The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 35

BASEBALL D-4 DIGEST D-5 BUSINESS D-6-11 HORSES D-5 COLLEGES D-3 PRO D-3 EDITOR: GREG NOBLE, 369-1917 THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1985 Soto Certain He'll Make Comeback In 1986 'I Don't Feel That They Should Trade Me' so vv 1 1 5 Padres Seeking Redus In Trade BY GREG HOARD The Cincinnati Enquirer LOS ANGELES-Reds outfielder Gary Redus, who last week infuriated club management with his criticism of Pete Rose, is openly being sought by the San Diego Padres. Jack McKeon, the Padres' general manager, has said nothing official yet. But he has hinted that he would be willing to give up left-handed pitcher Mark Thurmond in exchange for Redus, who hit .252 and stole 48 bases in 101 games this season. "Regardless of what has happened, Redus is not a player you view lightly, said Bill Bergesch, the Reds' general manager. "He can do a lot of things to help your club if he accepts his role." But Redus has not accepted the role of backup outfielder and pinch-runner, which he was given this year.

And last week he blasted the Reds, saying Rose should bench himself and get more speed Into the lineup. REDUS' OUTBURST, like the goatee he began growing in the last days of the season, was an obvious move to gain a trade. "And the sooner the better," he said Sunday. Redus heard the San Diego trade rumor this weekend. "San Diego would be a nice place to play," he said.

"I think I could help them." (Please see REDUS, Page D-5) myself to have a good season next year. We've had players before who have had a bad season and not been traded." OFFICIALLY, REDS manager Pete Rose and General Manager Bill Bergesch say they are not considering trading Soto. "Mario is a tremendous talent," Bergesch said. "You don't give up that; quickly on a Mario Soto." Said Rose: "I'm not thinking along those lines. But outside Dave Parker, Ron Oester, Ted Power, John Franco and Tom Browning, there are only a few I wouldn't trade Hey, if a blockbuster deal comes along, you've got to think about trading anybody.

I don't like to think about trading a guy because his record is down. That's not the time to trade a guy. "I still think Mario Soto Is a real good pitcher, it's just a matter of getting him straightened out, both mentally and physically." Rose does not blame the Reds' second-place finish on Soto's performance. He argues that while Soto was admittedly off, rookie starter Tom Browning, 20-9, and left-handed reliever John Franco, 12-3, more than made up for him. AT THE same time, however, Rose expressed displeasure with Soto's part In the switch from a BY GREG HOARD The Cincinnati Enquirer LOS ANGELES-Mario Soto's legacy for the 1985 season will be that he, and no one else, lost the Western Division title for the Reds; that he lost heart, lost too many games and did not do his part to put Cincinnati in the playoffs.

Soto had that bit of baggage packed with all of his other belongings as he left here Sunday headed for winter. "People are going to say that," Soto said. "I know they are. They have already started. I don't think people on the team feel that way, but I am going to have to deal with that all winter and next spring.

And, they will say other things, too." Soto has already heard suggestions that, after a 12-15 season, he should be traded, that his skills might be restored with another team, and that he might never be successful again relying on Just two pitches, a fastball and change-up. "If they want to trade me, that is up to the front office," Soto said. "That is their decision, and there Is nothing I can do about it. I don't feel like I need a change. I don't feel that they should trade me.

I've had a bad year. I know that. Believe me, I know that. But I have never said anything about wanting to be traded and I wouldn't "I believe in my heart that I will come back and have a good year next season. At least, I am going to do everything I can this winter to prepare The Cincinnati Enquirer MARIO SOTO knows some people think he would be better off out of a Reds uniform.

(Please see SOTO, Page D-5) Mike smmm Dodd sS Boomer Likely To Play jOn 'iff (v'tK 0 BY MIKE DODD The Cincinnati Enquirer Cincinnati Bengal quarterback Boomer Esiason is listed as a probable starter for Sunday's game against the New York Giants, but he says he will not play if he can't practice by Thursday. Esiason, who was knocked out of the game on a hit by the Jets' Mark Gastineau Sunday, was stiff and sore Monday. He suffered a bruised right knee and a bruised left scapula (the bone in the back of the shoulder). It is the latter injury that could affect his availability. "It's all tight," he said.

