April 5, 2004 Table Of Contents
Scorecard Extra
By Franz Lidz
By Mark Beech
Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary: Sports In America
Sweet And Sauer There was no thrill like going to Wrigley to watch the original Hammerin' Hank
By William Nack
The Poll Illinoisians weigh in on sports*
Compiled by Bill Syken
Compiled by Bill Syken
Alltime Best For Illinois's top 50 homegrown sports figures, go to SI.com/50
Compiled by Bill Syken
Compiled by Bill Syken
Compiled by Bill Syken
Compiled by Bill Syken
2004 Final Four Preview
By Grant Wahl
Baseball Preview 2004
Welcome to the New Age of Information
Baseball's conventional wisdom is taking a beating from a new stat-crazy culture that turns the numbers inside out
By Tom Verducci
The Straight Answer on Breaking Balls
By Tom Verducci
Five for the Money These teams made the right moves in their search for affordable additions
Smart Stats, Dumb Stats Why OBP and OPS are very hot, and batting average and RBIs are out of style
By Tom Verducci
By Tom Verducci
Greatest Hits SI senior writer Tom Verducci picks the top 10 alltime clutch at bats.
By Tom Verducci
No Baseball Experience Required
By Albert Chen
Out on the Data Frontier Where will the numbers game go in the future? Beyond hitting and pitching
By Tom Verducci
By Jack McKeon
By David Sabino compiled the Projected rosters, In Facts and Player Value Rankings
1 Philadelphia Phillies A stronger bullpen creates pennant possibilities--if cooler heads prevail
2 Florida Marlins This time the defending champs have a fighting chance to return to the playoffs
3 Atlanta Braves A weakened lineup and a shaky rotation spell the end of a divisional dynasty
4 Montreal Expos The franchise may be going places, but one stop won't be the postseason
5 New York Mets A club sees the errors of its ways and makes itself stronger up the middle
1 Chicago Cubs Fortune will finally smile on a club that made all the right off-season moves
By Albert Chen
2 Houston Astros With a quality rotation in place, the pressure's on the bullpen to hold up its end
By Albert Chen
3 St. Louis Cardinals A loaded lineup won't be enough in the suddenly strong-armed Central
By Alber Chen
4 Cincinnati Reds There's not much hope until boppers like Adam Dunn start to hit for average
By Albert Chen
5 Milwaukee Brewers Not even another successful reclamation project can save this sorry club
By Albert Chen
6 Pittsburgh Pirates For young outfielders, starting roles are abundant (minimal experience needed)
By Albert Chen
1 Arizona Diamondbacks The right mix of sharp veterans and eager Baby Backs signals a playoff return
By Tom Verducci
2 San Francisco Giants In this one-star system the supporting players will make or break the season
By Tom Verducci
3 San Diego Padres Here's what's new: the ballpark and the staff ace, good ol' David Wells
By Tom Verducci
4 Los Angeles Dodgers With a new G.M. and a team in decline, rebuilding plans are in the works
By Tom Verducci
5 Colorado Rockies A converted starter fills the void at closer, but will he get leads to protect?
By Tom Verducci
1 New York Yankees You have to go to the back of the rotation to find a question mark on this club
By Peter King
2 Boston Red Sox All the pieces are in place, so the burden falls on nice guy Terry Francona
By Peter King
3 Toronto Blue Jays Bargains or busts? A season rides on an overhauled pitching staff
By Peter King
By Peter King
5 Tampa Bay Devil Rays A longtime doormat builds a formidable lineup, but it's not enough to move up
By Peter King
1 Minnesota Twins Hopes for a division threepeat rest heavily on a new closer's right shoulder
2 Chicago White Sox Two huge holes to plug: the top of the order and the top of the rotation
3 Kansas City Royals Will Juan Gonzalez be able to put this mostly anonymous team over the top?
4 Cleveland Indians Self-made power hitter Jody Gerut puts some muscle in the rebuilding project
5 Detroit Tigers The goal of an off-season spending spree? For now, mere respectability
1 Oakland Athletics Playoff aspirations could die on the vine if Jermaine Dye doesn't bounce back
By Phil Taylor
2 Anaheim Angels Jose Guillen looks like the bargain on the best team Arte Moreno could buy
By Phil Taylor
3 Seattle Mariners Can Freddy Garcia keep his focus and become the ace this staff needs?
By Phil Taylor
4 Texas Rangers Even if Alfonso Soriano hits like A-Rod, the pitching won't lift them out of last
By Phil Taylor
Inside
Inside College Football
Red Dawn The Bill Callahan era at Nebraska opens with a crash course in passing
By Kelley King
Inside The NBA
No Mo' Mo? Maurice Cheeks is getting signals that the Blazers want him to leave
By Ian Thomsen
Scout's Take On the allure of NCAA tournament stars at draft time:
Inside The NHL
Striking Oil The improbable addition of center Petr Nedved has revived Edmonton
By Rick Reilly
Departments
By Steve Rushin
By Alan Shipnuck Edited by Mark Bechtel and Sridhar Pappu
Starving For A Win Ex-athlete with eating disorder successfully sues coach
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Sridhar Pappu
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Sridhar Pappu
The Beating Goes On Todd Bertuzzi's banishment hasn't slowed down the mayhem in the NHL
By Stephen Cannella Edited by Mark Bechtel and Sridhar Pappu
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Sridhar Pappu
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Sridhar Pappu
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Sridhar Pappu
By E.M. Swift Edited by Mark Bechtel and Sridhar Pappu
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Sridhar Pappu
By Bill Scheft Edited by Mark Bechtel and Sridhar Pappu
By Buck O'Neil; Richard Deitsch Edited by Mark Bechtel and Sridhar Pappu
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Sridhar Pappu
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Sridhar Pappu