Indians Hold Aces As Well Atlanta Pitchers Deserve Hype, But Don’t Overlook Cleveland’s

The classic World Series matchup of great pitching versus great hitting is on the marquee, with the most heralded rotation since the ‘69 Mets facing the most lethal lineup since the Big Red Machine.

But to look at the Atlanta-Cleveland series as Greg Maddux & Co. against Albert Belle and friends is to ignore everything that has happened in the last two weeks in the American League playoffs. Cleveland’s postseason strength has been its solid starting pitching, while the offense, for the most part, has done just enough to get by.

After holding Boston hitters to a .184 average and leaving them 2 for 27 with runners in scoring position, Indians pitchers held Seattle hitters to a .184 average and only 12 runs, fewest ever in a sixgame American League Championship Series. That’s 11 runs fewer than the previous record, held by the White Sox against Toronto in 1993.

“This team, we know what we can do,” said Game 6 winner Dennis Martinez. “We’ve got a lot of talent here, and our pitching, I think, drove us all the way through the postseason. Hopefully, our hitting will become timely in the World Series so we can achieve what we want to do.”

Like Atlanta, Cleveland also led its league in pitching, but with considerably less fanfare. Once the postseason party began, however, Martinez, Orel Hershiser, Charles Nagy and Ken Hill began to prove that this team has a lot more going for it than its heavy clout. Just ask Mo Vaughn, who went 0 for 14 against Cleveland pitching in the playoffs, or Jose Canseco (0 for 13), Edgar Martinez (2 for 23), Tino Martinez (3 for 23) or Vince Coleman (2 for 20). All are proven hitters who couldn’t solve the mystery of the Indians’ starters.

“All clubs have an ace,” said Seattle third baseman Mike Blowers. “And some have two guys that are aces. I’ve never seen a club with four aces like that.”

Blowers is too young to have watched the 1969 Mets staff of Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Nolan Ryan and Dennis Gentry, or the ‘71 Orioles of Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar, Jim Palmer and Pat Dobson. But his point is well taken in the pitching-light expansion era, where three solid starters on one staff is considered a rarity. Even Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove wasn’t expecting his starters to look quite this untouchable.

“Maybe it’s the potatoes we fed ‘em the last month of the season,” he said. “You look at who our starters are, and they’re all very good athletes and all field their position very, very well - Nagy, Hill, Martinez and Hershiser. Birdie Tebbetts told me one time when I was managing in the instructional league and picking his brains as much as I could, ‘A pitcher who cannot field his position will never, ever be even a .500 pitcher.’ These guys just rise to the occasion. They’re very special people, and they just stepped it up a notch.”

One thing the Indians may have going for them in the World Series is that Hershiser, Hill and Martinez all came over from the National League, and Paul Assenmacher is a former Braves pitcher. Hershiser, who will start Game 1 Saturday night, is 20-9 lifetime against Atlanta with a 2.96 earned-run average. Martinez, the seventh pitcher in major-league history with more than 100 wins in both leagues, has a 9-5 record against Atlanta.

“Ken, Dennis, Paul and myself know a lot about that club,” said Hershiser. “Except for the catcher (Javier Lopez), the left fielder (Ryan Klesko) and Chipper (Jones) at third. There’s some people we have to learn about. We have some scouting to do on film, but I’m not about to tell you what I know about it.”

Ripken honored, again

Cal Ripken Jr. will throw out the first pitch of the World Series.

Ripken is the first active player to throw out the ceremonial first pitch since Oakland’s Dave Stewart tossed the first pitch before Game 3 of the 1990 Series.

Hank Aaron, baseball’s career home run leader with 755, will deliver the first pitch before Game 2. Aaron is the Braves’ senior vice president.

Singing the national anthem before Game 1 will be Darius Rucker, lead singer of “Hootie & The Blowfish.”

Rested and ready

Taking advantage of a week off between games, the Braves could have two injured players back in the lineup for Game 1.

David Justice appears to have recovered from the knee injury that knocked him out of the final game of the NLCS victory over Cincinnati. He was struck by a ball during batting practice before the game.

Jeff Blauser, who missed the Reds series with a thigh bruise, did a little running and fielded some ground balls during Atlanta’s workout Wednesday night.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WORLD SERIES Saturday: Cleveland at Atlanta, 4:20 p.m. (ABC) Sunday: Cleveland at Atlanta, 4:20 p.m. (NBC) Oct. 24: Atlanta at Cleveland, 5:20 p.m. (NBC) Oct. 25: Atlanta at Cleveland, 5:20 p.m. (ABC) Oct. 26: Atlanta at Cleveland, 5:20 p.m.* (ABC) Oct. 28: Cleveland at Atlanta, 4:20 p.m.* (NBC) Oct. 29: Cleveland at Atlanta, 4:20 p.m.* (ABC) *-If necessary