"I don't have the range of motion that I would normally, but I'm hoping the hot whirlpool will loosen it up and take care of it." Esiason said he hopes the (Please see BENGALS, Page D-5) The Cincinnati EnquirerGerry Wolter BENGALS COACH Sam Wyche let the officials know just how unhappy he was with their work Sunday. Leibrandt Understands Rejection By Reds Tim Sullivan Steaming Bengals Can't Change 1-4 If you Just checked the NFL standings, you know the news. The Bengals are still 1-4. An Appellate Court did not reverse the Dreith Decision Sunday. The loss will stand, though the final arguments Monday provided a few interesting insights.

Two particulars were of continuing interest: Louis Breeden vs. the 5-yard line. And Mark Gastlneau vs. Norman Esiason Target Practice, Inc. A claim of new evidence was introduced to the Breeden case.

The Bengals say they reviewed coaches' films of the safety from three angles. They contend the films show Breeden Juggled the ball and didn't have possession of It until he was inside the 5-yard line. Referee Ben Dreith's crew had ruled Breeden caught the ball at the 6, and the rule that would have allowed him to go into the end zone unpunished was not applicable. But Bengal General Manager Paul Brown said the films showed two mitigating circumstances. And, as a member of the NFL Competition Committee that helps make the rules, he added his own Interpretation to the call.

BROWN SAID Breeden leaped to catch the ball at about the 6 and juggled it until his second foot touched down at the 3. He was hit by Walker just inside the 2, and both players fell Into the end zone. "As far as I'm concerned, It was officiating error," Brown said. "In my judgment, It shouldn't have been called because I didn't think he had complete control of the ball (outside the 5) and (because of) the impetus of the other man." Besides, Brown said, the 5-yard rule was not intended as a cut-and-dried standard. "First of all, when the rule was put to the 5, It was never thought of as anything very specific.

I mean, an inch outside or an inch Inside, nobody gave that much thought The intent of the rule was to avoid a guy catching It at the 10 and then running back Into the end zone "That (the Breeden play) was so close to the 5, 1 don't think this Is the kind of thing that should have been called." Should the rule be changed? "There's nothing to be done with it. I Just think It's a common Judgment play, that's all I don't think It requires anything other than some judgment on the part of the people making the call." BROWN GOT a vote of support from a fellow member of the Competition Committee, Miami coach Don Shula. "That's a tough one to live with," said Shula, who was once called for a safety under similar circumstances during his playing days. "There's no way that he could have stopped "To me, that (the 5-yard line) is a technicality. If it's an Inch outside the 5, isn't there a common-sense clause? The 5 is your guideline, but if it's 5 yards and an inch, (calling it a safety) is not In the spirit of the rule." Coach Sam Wyche also felt a sense of fairness should have entered Into the equation.

"Who made the good play? The defense did. Then reward the defense. Some common sense falls into here, surely." The Bengals complained to the NFL office Monday and were told a film review would be made. "Looking at it off the TV replay, the call appears to be the correct one," said NFL spokesman Joe Browne. However, as usual, the league will review the coaching films and ask NFL Films tor any footage it has on the play before making a determination.

BASED ON the TV replay, Browne said, it appears "he caught the ball outside the 5 and his momentum took him Into the end zone. There was contact (with Walker), but It was his momentum that took him In." However, he made those comments before the possession issue was raised and said later that would be reviewed. (Please see DODD, Page D-5) Inside Final major league averages. Page D-2. Colts waive Art Schlichter.

Page D-3. UC's McCoin expected to start. Page D-3. Cedeno to start NL opener. Page D-4.

Blue Jays expect jitters. Page D-4. Umpires back off strike threat. Page D-4. NL and AL playoff matchups, Page D-4.

Globetrotters name first woman. Page D-5. $: L) transition really," he said. "They had a lot of young pitchers and they were patient with them and they were patient with me. "The No.

1 thing was I had a manager (Dick Howser) who believed In me, who gave me a chance to pitch every fifth day regardless of what the outcome was. Earlier In my career that wasn't the case." It was beginning to sound like a vindication speech, but Leibrandt hadn't let himself off the hook. "I wasn't very good," he said, clinically. "I was In and out of the starting rotation, in the bullpen It Just took me a little longer than most to mature, to really find my place In this game. "NOW, I have a lot of confidence and feel like I belong.

