274/.328/.469 and clouted 65 home runs while playing his home games in the cavernous Oakland Coliseum.</p>
<p><b>1988 age</b>: 29</p>
<p><b>1988 stats</b>: Davis began the year as the starting right-fielder, but an extended slump cost him his starting job. At season's end he had hit an anemic .196/.260/.270 (54 OPS+) with only 15 extra-base hits (two home runs) while starting an unexpectedly low 63 games.</p>
<p><b>Regular season game of the year</b>: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN198805080.shtml">On May 8</a>, Davis was 4 for 6 with a double, triple and three RBIs as the Dodgers routed the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> 12-6. This was the first contest in a four-game stretch where Davis would hit .476/.500/.619 and in 22 plate appearances collect 10 hits, or over 18% of his season total of 55.</p>
<p><b>NLCS performance:</b> Davis appeared in four games and was 0-2 with a walk at the plate. That walk was the second of three consecutive walks that gave the Dodgers a short-lived one-run lead in Game 1, just prior to the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/2/1/3931602/jay-howell-1988-dodgers">infamous pine-tar incident</a> that helped trigger a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> comeback.</p>
<p><b>World Series performance</b>: In addition to his role in Game One, Davis wound up starting the last three games of the Fall Classic and hit .143/.455/.571 for the series. In Game Four he twice reached base on error during scoring rallies and in the final game, his two-run home run in the third inning off A's starter Storm Davis pushed the Dodgers to what would prove to be an insurmountable lead of 4-1.</p>
<p><b>Post-1988 playing career</b>: Davis played part-time in 1989 and missed some time with a left knee injury, hitting .249/.309/.387 in 191 plate appearances spread across 67 games, then never again played at the major league level. His playing career ended after short minor-league stints in 1990 and 1991.</p>
<p><b>Where he is now</b>: Davis served as a minor-league hitting coach in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a> organization from 2002 to 2005. <a target="_blank" href="http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/26/sports/sp-crowe26">As of 2009 he was working selling insurance while looking for new baseball opportunities</a>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/2/5/3948408/mike-davis-1988-dodgersDavid Young2013-02-04T06:00:09-08:002013-02-04T06:00:09-08:00Tommy Lasorda, the true believer
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AShgPM7mNbQfHRUkTNsSYuPcdFM=/18x22:1054x713/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7601407/tommy-lasorda-parade-dodgers-getty.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Coming off consecutive 73-89 seasons, Tommy Lasorda led the Dodger to the 1988 World Series title and secured a place in the Hall of Fame.</p> <p>How many times have you turned on Dodger Talk and heard someone say I wish this manager was more into the game or more demonstrative? Certainly Joe Torre and current manager, Don Mattingly are not the type to give big motivational speeches in the clubhouse or scream at an umpire.</p>
<p>Most likely, the person that called had one person in mind when he or she describes that manager: Tommy Lasorda, who had a unique style; certainly not the quiet man that Walter Alston was nor as explosive as his contemporary Billy Martin.</p>
<p>Lasorda had great success from 1977-1985 as seen below, but now in 1988, he was looking at the downside of Pedro Guerrero and Fernando Valenzuela's careers and the recent back to back 73-win teams did not foretell great success in 1988.</p>
<p><b>How acquired</b>: After serving four years as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> third base coach, Lasorda was named manager on September 29, 1976, replacing Alston. Lasorda's first full season was in 1977.</p>
<p><b>Prior managerial experience</b>: Lasorda had one of the great introductions as a manager, he led the Dodgers to back-to-back NL pennants in 1977 and 1978, losing the World Series to the New York Yankess, each time in six games. The Dodgers would finally beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> in 1981 and the Dodgers would win NL West titles in 1983 and 1985. From 1977 to 1985, the Dodgers led the NL with a 780-627 record, one World Series victory, three pennants, five division titles with two other close second place finishes.</p>
<p><b>1988 age</b>: 60</p>
