Daniel still making pitch for the majors By PERRY TOM DANIEL BY THE NUMBERS | Special to bathe Sun-Sentinel Clay Daniel has Year Team W-L ERA SO bounced around 1990 Miracle (A) 5-4 2.67 31 the minor leagues for seven years, 1990 Okla. City (AAA) 8 playing for three 1988 Harrisburg, Pa. (AA) 0-0 6.23 1987 Harrisburg, Pa. (AA) 4-2 6.20 23 organizations and eight teams. At almost every stop 1987 Salem, Mass. (A) 0-1 11.25 2 the 27-year-old 1986 Vermont (AA) 7-11 4.04 84 has shown signs of major league 1985 Tampa (A) -0-1 3.86 15 quality, but he has 1985 Cedar Rapids (A) 13-8 2.58 | 142 had trouble get- 1984 Billings, Mont. (A) 7-0 2.56 60 ting anyone's attention. 1984 Tampa (A) 0-3 7.63 17 He also has to contend with 18- and 19-year-old rookies every year, that hasn't dampened Daniel's spirit for the game. "I don't look at it as age," Daniel said. "I look at it as experience." Now it appears that age may be playing a big factor in his baseball career. He is pitching for the Class A independent Miracle in Pompano Beach and time could be running out on his quest. Daniel pitched only eight innings for the Texas Rangers' Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City before being released in May. "He's an older player and we had younger players we had to give a chance to," Oklahoma City manager Steve Smith said. "We had to let three pitchers go and he was just the odd man out." The left-hander from Jacksonville thought his dream of making it to the majors was over. NOT was considering stopping," Daniel said. "I asked [Rangers pitching coach] Tom House for advice. He said, 'You've got to keep doing it, they have to see you on the mound. If you're sitting at home they will take someone else." That is when the Miracle entered Daniel's life. "I don't know if this is starting all over," Daniel said. "It's more like proving where I belonged initially." Daniel said a few major league teams have shown interest in him, especially after his recent performances i in the Florida State League. The University of Florida graduate is 5-4 with a 2.67 earned-run average and 31 strikeouts since joining the Miracle in June. He is 5-1 in his last six outings, including a seven inning no-hitter against Fort 1 Lauderdale on June 12. He also was named Florida State •League player of the week for June 11-17. "I think he's done a fantastic job," Miracle manager Mike Easler said. "There are some good solid hitters in this league and he's proved he could be back in TripleA, and is a definite major league I prospect." •Miracle pitching coach Doug Torborg said Daniel's pitching ability has impressed him enough to think he would "be an asset to anybody's team." A lot of guys have great stuff, but don't know how to pitch," Torborg said. "He knows how to pitch. He hits spots and knows how to get people out. The whole package of Clay, his good attitude and work ethic, would help a lot of teams. Plus, everybody needs left-handed pitching. Besides Daniel's age, his fastball is in the low 80s and that has turned off a few teams. "I don't think he's big league material," Smith said. "He doesn't have a good fastball and he was hittable by right-handers. You look at other left-handers in the minors and they are throwing with more velocity." Dave Trembly, who coached Daniels on the Double-A Harrisburg (Pa.) Pirates in 1987 and 1988, said too many scouts are relying on velocity of pitches and not the pitchers' ability to get hitters out. "A lot of people have fallen in love with the radar gun," said Trembly, who is the Pirates' director of baseball operations in Bradenton. "The final result is getting people out and Clay does a great job of that." Daniel agrees that a player doesn't need a fastball in the 90s to be effective in the majors. "The game is played between the ears," Daniel said. "How do you know if someone can play in the big leagues unless given a chance. They might say my fastball is a little short for the big leagues. But how do they know?" A good fastball or not, the Miracle is happy to have an experienced player around. "He's been a great influence on our team, especially our pitchers,' Torborg said. "He'll it be throwing in the bullpen and three or 1 four pitchers will gather around and watch what he is working on. He is one of the most professional guys I've ever met." Daniel began his professional baseball career with the Cincinnati Reds after he was selected in the 20th round of the 1984 draft. He played for Billings (Mont.), a short-season rookie team, and was named MVP of the Pioneer League after going 7-0 with a 2.56 ERA. In 1988 Daniel's career took a turn for the worse when the Pirates wanted to demote him to Class A Salem (Mass.). Daniel refused to go, so he went back to the University of Florida, where he still needed 12 hours to graduate with a business administration degree. "It was a frustrating time," Daniel said. "My whole family has been real supportive. They know one day in the near future that it's going to happen and I'm not giving up until my arm falls off or I'm old and gray.'