I couldn't say that earlier In my career. I had a tough time having back-to-back good games. Now, win or lose, I pitch bad or I pitch good I don't worry about that. I know I'm going to bounce back and pitch well the next time." Now, Detroit catcher Lance Parrlsh calls him "the master of deception." George Brett, something of an authority on the subject, regards him as one of the brighter men on the mound. "I think he's one of the smarter pitchers in baseball," Brett said.

"He gets people swinging at the wrong pitches all the time. He's not overpowering, although he does break a lot of bats. He can throw any of his pitches in any count-he's got that good of control. But I think his main asset is his intelligence on the mound." Tim Sullivan is sports columnist tor The Enquirer. TORONTO-It Is a wonderful thing to see that success has not spoiled Charlie Leibrandt.

It is not, however, surprising. He had always been a fine fellow In failure. Kansas City's late-blooming left-hander is the same self-effacing guy who would discourse on a dog bite when no one was asking him about his pitching in the spring of 1983. He understands the doubts the Cincinnati Reds had about his abilities, for he had doubts himself. "Based on what I'd shown, I couldn't see them spending any more time with me," Leibrandt said of his previous major-league employers.

"I did the best I could, it Just wasn't enough." Standing before the summit of his finest season tonight's opening game start in the American League Championship Series with the Toronto Blue Jays Leibrandt resisted any temptation to tweak the Reds for what now would appear to be exceedingly bad baseball judgment. Twice in the space of two questions he was asked about bitter feelings. Twice he could see only the logic in what had happened. IT HAS been better than two years now since the Reds sent Leibrandt to Kansas City for the still-obscure Bob Tufts. Even after a 17-9 season that will put him on some Cy Young ballots and a 2.69 earned-run average that was second only to Toronto's playoff starter Dave Stieb, Leibrandt is not sure he would not have made the same deal If he were Dick Wagner.

"I was up and down a couple of times and never really did a very -consistent Job," he said after the Royals' workout Monday. "Sometimes I was good, sometimes bad, but the name of the game is being consistent and 1 was Just never consistent for them. It really took a change of scenery for me. For some guys, that's what it takes. "They gave me a chance but I always pressed a little bit too much there.

I never really relaxed. To play this game, you've got to relax. I never could relax there, even on a team that lost 100 games." For several seasons, Leibrandt has confessed that he was in awe of his surroundings when he first reached the major leagues. He was afraid, he said, of getting his head bitten off by managers whose notions of his value didn't reflect his own. He was even intimidated by his teammates.

AS KANSAS City reporters have tried to fathom what the Reds may have been missing, Leibrandt has revealed that the biggest change in his pitching approach was gaining the confidence-and the permission-to pitch inside. The Reds, particularly catcher Johnny Bench, had discouraged him from doing this because of what was deemed Insufficient stuff. If Kansas City officials had any such opinions, no one tried to stifle Leibrandt's leanings. "I came over to a good organization here, a team in The Associated PressMark Duncan FORMER RED Charlie Leibrandt will be the Royals' starter in the AL playoff opener tonight. Tanner, Lillis Fired In Front Office Shakeups a letter of intent to buy the financially ailing Pirates that he favored a "clean sweep" of the front office.

Tanner, 56, was asked to step down with two years left on his contract after the Pirates' worst season in 32 years. He said he hopes to begin talking to as many as six major league clubs within days. "All the clubs know now that I'm available. I'm going to be with a club that's going to do well," Tanner said. Willis for the third straight year.

Tanner, who led the Pirates to a world championship and three second-place finishes in nine years, said the decision was "mutual," but made it clear he was ousted by a new ownership group headed by Malcolm Prine. "THEY DIDN'T want me and I didn't want them," Tanner said. "I plan to remain in baseball as a manager for another 10 to 15 years. I'll be somewhere, and it's going to be good. I want to win more world championships." Prine indicated last week when his group signed THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Two National League managers, Pittsburgh's Chuck Tanner and Houston's Bob Lillis, were fired Monday as part of shakeups by new management of the two teams.

Tanner, whose team had the worst record in baseball this year (57-104), lost his job in a purge by the new public-private partnership that took control of the team last week. Lillis was dismissed by new General Manager Dick Wagner, who noted that while the club ished above .500, it failed to make the playoffs under (Please see MANAGERS, Page D-4).