<p><b>1988 stats</b>: The Dodgers lost on opening day but then ran off five straight wins. They would go back and forth during April and May, and their biggest deficit was 1½ games but after being tied on May 25, they never trailed again, and led the division by as much as 9½ games.</p>
<p><b>Regular season game of the year</b>: In a game that used 19 players, the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198805100.shtml">Dodgers beat the Cubs 6-5</a> in Chicago on May 10. Lasorda used six pitchers: Belcher, Pena, Orosco, Howell, Holton and Hershiser for the save. Kirk Gibson hit the game-winning home run in the top of the 14th inning.</p>
<p><b>NLCS performance</b>: Of all the games Lasorda had managed, perhaps Game 4 of 1988 NLCS stands out because of all the circumstances surrounding it. The Dodgers were down 2-1 in the series and had lost the two games started by Orel Hershiser. Hershiser would not be able start the next three games so the odds seemed slim that the Dodgers could come back especially with Dwight Gooden starting Game 4. And then reliever Jay Howell was suspended for three days. August acquisition John Tudor started for the Dodgers but he got behind 4-2 after six innings.</p>
<p>Suffice to say there will be more to say about this game later but Lasorda then had six relievers including a memorable appearance by Orel Hershiser to save the game.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-10-14/sports/8802290672_1_dodger-blue-poor-jesse-orosco-garvey">A humorous note from the Orlando Sun-Sentinel game recap</a> recounted when Jesse Orosco had just walked <span>Keith Hernandez</span> to load the bases in the 12th inning and Daryl Strawberry was up with a chance to win the game:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Later, when asked what he had told Orosco, Lasorda said, ``I just offered him some words of encouragement and let him know we were all behind him.``</p>
<p>A female reporter said she was reading his lips and thought his opening line was something like, ``What the heck are you doing?``</p>
<p>``What the heck?`` Lasorda said. ``Lady, you sure can`t read lips.``</p>
</blockquote>
<p align="center"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2116399/lasorda-orosco-chew-out-nlcs-game-4.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lasorda-orosco-chew-out-nlcs-game-4_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2116399/lasorda-orosco-chew-out-nlcs-game-4_medium.jpg"></a></p>
<p><b>World Series performance</b>: On Opening Day, Lasorda had a lineup of Sax, Griffin, Gibson, Guerrero, Marshall, Shelby, Davis and Scioscia. On Game 5 of the World Series, his lineup was Sax, Stubbs, Hatcher, Marshall, Shelby, Dempsey, Hamilton and Griffin (Davis was the DH).</p>
<p>One thing Lasorda had no problem doing was taking his starter out if he felt he needed to make a change no matter how early it was in the game. In Game 1 of the Series, Tim Belcher gave up the grand slam to Jose Canseco but it was still only 4-2 in second inning. But with a runner on first and two outs, he had Danny Heep pinch hit for Belcher (to no avail) and then handed the game to his bullpen for next seven innings. The mighty A's would never score as much as four runs in a game the rest of the series, let alone one inning, and the Dodgers would keep it close for Kirk Gibson to win it in the ninth.</p>
<p><b>Post-1988 managing career</b>: Lasorda never led the Dodgers to another playoff win (in fact the Dodgers wouldn't win another playoff series until 2008) On June 26, 1996, Tommy was admitted to the hospital due to an issue with an ulcer. While there, the doctors discovered that Lasorda had suffered a heart attack and they did a procedure to clear out his arterial blockage. In July, Lasorda retired though some thought he wanted to come back and manage. Lasorda finished his managerial career with a 1,599-1,439 record (.526), two World Series victories, four NL pennants, and eight division titles. He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1997 and the Dodgers retired his number later that year.</p>
<p><b>Where he is now</b>: Tommy was named VP of the Dodgers upon his retirement and for the most part, his role has been advisory and community relations related. However, he did serve as interim General Manager in 1998 after Fred Claire was fired by Fox, who had just bought the team. Lasorda's most famous trade was uber-prospect <span>Paul Konerko</span> and <span>Dennys Reyes</span> for Cincinnati Reds closer Jeff Shaw. The Dodgers had to sweat out Shaw having the opportunity to request a trade at the end of the season due to the CBA. Shaw made fans nervous for the next three seasons as he closed out games for the Dodgers. Paul Konerko would spend a month in Cincinnati and then was moved to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">Chicago White Sox</a>, and 415 home runs later, Konerko is still there.</p>
<p>Tommy Lasorda has continued to serve in an advisory role since he stepped down as General Manager in 1998. Lasorda was named Special Advisor to Chairman during Frank McCourt's ownership period.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/2/4/3917758/tommy-lasorda-1988-dodgersCraig Minami2013-02-03T06:00:12-08:002013-02-03T06:00:12-08:00Gilberto Reyes tasted the champagne
<figure>
<img alt="They are all thinking, "Thank you Gilberto Reyes."" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CrUpT6cx70A1Nk2Hxjm-wk7xOjE=/13x35:1045x723/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7534573/1988-dodgers-parade-getty.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>They are all thinking, "Thank you Gilberto Reyes." | Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>No 1988 Dodgers position player appeared in fewer games than Gilberto Reyes. But under somewhat unusual circumstances, he was in the clubhouse for the World Series celebration.</p> <p>The rules of baseball in 1988 did not permit a World Series roster change due to an injury. But Mike Scioscia's hurt back suddenly brought Reyes roster status into play. Dodgers Executive Vice President <a target="_blank" href="http://articles.latimes.com/1998/sep/15/sports/sp-22893">Fred Claire recalled for the Los Angeles Times</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I remember what happened to Gilberto Reyes. Scioscia injured his back [in Game 4 of the World Series] and we had gotten permission from [then-Commissioner] Peter Ueberroth to bring Reyes to Oakland. I had him fly in from the Dominican. He flies out--he got there the night of what proved to be the final game. He walks into the clubhouse about the time they started popping champagne bottles. The guy has flown in all the way from the Dominican Republic to get soaked in champagne."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>How acquired</b>: The Dodgers signed Reyes in early 1980, shortly after his sixteenth birthday, as a free agent in the Dominican Republic.</p>
<p><b>Prior MLB experience</b>: Reyes was promoted after only appearing in 33 games for AA San Antonio in 1983 when an injury to Scioscia opened a backup backstop job on the Dodgers roster. At age 19 he was the youngest player in the majors that season. The strong-armed catcher was considered the backstop of the future at one time, but with Scioscia holding down the job, Reyes only had occasional "cups of coffee" with the major-league squad. By the end of 1987, he had played 30 games, come to the plate 40 times, hit .135/.200/.189, and thrown out seven of the 15 runners who tried to steal against him in the National League.</p>
<p><b>1988 age</b>: 24</p>
<p><b>1988 stats</b>: The catcher that Tommy Lasorda had <a target="_blank" href="http://themixtalkradio.podbean.com/2011/11/26/episode-37-former-abq-duke-mlb-player-gilberto-reyes/">nicknamed "Onion Head"</a> for unknown reasons was again a September call up, caught in five games, and was one for nine at the plate.</p>
<p><b>Regular season game of the year</b>: Reyes collected <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN198809270.shtml">his only hit in his only start</a>, scoring the first run of an ultimately futile comeback attempt in meaningless late season game against the Padres.<a target="_blank" href="http://articles.latimes.com/1988-06-26/sports/sp-8219_1_fernando-valenzuela-s-pitching/2"></a></p>
<p><b>NLCS & World Series performance</b>: Other than his possible inclusion for a World Series Game Six that never happened, Reyes was not on the post-season rosters.</p>
<p><b>Post-1988 playing career</b>: As spring training closed in 1989, Reyes was traded to Montreal for minor-league hurler <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fischje01.shtml">Jeff Fischer</a>. Reyes was a half-time catcher for Les Expos in 1991, and while he threw out 43 of 82 would-be base stealers (52.4%) for Montreal, with Bill James naming him the best defensive player on the club in his 1992 Baseball Abstract, he batted only .217/.285/.261. After an alcohol-related suspension, Montreal released him in 1992. Reyes then spent one minor-league season in the Colorado organization, before playing in the Mexican League through the rest of the 1990s, then managing for several Mexican teams, as well as the Dominican Summer League Mets in 2006.</p>
<p><b>Where he is now</b>: Near the end of 2007, in a scene that could have been from a slightly different version of "Breaking Bad", Reyes was driving a truck that he claimed he knew only to contain furniture when it slid off an icy Interstate 25 in New Mexico and crashed, revealing that the cargo also contained <a target="_blank" href="http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/apgilberto04-08-09.htm"><span title="E-mail reporter Tim Korte!" class="popup"><font class="storybody">420 pounds of marijuana</font></span></a>. He was arrested for drug trafficking, but after a trial ended in a hung jury, the charges were dropped in 2009. But he wasn't out of the woods according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/apgilberto04-08-09.htm">an Associated Press story published in the Albuquerque Journal</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>So when a judge granted conditional release for Reyes on March 10, he was seized immediately by federal agents.</p>
<p>They took Reyes to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in El Paso, where he has been held without bond, facing his pending deportation to the Dominican Republic.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Ultimately either the deportation didn't occur or Reyes was allowed to reenter the U.S. because in late November 2011, <a target="_blank" href="http://themixtalkradio.podbean.com/2011/11/26/episode-37-former-abq-duke-mlb-player-gilberto-reyes/">in an interview for a podcast with "The Mix Talk Radio"</a>, he told the host that he had been working in Albuquerque as a Certified Nursing Assistant "for 28 months" and would like to get a job coaching baseball at the high school level.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/2/3/3944574/gilberto-reyes-1988-dodgersDavid Young2013-02-02T06:00:07-08:002013-02-02T06:00:07-08:00Chris Gwynn, used in a pinch
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ttr4dVCFpbzpGWduLr5v1pbWYGk=/29x181:710x635/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6440301/chris-gwynn-dodgers-getty.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The long-time pinch hitter was in his second season in 1988, and got a cup of coffee in September with the Dodgers.</p> <p>At just 23 years old, Chris Gwynn was the third-youngest member of the 1988 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>, behind Ramon Martinez and <span class="sbn-auto-link">Jose Gonzalez</span>. The brother of All-Star outfielder Tony Gwynn of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>, Chris Gwynn was highly touted in his own right and drafted earlier in his draft than his older brother.</p>
<p>Gwynn starred at San Diego State and was a member of the 1984 United States Olympic baseball team, which played games at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p><b>How acquired</b>: Gwynn was drafted in the first round by the Dodgers in 1985, 10th overall.</p>
<p><b>Prior MLB experience</b>: Gwynn hit .287/.315/.392 in 111 games in Double-A San Antonio in 1986, then hit .279/.346/.370 in 110 games in Triple-A Albuquerque in 1987. He made his major league debut <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198708140.shtml">on Aug. 14, 1987</a> and had three singles and two RBI in a win against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>. Gwynn appeared in 17 games for the Dodgers in 1987 and had seven hits in 32 at-bats.</p>
<p><b>1988 age</b>: 23</p>
<p><b>1988 stats</b>: Gwynn appeared in 12 games, all in September after rosters expanded, and didn't start once. Gwynn had two hits and a walk in 12 plate appearances, and hit .182/.250/.182. Ten of his 12 plate appearances in 1988 came as a pinch hitter, a role that would define Gwynn throughout his career.</p>
<p><b>Regular season game of the year</b>: It's kind of slim pickings here, but Gwynn singled and scored his only run of the season <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198809240.shtml">on Sept. 24</a> in a win over the Giants.</p>
<p><b>NLCS & World Series performance</b>: Gwynn was left off the 24-man postseason roster.</p>
<p><b>Post-1988 playing career</b>: Gwynn remained with the Dodgers through 1991, though in his first five years he was mostly a reserve, starting just 62 of his 256 games played. He was traded to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> after the 1991 season for first baseman Todd Benzinger, and Gwynn hit .296/.342/.391 in 137 games over two years with Kansas City.</p>
<p>Gwynn rejoined the Dodgers primarily as a pinch hitter for two more seasons, and led Los Angeles in pinch hit appearances in 1990, 1991, 1994, and 1995. Gwynn joined his brother Tony in San Diego in 1996, and Chris's final major league plate appearance resulted in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN199609290.shtml">a two-run double in the 11th inning at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 29</a> to win the National League West for the Padres on the final day of the season.</p>
<p><b>Where he is now</b>: After his playing career ended Gwynn jumped right into scouting with the Padres, a position he held from 1997-2009. Gwynn worked his way up to director of player personnel of the Padres in 2010-11, and 2013 will be his second year as director of minor league operations of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/2/2/3868332/chris-gwynn-1988-dodgersEric Stephen2013-02-01T06:00:04-08:002013-02-01T06:00:04-08:00Jay Howell, a sticky situation
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2NWGEW_91bGqkrZ3mh952YCvE0M=/0x172:774x688/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7332453/jay-howell-dodgers-getty.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Jay Howell was an effective relief pitcher for the Dodgers for five years, but his first year in Los Angeles, while very good, could have easily been remembered negatively for the relief pitcher.</p> <p>Jay Howell was the biggest addition to a rebuilt and incredibly strong bullpen for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> in 1988, but he could have easily been remembered as a Niedenfuerian goat had things broken differently.</p>
<p>Howell not only blew a lead in Game 1 of the NLCS against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>, and suffered the only Dodgers' loss in the World Series, but his biggest gaffe was getting suspended for having pine tar on his glove in the NLCS. In Game 3 against the Mets, Howell was brought in to start the eighth inning with a 4-3 lead. But against his first batter, Kevin McReynolds, Howell was ejected. Sam McManis of the <a target="_blank" href="http://articles.latimes.com/1988-10-09/sports/sp-5620_1_mets-rally">Los Angeles Times explained</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Howell admitted to lacing the outside heel of his glove with pine tar and rubbing his fingers in the substance before each of his six pitches. He said he was aware that it was in violation of a rule, but he said it was a bad rule--and a bad ruling.</p>
<p>"I thought at the time they would throw the glove out of the game and let me continue," he said. "I didn't think they'd throw me out. "I've used it in cold-weather situations when the rosin bag doesn't work. I know a lot of pitchers who use pine tar, because when the weather's cold like it is today (43 degrees and raining), rosin makes the ball slick."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The Dodgers succumbed to a five-run Mets rally in the eighth inning, and fell behind in the series, two games to one. Catcher Rick Dempsey was understandably peeved, again per the Times.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We're going for all the marbles with our No. 1 relief pitcher out there and they do that to us," Dempsey said angrily. "He's been pitching too damn good all season for this to happen. It's a prayer answered that (the Mets) got him out of there. I think it's ridiculous. I don't think it's fair."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In Howell's defense, even the Mets argued on his behalf.</p>
<p>"I don't feel that what Howell did is as bad as what others have done," Wally Backman <a target="_blank" href="http://articles.latimes.com/1988-10-10/sports/sp-2808_1_national-league">told Ross Newhan of the Times</a>. "Pine tar doesn't make you throw the ball harder. It doesn't make his curve break more. It's different than a guy using Vaseline or sandpaper."</p>
<p>"Do it at the start of next season if you have to. Make it 10 days if you want," said <span class="sbn-auto-link">Keith Hernandez</span>. "But I feel it's wrong to suspend him now. The teams have come too far and worked too hard to have a key player suspended at this point of the playoffs."</p>
<p>Luckily for Howell, the Dodgers rallied in the series, and Howell himself rebounded in the World Series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a>.</p>
<p><b>How acquired</b>: The Dodgers got Howell along with Alfredo Griffin from the A's in a three-team, eight-player trade on Dec. 11, 1987, that also saw Jesse Orosco came to Los Angeles from New York. The Dodgers sent longtime starter Bob Welch and relief pitcher <span class="sbn-auto-link">Matt Young</span>, to Oakland, and sent reliever Jack Savage to the Mets in the deal.</p>
<p><b>Prior MLB experience</b>: Howell pitched briefly in the National League, one season each with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>, but began to establish himself with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a>. After bouncing in between the starting rotation and bullpen in 1983, Howell found his niche in relief in the Bronx in 1984. Howell was 9-4 with seven saves, a 2.69 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 103⅔ innings, then was one of five players traded to the Athletics for Rickey Henderson in December 1984.</p>
<p>Howell made two All-Star teams in his three seasons in Oakland, and saved 29 games in 1985. His 61 saves from 1985-1987 <a target="_blank" href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/LrzrV">were 11th most in baseball</a>, and he is the answer to the trivia question who was the A's closer before Dennis Eckersley.</p>
<p><b>1988 age</b>: 32</p>
<p><b>1988 stats</b>: After offseason surgery to remove bone chips in his right elbow, Howell was used sparingly in the first month of the season. He wasn't placed on the disabled list but managed to pitch in only five of the first 23 games of the season, and didn't allow a run until May 4. On the season, Howell struck out 70 in 65 innings, and was 5-3 with 21 saves and a 2.08 ERA.</p>
<p><b>Regular season game of the year</b>: Howell recorded the final six outs <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198805140.shtml">on May 14</a> against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> to protect a one-run lead, and struck out four batters. It was one of eight two-inning saves for Howell on the year.</p>
<p><b>NLCS performance</b>: Howell had quite the series to forget against the Mets. He entered two games with a lead, once in the ninth inning and once in the eighth inning, and in both games contributed to a Dodgers loss. A two-out Gary Carter double in Game 1 turned a 2-1 lead into a 3-2 loss, and though Howell didn't take the loss in Game 3 his outcome was much worse with the suspension.</p>
<p>Howell was initially suspended for three days by MLB commissioner Bart Giamatti, though it was later reduced to two days. Howell was available to pitch in the final two games against the Mets, though he wasn't needed as the Dodgers were throttled by David Cone in Game 6 and Orel Hershiser pitched a pennant-winning shutout in Game 7.</p>
<p><b>World Series performance</b>: The postseason slump for Howell continued into the World Series, as his first fall classic appearance against his former team ended with Mark McGwire hitting a walk-off home run to win Game 3. But Howell recovered the next night in Game 4.</p>
<p>Despite fielding a starting lineup with 36 regular season home runs, the Dodgers led Oakland 4-3 in the seventh inning, but the A's were threatening with two outs and a runner on second base when Howell was summoned from the bullpen. A walk and an error allowed his first two batters faced to reach base, and Howell had to face McGwire, his nemesis from the previous night, with the bases loaded.</p>
<p>This result was much different in Game 4, as McGwire popped out to first base, and Howell held Oakland scoreless for the final two innings to seal the win and give the Dodgers an insurmountable 3-1 series advantage.</p>
<p><b>Post-1988 playing career</b>: Howell was an effective relief pitcher for the Dodgers for five seasons, and had an ERA of 2.18 or lower in four of his five years in Los Angeles. Howell saved 85 games as a Dodger, including a then-club-record 28 saves in 1989, the third and final All-Star season of his career.</p>
<p>Howell's 2.07 ERA as a Dodger is <a target="_blank" href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/hTMP5">the lowest in franchise history</a> with a minimum of 200 innings, and his 170 ERA+ <a target="_blank" href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/K6wRm">is also tops with the same criteria</a>.</p>
<p>Howell pitched in 1993 with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a>, though he didn't pitch for Atlanta in the playoffs, then ended his playing career with the 1994 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a>.</p>
<p><b>Where he is now</b>: Howell coached baseball at Cal State Northridge from 1998 to 2005, and worked briefly on the radio postgame show for the Braves. But more importantly, as recently as 2012, Howell and his wife <a target="_blank" href="http://lakewood400antiquesmarket.wordpress.com/tag/jay-howell/">have become antique furniture dealers</a>.</p>
<p>Howell is reportedly on Twitter at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/braindeadheaver">@braindeadheaver</a>, though the account is not verified.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/2/1/3931602/jay-howell-1988-dodgersEric Stephen